J.P. Morgan Asset Management Releases 2026 Guide to Retirement

Rhea-AI Summary

J.P. Morgan Asset Management (NYSE:JPM) released the 14th annual 2026 Guide to Retirement on February 26, 2026, offering data-driven guidance on retirement income, Social Security timing, spending volatility and tax-smart savings.

The Guide uses anonymized household data and proprietary research to highlight key findings: workplace plans sharply raise savings rates, small increases in contributions materially improve readiness, six in ten new retirees face early spending shocks, and guaranteed income correlates with higher retirement spending.

Positive

• Workplace plan impact: 62% with plan have ≥ $100,000 saved
• Small savings boost: 1% higher savings can cover nearly nine years of Medicare expenses
• Guaranteed income correlation: Households with guaranteed income spend up to 44% more

Negative

• Early retirement shocks: Six in ten new retirees face significant spending volatility in first three years
• Social Security reduction: Claiming at 62 reduces benefits to 70% of full benefit
• Earlier-than-expected retirements: Median actual retirement age is 62 vs expected 65

Key Figures

Guide edition: 14th edition Savings rate increase: 1% Workers with plans: 62% +5 more

8 metrics

Guide edition 14th edition 2026 Guide to Retirement release

Savings rate increase 1% Small consistent savings rate increases cited as impactful

Workers with plans 62% Share of workers with workplace plan having at least $100,000 saved

Savings threshold $100,000 Savings level achieved by many workers with workplace plans

Workers without plans 5% Share without workplace plan having at least $100,000 saved

Early claim reduction 70% Benefit level when Social Security claimed at 62 vs full benefit

Delayed claiming age 70 Age at which delayed Social Security claiming is discussed

Delayed benefit increase 24% Increase in monthly Social Security vs full retirement age when claiming at 70

Market Reality Check

Price: $303.30 Vol: Volume 7,600,418 vs 20-da...

normal vol

$303.30 Last Close

Volume Volume 7,600,418 vs 20-day average 10,526,705 (relative volume 0.72x). normal

Technical Price 303.30 is trading above the 200-day MA at 298.91.

Peers on Argus

Key peers in diversified banking are also positive today, with BAC up 2.7%, C up...

Key peers in diversified banking are also positive today, with BAC up 2.7%, C up 2.71%, WFC up 1.84%, HSBC up 1.73%, and RY up 1.51%, while the momentum scanner has not flagged a broad sector move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 25 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 25	Corporate lending	Positive	+2.0%	JPM provided a roughly $100M credit facility to support client expansion.
Feb 25	Client earnings link	Neutral	+2.0%	Hut 8 reported 2025 results including revenue, loss, cash, and credit capacity.
Feb 24	Structured product income	Positive	+2.0%	JPMorgan Chase Financial declared a coupon and yield for an MLP Index ETN.
Feb 19	Rating affirmation	Positive	-0.2%	AM Best affirmed Park Assurance’s ratings with a stable outlook as JPM captive.
Feb 18	Branch expansion plan	Positive	+0.5%	Chase outlined 2026 plans to open and renovate hundreds of U.S. branches.

Pattern Detected

Recent JPM-related news, mainly operational and balance sheet oriented, has generally seen price moves that align modestly with the positive tone, with one instance of divergence following a favorable rating action.

Recent Company History

Over the last several days, JPM-related headlines have highlighted credit provision, structured product income, insurance strength, and branch expansion. On Feb 18, Chase announced plans to open over 160 new branches and renovate nearly 600 locations. A Feb 19 AM Best review affirmed strong captive insurer ratings. On Feb 24, JPMorgan Chase Financial set a coupon for an MLP ETN. The current retirement-focused guide extends JPM’s advisory and research presence rather than altering capital or credit positions.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement expands JPM’s Retirement Insights platform with the 14th Guide to Retirement, emph...

