AARP Research Insights on Financial Resilience

AARP Research on financial resilience highlights U.S. adults' experiences with and feelings about savings and planning, workforce and employers, fraud, and Social Security.

Fraud

Fraud is widespread, well‑recognized, and highly concerning among U.S. adults

• The vast majority of adults age 18-plus (87%) know that fraud can happen to anyone. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• Many adults report high concern about scams and fraud, with an average worry level of 7.1 out of 10. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• An estimated 103 million adults (38%) have had money stolen due to fraud or had their sensitive information used fraudulently. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]
• While concern is high, many older Americans underestimate the true financial impact of fraud: the average loss for adults age 60 and older was $83,000 in 2024, yet only 16% of adults age 50-plus believe average losses exceed $50,000. [Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]

Social stigma and underreporting mask the true impact of fraud

• Over 6 in 10 adults age 50-plus (62%) view romance scam victims as targets of a crime.
• At the same time, 60% assume romance scam victims were “naive or too trusting,” reinforcing stigma and shame.
• More than half (55%) of romance scam incidents involving adults age 50-plus are never reported, often due to stigma or not knowing where to turn. 

[Source: Love, Trust & Online Deception: What Adults 50-plus Need to Know About Romance Scams, fielded November 2025]

Scammers use emotions, timing, and familiar situations to increase susceptibility

• Nearly 1 in 10 adults age 50-plus (9%) has experienced an online romantic connection that led to a request for money or cryptocurrency, with those ages 50 to 64 facing this risk at twice the rate of those age 65-plus.
• Romance scams frequently target older adults where they connect most: dating apps (63%), social media platforms (42%), and messaging apps (21%).

[Source: Love, Trust & Online Deception: What Adults 50-plus Need to Know About Romance Scams, fielded November 2025]

Awareness lags as traditional scam tactics are increasingly combined with cryptocurrency

• Among adults age 50-plus, awareness of crypto‑related scam variations includes family emergency scams (62%), fake romantic interests (58%), and fake government officials (55%). [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Fewer older adults (39%) have heard of the “compromised bank account” scam, where victims are told to protect their funds by converting them into cryptocurrency. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Confidence in recovery is low: Only 25% of older adults feel confident they would know what steps to take to get their money back or how to report the incident if they fell victim to a cryptocurrency-related scam. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Cryptocurrency ATMs are a significant blind spot; only 19% of adults say they could recognize one. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

Online shopping and delivery scams are increasingly common

• Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. adults (89%) report being targeted by or experiencing at least one form of fraud during the holiday season.
• Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) U.S. consumers have experienced fraud when seeking to buy a product through an online ad, a significant increase from 35% in 2024.
• Three in 10 (30%) adults have had a package stolen from outside their door, up from 25% in 2024.
• One in 3 (33%) adults have given or received a gift card with no balance.

[Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]

Emerging digital scams spread rapidly through everyday channels

• Nearly 6 in 10 (58%) adults received a scam text message about an unpaid toll in the past year. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• More than half (55%) of adults have received a fraudulent notification about a shipment issue. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Large majorities of older adults are concerned about AI‑enabled fraud tactics, including: Password cracking (87%); deepfakes (85%); spear phishing (84%); voice cloning (84%); synthetic identities (83%); and automated scams targeting large numbers of people (81%). [Source: Older Adults Express High Concern and Limited Knowledge about Scams and Fraud Involving Artificial Intelligence, fielded August 2024]
• Despite these concerns, 64% of adults feel confident they can recognize AI‑driven fraud — potentially creating a false sense of security. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]  

Protective behaviors exist, but knowledge and behavior gaps remain

• Only 27% of adults correctly answered seven or more true/false questions about safe financial practices. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• 66% of consumers incorrectly believe (or are unsure) that online retailers may request login information for customer support. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Only 55% of consumers know that a credit card is the safest way to pay online. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• Significant exposure persists in digital activities:

- Only 35% use a unique password for every online account

- 60% do not use a VPN on public Wi‑Fi

- 21% answer calls and 10% respond to texts from unknown numbers at least half the time

[Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

• While most adults shred sensitive documents, 32% say they seldom or never do so. [Source: The Fraud Crisis in America: How Adults Consumers Feel, What They Know and Their Exposure to Risk, fielded January 2026]

Consumers support stronger fraud protections from lawmakers and shared responsibility.

