16/10/2026
What I wish I'd known before I retired
Retirement is often imagined as a chance to relax, travel and spend more time with family. New research suggests the reality can be more financially demanding than expected. Nearly a third (31%) of retirees say their standard of living is now worse than before they retired, compared with 20% who say it has improved. Their retirement regrets offer some useful lessons for anyone still saving.What retirees say they wish they had done differentlyRegretted not saving regularly during working life30%Wished they had started pension saving earlier29%Underestimated how much money they would need17%Did not expect retirement to last as long as it has16%Wished they had planned more thoroughly16%Wished they had converted pension savings to income better12%Source: research by the Phoenix Group for Standard Life, based on an Ipsos survey of 6,000 UK adults (June 2025) and an Opinium survey of 4,000 UK adults (January 2026), both weighted to be nationally representative.
Retirement regrets are common: nearly a third of retirees say their standard of living is worse. See the lessons they would pass on.