Analysis

This announcement expands JPM’s Retirement Insights platform with the 14th Guide to Retirement, emphasizing savings targets, Social Security timing, small‑business plan access, and guaranteed income. It builds on JPM’s recent activity in lending, branch expansion, and structured products without altering capital or credit terms. Investors may focus on how such research supports advisory and retirement-related business lines and track future disclosures where these themes translate into products, flows, or fee income.

Key Terms

social security, medicare, auto-enrollment, auto-escalation, +1 more

5 terms

social security regulatory

"Social Security readiness, the role of alternatives in 401k plans, and the growing"

Social security is a government-run program that provides regular payments to people who are retired, disabled, or otherwise eligible for income support, funded by taxes or contributions. Investors watch social security because changes to its funding, benefit levels, or eligibility affect consumer spending, the cost of labor and government budgets—much like a town’s safety net influencing how comfortably residents spend and plan for the future.

medicare regulatory

"retirement readiness and cover nearly nine years of Medicare-related expenses."

Medicare is a large government-run health insurance program that primarily covers people aged 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities. For investors it matters because Medicare acts like a huge customer and rule-maker for hospitals, drugmakers and medical-device companies—its coverage decisions, payment rates and regulatory policies can change demand, revenue and profit margins across the healthcare sector, similar to how a major client or regulator can shape a business’s prospects.

auto-enrollment financial

"Features like auto-enrollment and auto-escalation can further boost retirement"

Auto-enrollment is a payroll or account setting that signs people up for a program—most commonly a retirement or benefits plan—automatically unless they choose to opt out. For investors, auto-enrollment matters because it raises participation rates and predictable saving or spending patterns, which can affect a company’s labor costs, employee retention and morale, long-term pension liabilities, and the stability of cash flows—much like setting a subscription to renew automatically increases steady revenue for a business.

auto-escalation financial

"Features like auto-enrollment and auto-escalation can further boost retirement"

Auto-escalation is an automated process that raises the priority of an issue, order, alert or decision to a higher level of review or action when predefined conditions or thresholds are met. For investors, it matters because it speeds up responses to problems or opportunities—like an alarm that summons more responders as a situation worsens—reducing operational or regulatory risk and helping ensure urgent matters (trading errors, compliance breaches, customer complaints) get faster, more senior attention.

guaranteed income financial

"the growing interest in guaranteed income strategies. The Guide leverages"

Guaranteed income is a steady stream of payments someone is contractually promised to receive, for example from a pension, an annuity, or a government program. Think of it like a paycheck you can count on — it reduces uncertainty about future cash flow and helps people cover living costs. Investors care because the promise depends on the issuer’s credit and solvency, and guaranteed payments affect the value, risk profile and pricing of related securities.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Retirement experts share actionable insights on retirement income, investment planning and Social Security to help shape decisions in the year ahead

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Morgan Asset Management today released the 14th edition of its annual Guide to Retirement, delivering new insights into the ever changing dynamics of retirement planning. The 2026 edition explores timely topics, such as the impact of spending patterns, Social Security readiness, the role of alternatives in 401k plans, and the growing interest in guaranteed income strategies. The Guide leverages anonymized household data and proprietary research to showcase real-life spending and saving patterns, helping advisors, consultants, plan sponsors, and participants prepare for unforeseen spending shocks and improve retirement outcomes.

"This year's findings show that the top concerns for retirees and those preparing for retirement are generating sufficient income, managing spending volatility and maintaining emergency savings," said Michael Conrath, Chief Retirement Strategist at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "As people live longer and the retirement landscape becomes more unpredictable, advisors need practical tools to help clients and participants understand and navigate retirement challenges. The Guide is a valuable resource that provides real data and meaningful guidance to support more informed financial decisions to help achieve a secure retirement."

Sharon Carson, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Retirement Strategist, added, "Social Security remains one of the most important, and often misunderstood, components of retirement planning. We continue to see that the timing of when you claim benefits can have a lasting impact on your financial security. It's critical for individuals to understand the trade-offs, debunk common myths, and consider their personal circumstances so they can make the most informed choices for their retirement."

