Americans rating 60 on longevity readiness as care gaps persist

A brand new nationwide index finds US adults are not any extra ready for longer lives than they have been a 12 months in the past and people with out a monetary advisor are falling furthest behind.

Americans scored a mean of 60 out of 100 on the 2026 Longevity Preparedness Index (LPI), launched October 27, 2026, by John Hancock and the MIT AgeLab – the identical rating recorded within the inaugural 2025 examine. The findings, drawn from a nationally consultant survey of 1,340 US adults carried out between May 8 and May 26, 2026, reveal that regardless of rising consciousness of longevity challenges, readiness throughout key dimensions of wholesome growing old has stalled.

“The information tells us that consciousness – whereas profoundly vital – shouldn’t be sufficient,” stated Brooks Tingle, President and CEO of John Hancock. “Most Americans live longer, however the programs, insurance policies, workplaces, and help wanted to assist them thrive haven’t stored tempo.”

The care hole is probably the most urgent drawback

The LPI evaluates Americans throughout eight domains: social connection, finance, day by day actions, care, residence, neighborhood, well being, and life transitions. Community (71) and social connection (69) scored highest. Care scored simply 43 – the bottom of all eight domains – whereas residence (56) and well being (56) additionally lagged considerably.

The care area’s low rating factors to a planning blind spot that monetary advisors are well-positioned to handle. Many Americans haven’t recognized who would offer them care if wanted, don’t perceive the prices of long-term care, and haven’t established advance directives comparable to an influence of lawyer or dwelling will. As advisors grapple with how to estimate a client’s longevity, the LPI information means that care planning deserves the identical urgency as portfolio development.

Advisors transfer the needle

One of the index’s sharpest findings for monetary professionals is the hole between those that work with an advisor and those that don’t.

Respondents at the moment working with a monetary skilled scored a mean of 67 on the LPI – 9 factors increased than the 58 scored by those that have by no means labored with one. That benefit prolonged throughout each area measured.

“Our analysis is obvious: individuals who work with a monetary skilled are higher ready for longer lives, not solely financially, however throughout key features of total well-being,” stated Wayne Park, CEO of Manulife John Hancock Retirement. “Financial professionals will help folks join the dots between their funds, well being, caregiving duties and life transitions to allow them to method the long run with better confidence.”

The information helps a commerce case for advisors who’re positioning longevity planning as a central part of their practice. Clients who have interaction holistically – throughout monetary, well being, residence, and caregiving dimensions – rating measurably higher on each metric the index tracks.

Who is most ready – and who shouldn’t be

Age, earnings, and marital standing all correlate with preparedness, although some patterns run counter to instinct. Americans aged 75 and older scored highest at 68, whereas these between 45 and 54 – typically in peak incomes years – scored simply 57. Retired adults scored 66, in comparison with 58 for these nonetheless working.

Higher investable property correlated with increased scores: these with greater than $3 million in investable property averaged 68, whereas these with lower than $50,000 scored 56. Income variations adopted an identical sample, with households incomes greater than $150,000 averaging 65 versus 55 for these incomes under $25,000 yearly.

Hispanic respondents scored 57, the bottom of any racial or ethnic group measured, whereas white, non-Hispanic respondents scored 61. The report doesn’t supply particular explanations for these gaps however notes that oversamples of Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Non-Hispanic Asian American and Pacific Islander respondents have been included to allow sub-group evaluation.

Regionally, Northeastern respondents scored lowest at 59, whereas Westerners averaged 61. Northeastern and Midwestern respondents additionally posted considerably decrease scores within the residence area – a discovering the index attributes to the prevalence of older housing inventory in these areas.

Building a extra full longevity plan

John Hancock is utilizing the index findings to develop focused instruments for each customers and advisors. Those embody the John Hancock Longevity Preparedness Tool, an interactive questionnaire that assesses particular person readiness throughout the identical eight domains because the LPI, and the Longer. Healthier. Better. Network, designed to equip monetary professionals with longevity sources, gross sales help, and entry to material consultants.

For advisors, the index highlights a possibility to increase shopper conversations nicely past portfolio management.

“The dialog can now not be nearly how a lot cash you have saved for retirement,” stated Dr. Joe Coughlin, Founder and Director of the MIT AgeLab. “More Americans have to be asking themselves, ‘Where will I reside?’ ‘Who will I reside with?’ and ‘Who will deal with me?'”

The full 2026 LPI findings and private evaluation instrument can be found at JohnHancock.com/PrepareForBetter.