LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute Study Finds Student Loan Debt a Growing Concern for Retirement Saving

WINDSOR, Conn., May 28, 2015—A new LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute study found that pre-retirees (55-64) and retirees (65-74) are carrying unprecedented amounts of student loan debt.

Secure Retirement Institute analyzed federal data on consumer finances and found that in 1989 education loans made up 4 percent of installment debt for pre-retirees. By 2013, the share of debt for student loans totaled 30 percent. Among retirees, education loans made up less than 1 percent in 1989 but grew to 15 percent by 2013. (See Charts.)

The data suggests that parents and grandparents have acquired more student loan debt to help their children and grandchildren. “For five years consumers have told us their top financial concern is having enough money for a comfortable retirement,” said Michael Ericson, analyst for LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute. “When someone takes on additional installment debt in their late working years or early retirement, they have less money available for retirement savings and monthly expenses which makes it harder to save enough to eventually replace their income.”

The amount of debt for each group has also soared. In 1989 pre-retirees held an average of $600 in education loans and by 2013 that amount grew to nearly $8,000. The average education loan debt for retirees increased from $400 in 1989 to more than $2,300 in 2013.

With college costs increasing every year, adults under-35 have seen their education debt more than triple since 1989 when it averaged $3,000. Since then the average education debt has increased to over $19,000.

Prior LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute research revealed that parents are helping their children with debts and expenses beyond student loans. Sixteen percent of parents are paying the bill for their adult child’s credit card or car loan. In addition, 36 percent of parents are picking up the tab on their adult child’s cell phone bill.

“When older parents contribute to their adult children’s expenses it results in one more barrier to retirement saving,” said Ericson. “Our research shows that 41 percent of retirees have mortgage debt. So, before they can save money for retirement—which can last 20 to 30 years — they have to pay their debt and their children’s debt and expenses.”

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About LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute

LIMRA Secure Retirement Institute provides comprehensive, unbiased research and education about all aspects within the retirement industry to improve retirement readiness and promote retirement security. For more information, please visit: www.secureretirementinstitute.com.