Workers trust their employer’s financial advisors, but most still doubt they can retire
A majority of employees (62%) say one-on-one meetings with financial professionals are the most useful retirement-planning resource available to them and 84% say they would consider working with an advisor if given the chance. That leaves a wide margin between stated interest and actual participation.
Several obstacles are keeping employees from taking that step, with the most common, cited by 24% of respondents, being the perception that they do not earn or have enough to invest. An equal share question whether meeting with an advisor is worth it, while 20% worry about fees and 19% say they are unsure how a financial professional could actually help them.
“Employer-provided financial advisors play a central role in how American workers approach retirement planning,” said Espinoza. “One-on-one guidance is especially effective in helping employees navigate complex decisions, build confidence and turn intention into action, but too many employees aren’t taking the necessary first step.”
Financial toolkit
The share of workers who are off track for retirement rose from 68% in 2025 to 72% this year, NFP found, as cost-of-living pressures and job security concerns continue to weigh on long-term savings.
Those pressures are reshaping expectations for how retirement will be funded. Among employees aged 55 and older, 41% now expect Social Security to serve as their primary source of retirement income. Separately, 46% of all respondents said they are deprioritizing retirement savings, or unable to save at all, as housing costs, car payments and healthcare expenses take precedence.