• Nine in 10 (92%) Americans agree that lawmakers need to do more to protect the public from fraud and scams. [Source: 2025 Holiday Shopping and Scams Survey of U.S. Consumers Ages 18-Plus, fielded August 2025]
• This support extends specifically to cryptocurrency: 92% of adults age 50-plus believe it is important for lawmakers to pass laws protecting consumers from crypto-kiosk-related fraud, such as setting transaction limits, licensing operators, and requiring paper receipts. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Anti-fraud advocacy influences voting behavior: 71% of older adults say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports strong laws to stop criminals from using crypto kiosks to steal money. [Source: Older Adults Want Lawmakers to Implement Better Protections Against Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud, fielded February 2026]
• Older Americans place high importance on:

- Requiring social media companies to identify and remove scam advertisements (98%)

- Requiring phone companies to use better technology to block scam calls and text messages (98%)

- Requiring banks and payment apps to stop suspicious payments so people can be warned before money is sent (97%)

- Having the U.S. government work with international law enforcement to stop organized scam operations (97%)

- Requiring stronger anti‑scam protections for gift cards, which are frequently targeted by scammers (93%)

[Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]

Victim‑centered recovery measures receive strong public backing

• More than 8 in 10 (82%) adults age 50-plus adults say it is important to create a government fund to return stolen money to people who experience fraud when recovered funds are available. [Source: Stopping Fraud Before Money Is Stolen: What Older Americans Want, fielded March 2026]
• Nine in 10 (90%) adults age 50-plus support providing additional federal funding to help state and local police better identify, investigate, and stop financial scams targeting older adults, including nearly half who strongly support this approach. [Source: Stopping Scams, Supporting Victims: A National Survey of Adults Ages 50-Plus, fielded February 2026]
• More than 8 in 10 (86%) adults age 50-plus support legislation that would allow fraud victims to subtract stolen funds when filing their taxes — ensuring they are not taxed on money they no longer have — with nearly half expressing strong support. [Source: Stopping Scams, Supporting Victims: A National Survey of Adults Ages 50-Plus, fielded February 2026]

Savings & Planning

Despite slowing, inflation remains a concern.

• Three-fourths of adults 30-plus (74%) worry about prices rising faster than their income. And while over seven in ten adults age 50-plus (72%) worry about this, adults ages 30–49 are even more likely to do so (77%). [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023]

Adults age 30-plus have numerous financial worries in addition to inflation, many of which vary by age. 

• Optimism about the future is at its highest since January 2022, with 41% of adults 30-plus expecting their finances to be better next year, up from 39% who expressed such expectations in January 2023 and 36% in January 2022.
• Sense of personal financial security among adults 30-plus remains unchanged since January 2022, with 57% rating their financial situation as either good or excellent today, which is unchanged from the 58% who felt the same in January 2023.
• Men of all ages and income groups feel less financially secure than they did in January 2022. Today, a full 42% of all men age 30-plus describe their financial situation as only fair or poor, up from 34% when the survey began in January 2022.
• Despite the decline in men's sense of financial security, men appear to be better off than women. For example, men are more likely than women to have emergency savings and retirement savings and less likely to view their debt as unmanageable.
• Most adults age 30-plus (66%) worry about having enough money to be financially secure throughout their retirement years. Adults ages 30–49 are more likely than adults age 50-plus to worry about this (73% vs. 60%). [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023]  
• Nearly all (90%) of adults age 45-plus believe having enough income or savings to retire is at least very important. [Source: AARP Vital Voices, 2022–2024]
• Most adults age 30-plus (61%) worry about having enough money to cover a large, unexpected expense. Again, adults ages 30–49 are more likely than adults age 50-plus to be worried about this (68% vs. 56%). [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023]
• About half of adults age 30-plus (52%) worry about protecting themselves against financial fraud. Worry does not differ significantly by age, as 54% of adults ages 30–49 and 51% of adults age 50-plus worry about this. [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023] In fact, 79% of adults age 45-plus believe protecting yourself against consumer fraud is very or extremely important. [Source: AARP Vital Voices, 2022–2024]
• Nearly half of adults age 30-plus (45%) worry about being able to manage their debt. Adults ages 30–49 are more likely than adults age 50-plus to worry about this (56% vs. 38%). [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023]

The largest barriers to saving for emergencies and saving for retirement are everyday expenses, housing costs, and debt.

• Everyday expenses, housing costs, and debt are the top barriers to saving both for emergencies and for retirement. Roughly six in ten adults age 30-plus cite everyday expenses as a barrier to emergency saving, while roughly four in ten cite debt and housing costs as barriers.  Over half (54%) cite everyday expenses as a barrier to retirement savings, while roughly one in three cite housing costs (36%) and debt (34%) as barriers to retirement savings. [Sources: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023 and AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: July 2022]

Debt, coupled with inflation, continues to burden many adults age 30-plus.

• Consistent with a year ago, eight in ten adults age 30-plus carry debt from month to month. Among them, 42% say their debt is not manageable. Adults ages 30–49 are more likely than adults age 50-plus with debt to find their amount of debt unmanageable (51% vs. 35%). [Source: AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: January 2023]

Social Security

Social Security is a bipartisan issue.

