Survey Reveals Retirement Fears Outweigh Halloween Scares for Most Americans

A recent survey conducted by Boldin revealed that retirement uncertainties create more anxiety than traditional Halloween fears for the majority of financially aware Americans. The study found that 66% of respondents considered their retirement fears before having a plan more terrifying than walking alone in the woods on a dark Halloween night. The survey, which polled more than 1,000 financially savvy Americans, demonstrated the profound psychological impact of retirement planning on overall financial wellbeing.

The data showed that retirement concerns were pervasive among respondents before they established formal plans. Over 67% reported that worries surfaced regularly, with 27% indicating these fears weighed on them quite a bit, while 40% were somewhat worried and 26% were a little concerned. Only 3% of participants claimed no retirement anxiety whatsoever. The most significant fear identified was running out of money or outliving savings, which troubled 39% of respondents. Other prominent concerns included inability to afford desired retirement lifestyle (19%) and uncertainty about preparing for future unknowns like market volatility and inflation (17%).

The survey results highlighted a dramatic transformation in confidence levels once respondents implemented written retirement plans. An overwhelming 96% reported increased confidence about their financial future, with 68% feeling much more confident and 28% somewhat more confident. Only 3% indicated that having a plan didn't change their outlook. When asked about their current retirement feelings, 46% described themselves as confident, 49% as somewhat confident, and merely 4% as anxious. Notably, no Boldin users reported outright fear about their financial future after establishing their plans.

Steve Chen, Founder and CEO of Boldin, emphasized the importance of financial planning, stating that increased knowledge leads to better decision-making. The company's mission focuses on making financial planning accessible and affordable through resources available at Boldin.com. Users reported that specific proactive measures contributed significantly to their increased security, including running what-if scenarios (66%), establishing guaranteed income streams like pensions and Social Security (43%), becoming debt-free (36%), consistent saving and investing (34%), and seeking professional financial guidance (26%).

While financial concerns dominated retirement anxieties, health-related worries also featured prominently in respondents' minds. More than half (57%) identified financial challenges including healthcare costs and loss of financial control as their greatest source of anxiety. Meanwhile, 43% expressed more concern about non-financial struggles such as declining health, loss of purpose, or social isolation. The survey, conducted on October 10, 2025, achieved a 95% response rate from 1,111 invitations sent to Boldin users managing their financial plans through the company's platform.