The Nucleus UK Retirement Confidence Index 2024

It’s more important than ever for people to feel confident about their financial future.

Our Retirement Confidence Index offers a unique, in-depth look at how people feel about retirement across the UK.  

Surveying over 4,300 UK adults, our index highlights what’s driving confidence – or uncertainty – in retirement planning today. 

Our inaugural retirement confidence survey in 2023, was the first of its kind and led the charge to record the UK’s sentiment, concerns and confidence levels surrounding retirement. 




“The road to a financially secure retirement is paved by making the right choices at the right times.”

Andrew Tully
Technical Services Director


Our 2024 report highlights

Retirement confidence from the 2024 Nucleus Retirement Confidence Index score is 4.6 out of 10 with a negative outlook. 

The need to start planning and saving for retirement as early as possible could not be clearer.  

Only 34% of respondents are confident they would have enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. A fifth of our sample have not saved anything for retirement.



Just under half believe the State Pension won’t exist in the future. 

39% are not contributing to a pension.
Women continue to be less confident about retirement, but confidence levels have dropped for both men and women.


Most UK adults think they’ll need £20-30k per year to have a comfortable retirement. Only 13% think they’ll need the right amount against PLSA’s definition of comfortable.

UK adults saving 20% or more of their salary into a pension are as confident they’ll have a comfortable retirement as those with a defined benefit pension.

18-24 year olds felt most confident of all age groups despite highlighting challenges that prevent them from saving more towards retirement. With 35-44 age group feeling the least confident. 




Download the report

In the 2024 Nucleus UK Retirement Confidence Index you’ll find the full analysis of our consumer and advice professional research.


Retirement confidence webinar
- 26 November 2024

Hear what industry experts Andrew Tully and Tom McPhail have to say about the 2024 findings, in an exclusive discussion for financial advisers.

Stay ahead of emerging client needs in today’s evolving retirement landscape by saving your space now.