• A strong majority (96%) of adults age 18-plus say that Social Security is an important program compared to other government programs. This support remains consistent across political party affiliations.
• In fact, nearly three-quarters (74%) of adults age 18-plus indicate it is "one of the most important programs," a significant increase from 68% in 2020.
• Support spans generations, though the intensity of importance grows with age; 85% of adults 50-plus call it one of the most important programs compared to 65% of those ages 18 to 49.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Americans rely or will rely heavily on Social Security for retirement income.

• About 2 in 5 Americans (39%) say they rely or will rely on Social Security for a substantial amount of their retirement income.
• When identifying the single source they will rely on most, Social Security (40%) remains the most common response, followed by personal retirement accounts like 401(k)s at 29%.
• Reliance is highest among current retirees: 65% report relying on Social Security for a substantial portion of their income.
• Vast majorities of Americans plan to rely on the program: 80% of adults report they will rely on it at least "somewhat" for retirement income.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Many Americans lack the knowledge needed to make important Social Security related decisions.

• While 84% of Americans age 18-plus say it is important to understand the best age to claim benefits, 74% do not know the age that maximizes their monthly payments (age 70).
• Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) misunderstand the impact of the Trust Fund being exhausted. 36% incorrectly believe all payments would stop, while only 34% correctly understand that benefits would continue at a reduced level.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Most Americans believe the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is too low.

• In 2025, 62% of Americans age 18-plus believe the average monthly Social Security retirement benefit of $2,002 is too low.
• Concern about financial stability is high: 78% of adults age 18-plus are concerned that Social Security will not be enough to get by on. This includes 80% of those ages 18 to 49 and 76% of those 50-plus.
• Concerns about the program's availability are deeply felt; 80% of adults age 18-plus worry the program will not be there for them when they need it.

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Older adults are concerned about the impact of inflation and the adequacy of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA).

• 77% of Americans age 50-plus disagree that the projected 3% COLA for 2026 is enough to keep up with rising prices. [Source: 2026 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Survey, fielded September 2025]
• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of older adults believe an increase of 5% or higher is necessary to help recipients afford everyday living expenses. [Source: 2026 Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Survey, fielded September 2025]
• Misinformation is driving a "rush" to claim benefits: 49% of older Americans who recently claimed (or plan to claim) benefits earlier than planned were motivated by fears that the program is "running out of money". [Source: Social Security Early Claiming, 2025, fielded June 2025]

Americans feel responsible to ensure Social Security is there for everyone and believe it makes the lives of retirees better.

• 90% of adults age 18-plus believe "it would be unfair to people who are retired or near retirement to make major changes to Social Security that would affect them".
• The vast majority (89%) agree that "Social Security provides financial security for all Americans; without it, the people who count on it most would really suffer".
• 88% believe the program "makes it possible for many older Americans to remain independent and not have to depend on their children or family".
• 85% support the principle that "everyone who pays into Social Security should receive it no matter what other income they have".

[Source: 2025 Social Security 90th Anniversary Survey, fielded June 2025]

Workforce & Employers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology Adoption

• Widespread employer integration: 88% of employers currently use some form of AI in their operations. [Source: AI, Employers, and the Multigenerational Workforce, fielded November-December 2025]
• Strategic decision makers: 46% of employers report that most or all of their strategic decisions regarding where and how to use AI are made by employees age 40 and older. [Source: AI, Employers, and the Multigenerational Workforce, fielded November-December 2025]
• Worker usage trends: Only 16% of workers age 50 and older report using AI in their jobs to any extent as of early 2025, primarily to find information (56%), create content (34%), and analyze data (29%). [Source: How AI is Impacting the Future of Work Among Adults Age 50-Plus, fielded February-March 2025]
• The AI "Leapfrog" opportunity: Older workers are 7.2% more likely than younger peers to hold roles insulated from AI disruption (49.4% vs 42.2%), as their roles rely more on "human-centric" skills like leadership and ethics. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Tech-focused learning surge: Between 2022 and 2025, the share of tech-focused learning sessions for older workers rose from 19.5% to 26.6%, shrinking the engagement gap in tech training from 31% to less than 11%. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• AI training barriers: While 47% of older workers are interested in AI training, only 10% have actually taken an AI-related course, despite employers reporting widespread training opportunities. [Source: How AI is Impacting the Future of Work Among Adults Age 50-Plus, fielded February-March 2025]

