Taiwanese believe they would need NT$16 million (US$515,049) to cover their retirement expenses, suggesting an 8.3 percent increase, or NT$1.2 million, from last year, driven by economic and health reasons, an annual survey by PCA Life Assurance Co (保誠人壽) found yesterday.
The upward adjustment is due to rising consumer prices, household expenditures and life spans, the survey said after polling 1,500 people online from Oct. 17 to 25.
Although more than 80 percent have positive expectations about retirement, a record 18.4 percent said they have no intention to retire, a gain of 8.2 percent from last year, the survey showed.
Photo: Kelson Wang, Taipei Times
A total of 54.2 percent said they began retirement preparations aged 40 and 32.8 percent indicated they would postpone retirement due to economic and health considerations, it said, as some people believe work is good for their health.
Health concerns top the list of unease among people who are about to retire at 59.1 percent, followed by inadequate financial preparation at 51.7 percent and health conditions of family members at 48.5 percent, the survey showed.
Of the sandwich generation, middle-aged people who are supporting aging parents and children, 48.9 percent rate the financial stress linked to retirement preparation at five out of 10, it showed.
The sandwich generation, which accounts for 80 percent of the nation’s population, described taking care of aging parents as their largest source of concern at 66.9 percent, followed by their own health at 52.5 percent, and their children’s education, marriage and career at 46.4 percent, the survey found.
The sandwich generation sets aside an average of NT$16,000 per month for their retirement and 80 percent intend to cover their retirement costs with their own savings, 58.8 percent with wealth management income, 45.2 percent using pension funds and 43.8 percent with insurance policies, it showed.
Stock holdings ranked first at 71 percent for choice of wealth management tools, trailed by demand and time deposits at 68.7 percent and insurance policies at 57.7 percent, it showed.
On average, people check their portfolio every 6.8 months and people who plan to retire aged 50 review their portfolio every 5.8 months, it showed.
People without retirement plans check their portfolio every 7.8 months, the survey found.
PAC Life suggested people build up a comprehensive retirement plan that would protect their entire family against potential career discontinuation in the pursuit of a better future.
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