A recent survey conducted by financial confidence company Boldin reveals that retirement uncertainties create more fear than traditional Halloween terrors for most Americans. The study found that 66% of financially savvy respondents reported their pre-planning retirement fears felt scarier than walking alone in the woods on a dark Halloween night.
The online poll, conducted on October 10, 2025, surveyed 1,053 Boldin users who are actively creating and managing their own financial plans through Boldin.com. The survey achieved a 95% response rate and focused on retirement anxiety levels before and after implementing financial planning strategies.
Financial concerns dominated retirement fears, with 39% of respondents identifying running out of money or outliving savings as their greatest worry before creating a retirement plan. Other significant concerns included inability to afford desired retirement lifestyle (19%) and uncertainty about preparing for future unknowns like market volatility and inflation (17%). Overall, 67% of participants reported regular retirement worries before establishing a plan, with 27% describing these fears as weighing on them quite significantly.
The survey demonstrates the transformative power of written retirement plans in reducing financial anxiety. An overwhelming 96% of respondents reported increased confidence about their financial future after implementing a plan, with 68% feeling much more confident and 28% somewhat more confident. When asked about their current retirement outlook, 46% described themselves as confident, 49% as somewhat confident, and only 4% as anxious. Notably, no Boldin users reported outright fear about their financial future after establishing their plans.
Steve Chen, Founder and CEO of Boldin, emphasized the importance of financial planning accessibility. The company's approach includes retirement planning software that enables users to manage their own plans, either independently or with support from Boldin's coaches and online classes. Users can also access fee-based personalized advice from CFP® professionals through Boldin Advisors.
Survey respondents identified specific proactive steps that contributed to their increased financial security. Running what-if scenarios and contingency planning helped 66% feel more secure, while 43% established guaranteed income streams through pensions, Social Security, or annuities. Additional confidence-building strategies included becoming debt-free (36%), consistent saving and investing (34%), and seeking professional financial guidance (26%).
While financial concerns represented the primary source of retirement anxiety for 57% of respondents, health-related worries remained significant. The remaining 43% expressed greater fear about non-financial challenges, including declining health, loss of purpose, and social isolation. The survey results highlight the comprehensive nature of retirement planning concerns that extend beyond purely financial considerations.
The findings carry significant implications for both individual financial wellbeing and broader retirement planning approaches. With more than 350,000 individuals managing over $300 billion in assets through Boldin's platform, and users reporting 94% higher retirement savings than the national average per a June 2023 internal survey, the data suggests that accessible financial planning tools can substantially impact retirement preparedness and reduce widespread financial anxiety among Americans.
