What scares people more: retirement or a dark walk in the woods on Halloween night?
This October, we asked Boldin users a simple question: What’s scarier—your fear of retirement or a walk alone in the woods on a dark Halloween night?
It turns out that Two-thirds (66%) say retirement is their biggest concern yes More terrible Than a creepy midnight stroll (before they made plans). Only a third would rather face the unknown lurking in the shade of rustling trees. And, most frightening of all, is the unknown of retirement.
But when we dug deeper, we discovered that a written retirement plan can serve as a powerful flashlight, illuminating those fears and making them far less ominous.
Uncertainty can be scary
Before putting a written retirement plan in place, your biggest fear by far is Running out of money or savings (39%). closely followed by Unable to afford the life they want (19%) and Don’t know how to plan for the unknown (17%)events such as market crashes, inflation or natural disasters.
A small number of people are worried Loss of control and sense of security (7%) or Medical expenses (6%)but taken together, these responses paint a clear picture:
For most people, uncertainty is the scariest thing.
Fear of retirement is deeply felt
And, these retirement fears are felt deeply before plans are made. Exceed 67% said their worries occur frequently. More than a quarter (26.7%) said “Put a lot of pressure on them”, 40.4% said they were a little worried 25.5% yes a little worried. Only 3% said they were not worried at all.
Finances are the biggest monster, but non-financial worries are serious too
We asked respondents whether their biggest retirement fears were related to money, or to general life fears like health and purpose. Moreover, money carries more weight. Fifty-seven percent said a loss of financial control and security, an inability to make ends meet, medical bills and other financial problems were more serious than problems such as a loss of goals and declining health, with only 42% saying the latter was more dire.
of non-financial fearsemotional and health-related issues predominate:
- Decreased health (29%)
- Cognitive decline (22%)
- Lost target (14%)
- Loneliness or loss of social connections (7%)
- Death of spouse or relative (11%)
What helps ease financial fears?
Boldin users say that in addition to having a comprehensive retirement plan, these strategies help them feel more secure:
- Run “what if” scenarios and contingency plans (66%)
- A guaranteed income stream, such as a pension, Social Security or annuity (43%)
- Consistently save and invest (34%)
- Get out of debt (36%)
- Professional financial guidance (26%)
In other words, clarity and preparation beat anxiety and avoidance every time.
The Magic of a Written Plan: Replace Fear with Preparation
One of the most powerful findings: 96% of people who created a written plan said it made them more confident about the future.
- 68% feel more confident
- 28% feel Be more confident
- Only 3% said it had not changed their views
When asked how they feel about retiring today:
- 46% feel confident – they have planned carefully
- 49% are somewhat confident – they have made some plans, but concerns remain
- Only 4% still feel anxious
- 0% said they were scared
That’s right: among Boldin users, no one Said they were very worried about their financial future. Planning doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, but it can replace fear with confidence because you know you can handle whatever comes your way.
from fear to freedom
A written retirement plan is more than just crunching numbers. It gives you control, confidence, and the ability to adapt—no matter what the world (or the market) throws at you.
So this Halloween, while others are afraid of ghosts and shadows, you can rest easy knowing that your financial monsters are tamed—with a plan, a “what if,” and one confident step at a time. Are you ready to face your fears? Make your plans, run your “what ifs” and see what's possible with Boldin Planner.
