Life expectancy is increasing, but preparation for longer lives is falling behind. A new longevity preparedness index developed by John Hancock and MIT AgeLab scored adults at 60 out of 100, according to Fox Business on October 20, 2025. The study found that many adults are unprepared for the financial, health, and caregiving challenges of longer retirement years.
The population aged 65 and older now stands at 58 million and is projected to reach 82 million by 2050. In the survey, 40% of respondents said they are likely to face financial instability in old age.
Brooks Tingle, CEO of John Hancock, said, “Some are preparing for longevity, but the industry overall needs to do more to help them.”
Joe Coughlin of MIT AgeLab added, “Small, intentional actions like planning new hobbies, starting an exercise routine, and talking about care can lead to a better future and significantly impact how we spend our later years.”
John Hancock and MIT AgeLab plan to update the longevity preparedness index annually for the next four years to track changes and identify industry and policy improvements for an aging society.
The study surveyed more than 1,300 adults, assessing readiness across eight categories: social connections, daily activities, care, housing, community, life transitions, health, and finances. Overall preparedness remained low, with “care” receiving the lowest score at 42 points, indicating limited planning for who will provide care or how to afford it.
Stephen kate, a Bankrate financial analyst, said, “Retirement is not the end of life but the beginning of a second act.” He emphasized that financial planning for 20 to 30 years of retirement is essential and that housing and lifestyle choices directly affect stability later in life.
Eunyoung Lee [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
