Bankers Life and Casualty Company Shares Recent Retirement Study Results
1. Please direct media inquiries to: Barbara Ciesemier
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Ph: 312-396-7461
Email: Barbara.Ciesemier@CNOinc.com
For Immediate Release
MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICANS MAKING WRONG ASSUMPTIONS
ABOUT PROFESSIONAL RETIREMENT ADVICE, STUDY SAYS
CHICAGO, IL (February 7, 2011) – Many middle-income Americans not utilizing professional
retirement advice mistakenly assume they can plan on their own, don’t have enough assets to warrant an
advisor, or can’t afford to pay an advisor’s fees, a new study released by the Bankers Life and Casualty
Company Center for a Secure Retirement (CSR) reveals.
The CSR’s Middle-Income Retirement Preparedness Study found that, of the 54 percent of survey
respondents that aren’t receiving professional guidance, 47 percent of the respondents said that they
could plan for retirement on their own, without the help of an advisor, even though they feel that the
tasks associated with retirement planning are complex and overwhelming.
“Many people set aside too little time for planning,” said Scott Perry, president of Bankers Life and
Casualty Company, a national life and health insurer. “The study found that while those who worked
without the help of an advisor enjoy planning on their own, 63 percent devote less than one hour a
month to retirement planning and over 36 percent spend no time at all.”
Two-fifths of middle-income Americans without an advisor didn’t think that they had enough assets to
warrant professional help, but they were uncertain as to how much was “enough,” and 20 percent said
that they didn’t know the minimum amount required. The remaining respondents felt that, on average,
at least $200,000 in assets was required to secure an advisor’s services.
In reality, 10 out of 10 national financial and insurance firms contacted by the CSR indicated that they
would discuss retirement planning with anyone having as little as $2,500 or less.
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2. STUDY REVEALS THREE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PLANNING FOR RETIREMENT
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Misunderstandings were also found when it came to the accessibility and cost of professional advice.
Twenty-three percent of respondents felt they wouldn’t be able to afford an advisor’s services, but 32
percent of the group didn’t know how much the services cost. The study notes that many products and
services exist for people with virtually any level of income and assets that can make their income last,
protect their savings and help them feel more secure in retirement.
“It’s these misconceptions that are preventing people from getting the retirement guidance they may
need,” said Perry. “We encourage everyone approaching retirement to put careful thought into their
preparations, whether it’s spending the time necessary to thoroughly research on their own or working
with a trusted advisor to determine a plan that fits their specific needs and gives them a high level of
comfort when thinking about their future.”
Methodology
The Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement Middle-Income Retirement
Preparedness Study was conducted in August of 2010 by the independent research firm The Blackstone
Group. The complete report may be viewed at www.CenterForASecureRetirement.com
About the Center for a Secure Retirement
The Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement is the company’s research and
consumer education organization. Its studies and consumer awareness campaigns provide insight and
practical advice for how everyday Americans can achieve financial security during retirement.
Established in 1879 in Chicago, Bankers Life and Casualty Company focuses on the insurance needs of
the retirement market. The nationwide company, a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group, Inc., offers a
broad portfolio of life and health insurance retirement products designed especially for seniors.
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