At a glance
- The share choosing fewer years rose with age, from 70% of respondents ages 18 to 34 to 82% of those 65 and older.
- Eighty-two percent said they would take a lower-paying, less stressful job to gain an additional decade of healthy years.
- A separate 82% said they would delay retirement if it left them healthier, more active and more financially secure, while 46% said they were very or extremely concerned about outliving their savings.
Seventy-two percent of U.S. adults said they would choose fewer years of life if more were spent in good health, according to a survey commissioned by nutrition technology company L-Nutra and reported by PLANADVISER.
The share choosing fewer years rose with age, from 70% of respondents ages 18 to 34 to 82% of those 65 and older. Seventy-eight percent of respondents defined longevity as physical health, compared with 60% who defined it as living as long as possible, and the average ideal lifespan was about 90 years.
Eighty-two percent said they would take a lower-paying, less stressful job to gain an additional decade of healthy years. In that group, 71% said they would accept a pay cut of at least $5,000.
A separate 82% said they would delay retirement if it left them healthier, more active and more financially secure, while 46% said they were very or extremely concerned about outliving their savings.
A client willing to delay retirement changes the drawdown assumption in a retirement plan: each added working year is one less year the portfolio must fund.
Health, not lifespan, defines longevity for most
Share of U.S. adults linking each quality to 'longevity', %
- Good physical health78%
- Living as long as possible60%
- Physical strength and mobility59%
- Mental sharpness54%
- Maintaining energy43%
- Staying independent43%
Show as table
| Item | Value (%) |
|---|---|
| Good physical health | 78% |
| Living as long as possible | 60% |
| Physical strength and mobility | 59% |
| Mental sharpness | 54% |
| Maintaining energy | 43% |
| Staying independent | 43% |
Reported by the Tax & estate planning desk from PLANADVISER — Advice. Published . Corrections