San Diego Adults Expect to Work Longer Than Their Peers Nationwide

Adults in San Diego are expecting a longer working life than their peers nationwide, with 72% saying they anticipate retiring at age 65 or later, compared with 65% nationally. At the same time, many are feeling pressure around major financial milestones, including buying a home, retiring and leaving an inheritance.

These are among the local findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2026 Planning & Progress Study, the company’s proprietary research series that explores Americans’ attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs toward money, financial decision-making, and the broader issues impacting long-term financial security.

San Diego expects to work longer

San Diego residents anticipate retiring at an average age of 66.6, above the national average of 65.2. Nearly three in four working non-retirees in San Diego (72%) expect to retire at age 65 or later, compared with 65% nationally. More than one in four (27%) expect to retire between ages 70 and 74, compared with 17% nationally.

“Many people in San Diego are balancing competing realities,” said Daniel Shahmoradian, wealth management advisor with Northwestern Mutual. “They see opportunity ahead, especially as new technologies reshape careers, but they also face some of the highest housing costs in the country. The people who tend to feel most confident are the ones who have a plan that connects today’s decisions to long-term goals like homeownership, retirement and building wealth over time.”

Financial pressure is reshaping major life milestones

San Diego adults are especially concerned about the affordability of major milestones. Nearly one-third worry they may never be able to afford leaving an inheritance (32%) or buying a house (31%), compared with 27% and 19% nationally.

More than one in four (28%) worry they may never be able to afford retiring, compared with 23% nationally.

Those concerns echo the share of San Diego residents who say financial challenges have delayed major milestones, including retiring (20%), buying a house (27%) and having children (14%).

“Technology may change how people work, but financial fundamentals remain the same,” said Shahmoradian. “Saving consistently, investing for the future and making intentional decisions with your money are still the keys to long-term financial security.”

A brighter spot: San Diego is more optimistic about AI

On the topic of artificial intelligence, San Diego residents take a notably optimistic view. Nearly three in 10 San Diego residents (29%) say they are optimistic about AI’s potential impact on their careers, compared with 23% nationally. That optimism includes 20% who say AI will provide more benefits than challenges to their career, compared with 16% nationally.

About the 2026 Northwestern Mutual Planning & Progress Study

The 2026 Planning & Progress Study was conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Northwestern Mutual among 4,375 U.S. adults aged 18 or older. The survey was conducted online between January 5 and January 21, 2026. Data are weighted where necessary by age, gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, marital status, household size, household income, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. A complete survey methodology is available.

About Northwestern Mutual

Northwestern Mutual has been helping people and businesses achieve financial security for more than 165 years. Through a comprehensive planning approach, Northwestern Mutual combines the expertise of its financial professionals with a personalized digital experience and industry-leading products to help its clients plan for what's most important. With more than$780 billion of total assets¹ managed across the company's institutional portfolio as well as retail investment client portfolios, more than$40 billion in revenues, and$2.5 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than five million people with life insurance, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, annuities, and brokerage and advisory services. Northwestern Mutual ranked 109 on the 2026FORTUNE500 and was recognized by FORTUNE® as one of the "World's Most Admired" life insurance companies in 2026.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and services), federal savings bank; and Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance). Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

¹ Includes investments and separate account assets of Northwestern Mutual as well as retail investment assets held or managed for clients.