Americans Are Getting Better at Retirement Investing
After decades of warnings, it looks like the message might finally be landing: Americans are stepping up their retirement game. According to Fidelity, the average 401(k) savings rate hit a record-high 14.3% of income in the first quarter of 2025 — just shy of the 15% advisors typically recommend. That figure includes employer contributions, which now average around 4.8%. Interestingly, many workers are doubling down: Roughly 17% of workers actively increased their savings rate this year, despite market volatility. Only 5% decreased it, and less than 1% stopped saving entirely.
It’s a hopeful sign that long-term thinking may finally be catching on, especially as 401(k) access expands and auto-enrollment becomes more common, often starting workers at 5% or higher and auto-escalating contributions each year.
By generation:
- Boomers are leading the way, saving 17.2% on average
- Gen X is close behind at 15.4%
- Millennials average 13.5%
On one hand, Gen Z is statistically our most financially engaged generation yet. A 2024 Charles Schwab study found they start investing at age 19 — six years earlier than Millennials, and over a decade ahead of Boomers. They’re also more likely to have learned about investing early, whether through school or online, and have benefited from easier access to markets via apps and social platforms.
But despite that head start, many Gen Zers are skeptical about traditional retirement altogether. According to a Nationwide survey, nearly half expect to work past age 65, and over a third say the standard retirement age no longer feels relevant. Between high debt, rising costs, and a sense that retirement is out of reach, some are leaning into nontraditional assets (like crypto) — or even skipping retirement savings entirely in favor of short-term priorities.
Want more insights like this delivered to your inbox every week? Subscribe to our newsletter below ⬇️
Answers to your questions
Yes. Origin offers partner access so you can manage your finances together at no additional cost. You’ll be able to filter transactions by member—making it easy to see which spending is yours and which belongs to your partner.
Yes. You can edit existing transactions and add new ones directly in Origin, so your records stay accurate and personalized.
Origin connects securely through trusted partners including Plaid, MX, and Mastercard.
Yes. Origin supports CSV uploads. You can upload a .csv file of your transactions, and we’ll import them into your account.
Yes. Your data is protected with bank-level security and advanced encryption. When you connect accounts through Origin, your login credentials are never shared with us. Instead, our partners generate secure tokens that let Origin access only the data you authorize—keeping your personal information private while enabling personalized insights.
Yes. You have full control to organize your spending in Origin. Transactions are automatically categorized by Origin, but you can always edit categories, add your own tags, and filter transactions however you like—so your spending reflects the way you actually manage money.
