Goldman Sachs Retirement Survey 2025: People with High Financial Grit Retire with 49% More Savings

"Respondents with high Financial Grit hold 49 percent more in retirement savings than those with low Financial Grit, even when income is the same. The paychecks match. The balances do not. The difference comes from behavior that compounds quietly over decades."

"Goldman describes Financial Grit as a mix of determination, perseverance, long-term orientation, optimism, and resilience. In practical terms, it shows up as three habits: contributing on schedule, reinvesting income, and staying invested when the news cycle turns negative. These habits do not rely on forecasts or perfect timing. They rely on consistency."

"The environment makes consistency harder, which Goldman calls the Financial Vortex, a long-running squeeze driven by rising costs of housing, healthcare, childcare, and college. These categories have grown faster than median wages since 2000. The survey shows that 67 percent of working respondents say too many monthly expenses affect their ability to save for retirement."

"The survey captures how widespread the strain has become. Too many monthly expenses affect 67 percent of workers. Financial hardship affects 64 percent. Caring for and financially supporting family members affects 62 percent of respondents. Credit card debt affects 58 percent, while another 57% are affected by paying down existing loans."

High Financial Grit is linked to 49% more retirement savings than low Financial Grit even when income is the same. Financial Grit combines determination, perseverance, long-term orientation, optimism, and resilience. Three habits drive the difference: contributing on schedule, reinvesting income, and staying invested when the news cycle turns negative. Consistency matters more than forecasts or perfect timing. Rising household costs create a “Financial Vortex” that makes consistency harder, with housing, healthcare, childcare, and college costs growing faster than median wages since 2000. Many workers report that monthly expenses, financial hardship, family support, credit card debt, and loan paydown affect their ability to save, shaping behavior before market volatility appears.

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