Retirement Starts Today 38% of Retirees Underspend
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Aug 17, 2026 A look at a survey showing many retirees hold back spending to avoid shrinking their nest egg. Discussion of different retirement spending shapes and the idea of a minimum dignity floor. Practical strategies for replacing lost survivor pension income without overly cutting current living. A profile of purposeful retirement activities like tutoring, volunteering, and pickleball.
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Many Retirees Hold Back Even With Money
- 38% of retirees admit they spend less than they'd like to avoid watching retirement balances fall.
- Benjamin Brandt cites a Corebridge decumulation survey showing behavior, not lack of funds, drives underspending.
Most Retirees Treat Nest Egg Like Permanent Emergency Fund
- 70% of retirees say it's very important their nest egg doesn't shrink at all in retirement.
- Benjamin Brandt calls this a supersized emergency fund mindset that often outlasts what's actually needed.
Decumulation Planning Is Rare And Causes Friction
- Few people have a decumulation plan: only 29% age 55+ have any withdrawal plan and 46% never heard the word decumulation.
- This planning gap explains emotional resistance to spending.