Key themes from the Guide to Retirement include:

• The math matters: Know your number. Having a defined savings target and income replacement goal is a key driver of success. Small, consistent increases in savings rates, as little as 1%, can significantly enhance retirement readiness and cover nearly nine years of Medicare-related expenses.
• Small business, big retirement opportunities. Small businesses have more options than ever to help owners and employees prepare for retirement. Access to a workplace retirement plan makes a significant difference: 62% of workers with a plan have at least $100,000 saved, compared to just 5% without one. Features like auto-enrollment and auto-escalation can further boost retirement readiness for small business employees.
• Social Security: Expectations vs. reality. While many workers expect to retire at 65, the actual median retirement age is 62, often due to unforeseen circumstances. Claiming Social Security at 62 leads to a permanent reduction to 70% of the full benefit, while waiting until 70 increases monthly payments by 24% compared to claiming at full retirement age. These trade-offs may be complicated by misconceptions about the future of the program.
• Tax-smart savings: Make every dollar count. Choosing the right account type can help you keep more of your retirement savings. For example, diversifying across traditional and tax-free Roth accounts and being strategic about Roth conversions can provide flexibility and control over your tax bill and Medicare premiums in retirement.
• The silent risks to retirement spending. Retirement spending often faces overlooked risks, with six in ten new retirees experiencing significant spending volatility in their first three years. Households with more guaranteed income spend up to 44% more in retirement, highlighting the importance of dependable income and flexible strategies to manage market volatility and unexpected health care costs that may impact long-term financial security.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management's Retirement Insights program offers in-depth analyses of timely retirement topics, helping clients make more informed decisions about their financial futures. The program's suite of resources, including The Guide to Retirement, Retirement by the Numbers, Defined Contribution Plan Participant and Plan Sponsor Surveys, provide actionable ideas and expert perspectives on key retirement issues. In addition, the firm also provides a one-stop-shop of digital tools and resources, including Target Date Compass® and Core Menu Evaluator^SM.

The full 2026 Guide to Retirement can be found here.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of $4.2 trillion (as of 12/31/2025), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. For more information: www.jpmorganassetmanagement.com.

About JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.4 trillion in assets and $362 billion in stockholders' equity as of December 31, 2025. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

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SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management

FAQ

What does the J.P. Morgan 2026 Guide to Retirement (JPM) say about workplace retirement plans?

Workplace retirement plans significantly boost savings: 62% of workers with a plan have at least $100,000 saved. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, features like auto-enrollment and auto-escalation further increase retirement readiness for small business employees.

How does claiming Social Security early affect benefits, per the 2026 Guide to Retirement (JPM)?

Claiming Social Security at 62 permanently reduces monthly benefits to about 70% of full benefit. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, waiting until 70 raises monthly payments by roughly 24% versus claiming at full retirement age.

What does the 2026 Guide to Retirement (JPM) report about retirement spending volatility?

Six in ten new retirees experience significant spending volatility in their first three years of retirement. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, this highlights the need for emergency savings and flexible income strategies to manage shocks.

How much can a small increase in savings rates help retirement readiness, per JPM's 2026 Guide?

A modest 1% increase in savings can substantially improve preparedness, covering nearly nine years of Medicare-related expenses. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, small consistent increases materially enhance retirement security.

What role do guaranteed income sources play, according to the 2026 Guide to Retirement (JPM)?

Households with more guaranteed income tend to spend up to 44% more in retirement, indicating greater financial confidence. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, dependable income supports spending and resilience against market volatility.

When was the 14th edition of the Guide to Retirement released and who is its intended audience (JPM)?

The 14th edition was released on February 26, 2026, for advisors, plan sponsors, consultants and participants. According to J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the Guide uses anonymized household data to inform retirement planning decisions.