Will millennials ever retire?

A person counts money and looks at their planner
Baby boomers and Gen X are looking forward to retirement. But millennials are agonizing over making and saving enough to retire. Why? Is there anything young people can do now so they can retire later?
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For millennials, the list of anxieties is long: climate change, pandemic and a major immediate financial worry is retirement. Gone are the days of working hard for one company for 30 years, getting your gold watch and sailing your boat into the proverbial sunset.

Baby boomers and Gen Xers are looking forward to retirement, but millennials and Gen Z are terrified of it. Or, more accurately, they're terrified it might not ever happen for them. Why? What are the economic circumstances that allow for a healthy retirement for individuals and generations? 

MPR News Host Angela Davis speaks with Senior Economics Contributor Chris Farrell and millennial money manager Jerry Brown about earning and saving for retirement — how young people can take care of their future and how the rest of us can help them in that effort.

And we heard from you, too. Our listeners answered our questions: Are you worried about retirement? What are your plans for retirement? Do you have questions about how to work and save enough to eventually retire? Are you a boomer or Gen Xer with tips or tricks for younger people?

Guests:

  • Chris Farrell is MPR’s Senior Economics Contributor

  • Jerry Brown is a financial adviser and blogger specializing in millennials’ money and securing the financial future of people of color

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.

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