Is retirement now a 'nightmare'?

Good afternoon. Retirement isn't just about whether you saved enough. It's about whether you planned for what happens after you stop saving. Most people focus on building it. Very few plan what to do once they stop.

On The Money Today:

Let's get into it.

You spent decades building your nest egg. Now you are protecting the balance instead of spending it. Nearly 38% of retirees admit they have spent less than they wanted, not because the money is not there, but because watching the balance shrink feels wrong. There are strategies to fix that.

Ivy Ge left the US for Mexico at 50, drawn by lower costs and proximity to family. A prepaid lease she had to break, exchange rate swings, and taxi costs she never planned for blew her budget fast. Three years in, she has found her footing — and the lessons from year one are ones every would-be expat needs.

More than half of retirees are not sure how long their savings will last, while inflation and healthcare costs keep climbing. For the first time, more retirees say they are living a nightmare than a dream. The window to close that gap is still open.

RETIREMENT: Retired in your 60s with $70,000 saved and healthcare costs eating your budget, this is what financial experts say you can do to stretch it 20 more years

REAL ESTATE: A Baltimore woman inherited her father's house and found a $228,000 water bill taped to the door, now she cannot sell it until it is paid in full

ECONOMY: The Treasury Secretary told a senator groceries are going down. She asked when he last set foot in a grocery store

NEWS: Trump just invoked a trade law no president has ever used before to hit Canada with 50% tariffs that take effect Aug. 19 and cover everything from furniture to clothing

The answer is B) 61 — the average American retires at 61, a full five years earlier than most workers expect to, according to Gallup's April 2026 survey. For most, it isn't a choice — health issues, layoffs and caregiving are the most common reasons.