Financial Fatigue: Over 24 million adults in the UK are financially ‘disengaged’

More than 24.5 million people (46%) are financially disengaged, according to new research¹ from Legal & General Retail.

The study also shows that one in 20 adults - the equivalent of 2.4 million² people - were previously financially engaged before changing their behaviour. Key reasons for this change include feeling financially secure enough to be less diligent with managing their money (20%), or because other areas of their life have become busier (18%). However, almost a fifth (17%) couldn’t state a reason.

But previous periods of financial uncertainty, such as recessions, were stated as the key driver for people to become financially engaged (27%), so the current cost-of-living crisis could mean people keep a closer eye on their money.

Almost two thirds of respondents (62%) said they regularly check their household budget and their spending, while 73% shop around for the best deal, or use discount codes and vouchers (64%).

Pre-retirement preparation

On average, pre-retirees (those aged 55+ who are still in work) are more financially engaged than the rest of the population (62% compared to the UK average of 54%). But many are still inactive when it comes to their retirement planning, suggesting people might not know where to start.

More than a third (34%) do not currently check their workplace pension while 28% do not currently review their personal pension. Separate research³ from the provider shows one in five people still reach midlife without having engaged with their retirement at all.

For those approaching retirement, the following points might help people feel more in control of their finances:

Make use of free support services – we know that 52% of UK adults haven’t taken advantage of the free financial guidance that’s currently available to all, including services like Money Helper. Taking small steps like this can play an important role in planning for the future from a place of knowledge. 

Be aware of the bigger picture - make sure you have a full understanding of all your assets, whether this is via tools, retirement planning courses, research, guidance, or – where appropriate – financial advice. Taking stock of what you have saved overall and using a pension tracing service to understand your total savings will help make retirement planning easier.

Engage with your pension early…  it is crucial that people engage with their pensions early and make decisions from a place of knowledge. For too many people, retirement can feel like something that simply shows up, rather than something they build towards. But if people can access the right tools and support earlier in life, they will feel more confident in making decisions, which will increase engagement and pay off in the long-term.

…but it’s never too late to save – if you are reaching retirement age and worry you do not have enough in your pension pot, it’s not too late to save. Even just £50 per month from age 55 could mean an additional £11,700 by the time you reach state pension age at 67⁴.

References

¹Research was carried out online by Opinium Research amongst 4,000 UK adults aged 18+ between the 14th-20th October 2022. 1,856 participants indicated that they were financially disengaged in the survey. 1856/4000=46% which equates to 24,541,000 UK adults

²181 participants indicated that they were financially disengaged in the survey. 181/4000=5% which equates to 2,390,000 UK adults

³Opinium survey of 4,009 UK adults aged between 40 and 60 years old in the UK was conducted between the 28th December and 6th January 2021

⁴Assumptions: Contributions increase by 3.5% each year, investment return of 5% each year net of all costs/charges.
Note: Allowing for inflation of 2.5% each year this £11,700 would be worth £8,700 in today’s money terms.