Workplace Requirements: Flexibility, Meaning, and Money

• Financial necessity: 41% of workers age 50 and older cite needing money for basic living expenses as their primary reason for working, while 24% do not expect to ever fully retire. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]
• The flexibility mandate: Flexibility is a non-negotiable requirement for job seekers; 79% want choice in when they work and 66% want the ability to work from home at least sometimes. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Meaningful engagement: 90% of older workers require "meaningful work" before accepting a new position. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• The "work-life" priority shift: 33% of older workers report that the pandemic made them prioritize a better work-life balance over meaningful work alone. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Retirement delay factors: Among those planning to retire later than expected, 64% cite the cost of living (housing and food) and 35% cite household debt. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]
• Unretirement is a financial necessity for some:  7% of older Americans say they have returned to work from retirement in the past six months, primarily due to economic concerns. [Source: Labor Force Pulse Survey, fielded July-August 2025 and November-December 2025]

Growth Mindset, Multigenerational Workforces, and Mentorship

• The retention premium: Among workers hired in June 2024, 85.4% of workers age 50 and older remained with their employer one year later, compared to just 70.6% of those under 50. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Inherent growth mindset: 79% of workers age 50 and older actively seek out opportunities to learn new skills. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Willingness to reskill: 60% of older workers are willing to learn new skills if requested by an employer, driven primarily by personal interest (34%) rather than mandatory requirements (11%). [Source: Job Reskilling and Upskilling Among the 50-Plus, fielded January-February 2022, September-October 2022, and June-July 2023]
• Bidirectional mentorship: 40% of younger workers rely on older colleagues for updates on tech trends, and 30% rely on them to help understand and integrate AI into their work, highlighting the value of mutigenerational workforces.  [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• 90% of workers age 18 and older enjoy working with people of different ages than themselves. [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• The career engine: 86% of workers who have participated in mentoring say it was vital to their professional growth. [Source: Multigenerational Workforces and Mentoring, fielded August 2025]
• Experience advantage: Older workers bring an average of 15 additional years of career experience and possess professional networks that are 20.4% larger and more senior than those of younger workers.  [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]
• Closing the training gap: Participation in LinkedIn learning by older workers has reached near parity; in 2022, younger workers were 13.5% more likely to participate in training than older workers, but by 2025, that gap shrank to just 1.6%. [Source: The Untapped Value Older Workers Bring to the Multigenerational Workforce (AARP-LinkedIn Survey)]

Age Discrimination Impedes Employment for Older Workers

• General perception: 64% of workers age 50 and older believe older workers face discrimination in the workplace today. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Commonality of bias: Among those who believe it exists, 91% believe it is common (36% very common, 55% somewhat common). [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Job search barriers: 74% of older adults believe their age would be a barrier to getting a new job (42% major barrier, 32% minor barrier). [Source: Job Change 2025, fielded October-November 2024]
• Intersectional discrimination: 72% of Black workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination in the workforce; 60% of Hispanic workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination; 63% of Asian-Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers age 50 and older perceive age discrimination. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Specific instances experienced (since turning 40):

- 31% have heard negative remarks about an older co-worker’s age

- 27% did not get hired for a job they applied for because of their age

- 24% have heard negative remarks about their own older age from a colleague

- 22% were passed up for a promotion or chance to get ahead

- 16% were laid off, fired, or forced out of a job because of age

[Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]

• Subtle ageism: 33% of workers have observed the subtle assumption that older employees are "less tech-savvy." [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• The "push out" effect: 22% of current workers age 50 and older feel they are being pushed out of their jobs because of their age. [Source: Age Discrimination in the Workforce: Work & Jobs Data Trends, fielded June-July 2024, September-October 2024, June-July 2025, and September-November 2025]
• Application barriers: 53% of job seekers were asked to provide their birth date or graduation date during the application process in the last two years. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• The reporting gap: While discrimination is common, only 13% of workers have ever made a formal complaint to HR or a supervisor about age discrimination. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Stronger — not weaker — age protections: Ninety percent of workers age 40 and older support efforts to strengthen the nation’s age discrimination laws. And 65% agree that Americans should not be required to provide age-related information (e.g., birth date, graduation date, etc.) on their job application or during the job interview process.  [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]

Unemployment and Financial Recovery

• The pandemic "hiring tax": Adults age 55-plus who were unemployed during the peak pandemic (2020–2021) and were still looking for work report a 62% incidence of age discrimination during their search.  [Source: 2022 Unemployment Short-Term and Long-Term, fielded June-July 2022]
• Low confidence: 53% of older job seekers do not feel confident they can find a similar job within three months. [Source: Understanding a Changing Older Workforce: An Examination of Workers Ages 40-Plus (Value of Experience), fielded September-October 2022]
• Recovery challenges: Only 25% of older adults feel they have completely recovered financially from their most recent period of unemployment.  [Source: 2022 Unemployment Short-Term and Long-Term, fielded June-July 2022]

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