J.P. Morgan Asset Management Unveils 2026 “Guide to Retirement,” Offering Data‑Driven Insights for Advisors and Plan Sponsors

The guide is built on anonymized household‑level data combined with the firm’s proprietary analytics. By dissecting real‑world saving and spending behavior, the study aims to surface patterns that can inform product design, risk modeling, and client communication. The 2026 edition broadens its scope to include several timely themes:

• Spending volatility: The report quantifies how unexpected expenses can erode retirement buffers, underscoring the need for flexible income streams.
• Social Security readiness: Detailed simulations illustrate the long‑term impact of claiming benefits at different ages.
• 401(k) alternatives: The guide evaluates the growing role of non‑traditional assets—such as private credit and real assets—within defined‑contribution plans.
• Guaranteed‑income strategies: It examines the uptake of annuities and other products that promise a steady cash flow regardless of market swings.

According to the release, these insights are intended to help “advisors, consultants, plan sponsors, and participants prepare for unforeseen spending shocks and improve retirement outcomes.”

Executive perspectives

Michael Conrath, Chief Retirement Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, emphasized the practical relevance of the findings:

“This year’s findings show that the top concerns for retirees and those preparing for retirement are generating sufficient income, managing spending volatility and maintaining emergency savings,” Conrath said. “As people live longer and the retirement landscape becomes more unpredictable, advisors need practical tools to help clients and participants understand and navigate retirement challenges. The Guide is a valuable resource that provides real data and meaningful guidance to support more informed financial decisions to help achieve a secure retirement.”

Sharon Carson, also a Retirement Strategist with the firm, highlighted the persistent confusion around Social Security:

“Social Security remains one of the most important, and often misunderstood, components of retirement planning. We continue to see that the timing of when you claim benefits can have a lasting impact on your financial security. Claiming Social Security at 62 leads to a permanent reduction to 70% of the full benefit, while waiting until 70 increases monthly payments by 24% compared to claiming at full retirement age. These trade‑offs may be complicated by misconceptions about the future of the program.”

Core takeaways for fintech providers

• Quantify the target: Establishing a concrete savings goal and an income‑replacement benchmark remains a cornerstone of retirement success. Even a modest 1% increase in annual savings can dramatically boost readiness, covering nearly nine years of Medicare‑related costs.
• Empower small‑business plans: Data shows that workers with access to a workplace retirement plan are far more likely to accumulate $100,000 or more (62% vs. 5% without a plan). Features like auto‑enrollment and automatic contribution escalation can further lift participation rates, presenting an opportunity for payroll‑integration platforms to add value.
• Clarify Social Security timing: While many employees assume retirement at 65, the median actual retirement age sits at 62, often driven by unexpected life events. The guide reinforces that early claiming truncates benefits to 70% of the full amount, whereas delaying until 70 lifts payments by roughly a quarter. Fintech solutions that embed Social Security calculators into client portals can help demystify these choices.
• Adopt tax‑smart strategies: Mixing traditional pre‑tax accounts with Roth (post‑tax) vehicles, and strategically timing Roth conversions, can give retirees greater control over future tax liabilities and Medicare premiums. Platforms offering automated tax‑efficiency recommendations could see higher engagement.
• Mitigate silent spending risks: Six out of ten new retirees encounter significant spending volatility in their first three years. Households that secure more guaranteed income tend to spend up to 44% more, suggesting that a reliable cash flow cushion enables higher discretionary spending without jeopardizing long‑term security. This insight bolsters the case for integrating annuity‑like products into retirement platforms.

How the guide fits into J.P. Morgan’s broader retirement ecosystem

The data‑driven insights Guide to Retirement is one component of the firm’s larger Retirement Insights program, which aggregates research, surveys, and digital tools for the retirement market. Alongside the guide, the program offers:

• Retirement by the Numbers: A statistical snapshot of retirement trends.
• Defined Contribution Plan Participant Survey: Direct feedback from plan participants on preferences and pain points.
• Plan Sponsor Survey: Insights from employers on plan design and administration.
• Target Date Compass®: An analytics engine that helps participants evaluate the risk profile of target‑date funds.
• Core Menu Evaluator®: A tool that assists plan sponsors in assessing the quality and cost of their investment menus.

All of these assets are positioned as “actionable ideas and expert perspectives,” aiming to bridge the gap between high‑level research and day‑to‑day decision‑making for financial advisors, fintech developers, and corporate plan administrators.

Industry implications

The release arrives as the fintech sector intensifies its focus on the retirement space. Open‑banking APIs, AI‑driven financial planning assistants, and embedded insurance products are converging to create more holistic retirement experiences. J.P. Morgan’s data‑rich guide provides a benchmark that can be leveraged by fintech firms building:

• Robo‑advisor modules that incorporate Social Security optimization.
• Payroll‑integration services that automate enrollment and escalation for small‑business retirement plans.
• Risk‑management dashboards that flag spending volatility and suggest guaranteed‑income overlays.

Moreover, the emphasis on tax‑efficient strategies aligns with a growing demand for algorithmic tax‑loss harvesting and Roth conversion timing tools. By publishing granular household‑level insights, J.P. Morgan also sets a data‑sharing precedent that could encourage more collaborative research between traditional asset managers and fintech innovators.

Accessing the full report

The complete 2026 Guide to Retirement is available on J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s website. Interested parties can download the PDF directly from the firm’s press release page.

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