Homeowners Ages 55 to 64 Report Lowest Retirement Confidence, Longbridge Financial Survey Finds

New research released during National Retirement Security Month also finds a 42-percentage-point confidence gap based on where homeowners hold their wealth

PARAMUS, N.J., October 19, 2026--As National Retirement Security Month puts a spotlight on Americans' financial preparedness for retirement, new research from Longbridge Financial finds a significant confidence divide among older homeowners, with those ages 55 to 64 reporting the lowest retirement confidence across every measure surveyed.

The findings are featured in "The Retirement Confidence Divide," the second volume of the 2026 Longbridge Financial Home Equity Confidence Index, based on a national survey of 2,021 U.S. homeowners age 55 and older conducted by Morning Consult. The research examines how retirement confidence varies by age, income, and where homeowners hold their wealth.

Among homeowners age 75 and older, 82% say they are confident in their ability to afford everyday expenses in retirement, compared with 59% of those ages 55 to 64. The pattern extends across other measures of retirement confidence, including overall financial security, 66% compared with 47%; covering unexpected expenses, 74% compared with 48%; and affording health care, 78% compared with 53%.

"National Retirement Security Month is an important reminder that retirement readiness can look very different from one household to another," said Chris Mayer, CEO of Longbridge Financial. "Our research shows homeowners ages 55 to 64 reporting considerably less confidence than older homeowners, while people whose wealth is concentrated in their homes also report much lower confidence than those with more savings and investments. For many Americans approaching retirement, understanding the full picture of their household wealth, including the equity they have built in their homes, should be part of the retirement planning conversation."

Where wealth is held corresponds with a significant confidence gap

Retirement confidence also varies considerably depending on whether homeowners' wealth is held primarily in home equity or in savings and investments.

Across all seven retirement measures included in the survey, homeowners whose wealth is primarily concentrated in home equity report lower confidence than those whose wealth is primarily held in savings and investments.

The largest difference is in overall financial security. Thirty percent of homeowners whose wealth is primarily in home equity report feeling confident, compared with 72% of those whose wealth is primarily in savings and investments, a 42-percentage-point gap.