Americans still aren't getting the message when it comes to saving for retirement.

Retirement
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Thirty-six percent of Americans have nothing saved for retirement, according to a new survey from Bankrate.com.

Why aren't more people saving? "A lack of prioritizing retirement savings is clearly one. The other, is that inertia is a powerful thing, and if people lack access to a workplace retirement savings program, that's a big obstacle to saving for retirement," said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst with Bankrate.com.

Millennials are the largest generation of non-savers, with 69 percent reporting that they haven't saved anything.  In addition, 33 percent of 30-to-49-year-olds and 26 percent of 50-to-64-year-olds have nothing saved. Among senior citizens, one in seven have saved nothing for retirement.

The news isn't all bad though.  Among those that are putting away money for their golden years, they are starting their retirement accounts earlier than in the past.

"They're getting the message that this is important, and they're saving earlier than in generations past," McBride said.

Twice as many 30- to-49-year-olds started saving in the 20s as opposed to their 30s.  Compare that to those ages 50 to 64 who were only slightly more likely to have started saving in their 20s than in their 30s.

"Regardless of age, there is no better time than the present to start saving for retirement," McBride said in an emailed press release August 18.

 

 

 

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