Millennials feel the financial squeeze: Own a home or fund retirement?

Current financial challenges such as high housing costs have altered how Millennials (age 29-44) approach financial planning. As this generation faces big financial decisions in the coming years, financial professionals can help them design a plan to build financial security for retirement that adapts with their lives.

Insights from our latest Advisor Authority survey, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute^®, can help you balance your Millennial clients’ short- and long-term planning needs.

Nearly 3 in 5 Millennials feel forced to choose between home ownership and retirement security.

46%

Unlike older generations, Millennials often see home ownership as a challenge to their retirement financial security, not as an opportunity to build wealth.

60%

of Millennials have adjusted some of their retirement plans since the start of 2025 in response to rising housing costs.

Man and woman sitting at a desk looking at a computer.

For many Millennials, retirement confidence is shaky.

Millennials are feeling confident in their ability to achieve a secure retirement, but for many that confidence may be fragile over fears about running out of money.

More than a fifth (22%) say they’re concerned their savings won’t last more than 14 years.

One in ten (10%) say their retirement savings are already dwindling.

Man sitting at a desk with his computer and talking to two people.

Millennials seek guidance to balance short- and long-term needs.

Millennials are actively seeking guidance from financial professionals while they tackle immediate challenges such as home ownership. Financial professionals, on the other hand, favor a longer-term view on financial security throughout retirement.

35%

of financial professionals say the uncertain future of Social Security and Medicare poses the most immediate challenges to client portfolios.

Only 6% of Millennials consider presumed lack of Social Security funds as a challenge to their retirement preparations.

82%

of financial professionals say health care costs are a significant factor in their Millennial clients’ ability to plan for retirement.

13%

Only 13% of Millennials consider health care costs and long-term care expenses as an obstacle in retirement planning.

Financial professionals can bring focus to the blind spots in financial planning—their clients’ and their own. Be aware of the immediate challenges your Millennial clients face and craft a plan that puts them on a path to future financial security.

Nationwide is ready to support you along the way. Find resources, tools and solutions to help you meet a wide range of client financial planning needs.

See how Nationwide can support financial planning with clients.

The Harris Poll, on behalf of Nationwide, conducted an online survey in the U. S. among 510 advisors and financial professionals and 2,007 investors ages 18+ with investable assets (IA) of $10K+, August 19 – September 2, 2025.

For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact vasask@nationwide.com.