Advisors see opening as protection overtakes growth in American Dream
Guaranteed income options may carry particular weight with clients. The survey found 81% would rather have a predictable, guaranteed stream of retirement income than pursue higher-growth investments, yet only 24% currently hold products or strategies aimed at cutting market risk once they are retired.
Income protection also shows a gap between intent and action. Just 30% of consumers have taken steps to guard against lost income due to illness or injury, and 27% said they would have no financial protection whatsoever if the household’s main earner became unable to work.
Craig Hawley, president and chief operating officer of Nationwide Financial, said the shift reflects a changed environment rather than diminished ambition.
“Financial progress still matters to Americans, but the path to achieving it has changed. People still want to build wealth, but today’s environment has made financial stability and resilience just as important. Protecting what you’ve worked hard to build has become a critical part of achieving long-term financial success.”
Redefining the dream
The survey found 84% of respondents now associate the American Dream more closely with financial stability than with accumulating wealth, and the same proportion said getting ahead financially is tougher than it was for earlier generations.
