Alexis George
AMP has launched the Retirement Confidence Pulse, a new national barometer tracking how financially confident Australians feel about life after work.
The inaugural Pulse score is 50/100 – a wake-up call that too many of us still lack financial peace of mind about retirement. The full report is available here.
The rising cost of living and surging household expenses have seen the annual cost of a comfortable retirement climb by more than $13,000 in just five years, with new ASFA data showing Australian couples aged 65 and over now need more than $75,000 a year to maintain that lifestyle[1].
Alexis George, AMP Chief Executive, said: “Australians over the age of 65 will make up nearly a quarter of our population within four decades – a demographic shift set to reshape the nation’s economic and social landscape.
“Yet, as this Pulse shows, despite growing super balances and national wealth, too many feel financially insecure about life after work – an issue that needs to be front and centre for policymakers and the superannuation industry.”
- Gender gap: Only 2 in 5 women feel confident about retirement, versus nearly 3 in 5 men.
- The “Sandwich Generation”: Australians in their 40s are among the least confident (under 2 in 5) as they juggle mortgages, kids and caring for ageing parents.
- Single mums under pressure: Single mothers recorded particularly low confidence levels with less than 1 in 5 in their 40s confident about retirement, the second lowest of all tested.
- Confidence doesn’t arrive at 65: More than 1 in 3 Australians 65+ still feel financially insecure, worried their savings won’t last.
- The “confidence dividend” of coupledom: Partnered Australians (close to 3 in 5) are more confident than singles (2 in 5).
- Divorce dents security – especially for women: Only 1 in 3 separated/divorced women feel confident, versus over half of separated/divorced men.
- Work matters: Jobseekers in their 40s show deepest concerns, with just over 1 in 10 confident.
- The income divide: Confidence rises with income – 3 in 4 on $190K–$250K feel confident, versus 2 in 5 under $45K.
- The squeezed middle: Just half of middle-income Australians ($45K–$135K) are confident.
From insights to action: The Retirement Confidence Hub
To help turn these insights into practical solutions, AMP has created the Retirement Confidence Hub.
Through its Advisory Committee, the Hub brings together some of the most respected experts in the industry – including AMP’s Chief Economist Dr Shane Oliver and AMP’s Director of Retirement Ben Hillier. Nicola Stokes, CEO of the AMP Foundation, joins the Committee, ensuring the cross section of social and community needs are also addressed.
The Retirement Confidence Hub – Mission Statement: Harness AMP’s expertise to bridge insight with practical industry applications, raise awareness of key social issues and opportunities, and inform policy reform, to help more Australians be financially confident about their retirement.
Chair of The Retirement Confidence Hub, Ben Hillier, said: “The Pulse is our scoreboard; the Retirement Confidence Hub is our game plan – a standing effort to turn evidence into action so more Australians can feel confident about their retirement, and unlock a better quality of life.
“This requires a system that is easier to understand, improved financial literacy, easier access to guidance and advice at critical life moments, and more solutions that provide lifetime income and which unlock the considerable wealth tied up in property.”
About the AMP Retirement Confidence Pulse
The Pulse is based on AMP commissioned research of 2,000 Australians by independent research company, Dynata in July 2025.
