Four Emerging Retirement Trends You Need to Know Now
by Eric O’Donnell at Sentry
Increased demand for financial education and personalized engagement
Employees today expect advice tailored to them. Participant engagement improves when they receive advice that aligns with their individual financial goals and career stages—especially when done through their preferred channels, whether that’s online or through an app. Regular, accessible education helps participants feel more confident in their savings.
In tandem with education, personalized communication with participants increases engagement rates, especially for employees who may be new to retirement planning.
Growing use of auto-enrollment and self-service tools by employers
Auto-enrollment continues to gain traction as one of the most effective ways to increase participation. According to the How America Saves 2024 Report, plans with automatic enrollment had a 94% participation rate last year, while voluntary enrollment plans only had a 67% participation rate 1.
At the same time, participants have come to expect digital self-service options. Features like auto-enrollment, tools and calculators, mobile plan management, and simplified dashboards make retirement planning more intuitive and help increase participation rates.
Focus on financial wellness—beyond the retirement account
Participants increasingly expect plan sponsors to help support their financial stability across the board, including providing resources for debt management, emergency savings, and budgeting. This approach not only boosts plan satisfaction but may also increase contributions over time.
Awareness around the future of Social Security
Gen-Z and millennials are increasingly pessimistic about the future of Social Security, with many expecting to receive just over half of their scheduled benefits, according to Morningstar 2. They’re deciding to focus more on their personal retirement savings to prepare for this possible scenario. This shift has energized many plan sponsors, driving them to offer more competitive and well-supported retirement benefits and educate participants about these benefits and the opportunities they present.
Retirement planning in 2025 is becoming more participant-driven. In a world of evolving benefits expectations, employees want tools and education that:
• Reflect their personal financial journeys
• Include easily digestible investment education
• Offer on-demand dedicated support
• Provide guidance toward long-term financial security
Acknowledging these trends and taking actionable lessons from them can help plan sponsors like you increase participant education and engagement.
Eric O’Donnell is a director of retirement product development for Sentry Insurance. Sentry provides cyber liability, property, casualty, life insurance, and retirement products to dealers and other businesses. Learn more at .
1How America Saves 2024. (2024). Vanguard.
2Brandus, P. (2025). Stress about Social Security and the economy has seniors taking benefits early. Morningstar.