Americans want to be more engaged in their financial lives, but mounting economic pressures and uncertainty are making it harder to navigate their finances with the right level of confidence, according to new research released today by Edelman Financial Engines (EFE).

The inaugural Financial Confidence Report examines the forces shaping how Americans think, feel, and act when it comes to their money – and identifies a Financial Confidence Gap between their desire to take control of their financial future and their confidence in making the right financial decisions for themselves.

“Throughout EFE’s 40-year history, we’ve seen that financial confidence is about more than money – it’s about having the clarity and perspective to make financial decisions that are right for you,” said Ralph Haberli, CEO and President of Edelman Financial Engines. “This research reinforces that fact, along with the importance of having trusted advice and guidance to help navigate the increasing complexities of our world.”

The report challenges the notion that financial confidence is something people either have or they don’t. It also underscores that more confidence isn’t necessarily better because too much confidence can lead to financial mistakes. Confidence exists on a spectrum and can shift over time, across life stages, and even from one financial decision to the next. Today’s mix of market uncertainty, rising costs, and an influx of financial information brings that dynamic into sharper focus.

Among the report’s findings:

  • Nearly 85% of Americans want to play an active role in retirement planning and savings decisions.

  • Yet, only 40% of workplace retirement plan participants say they know exactly how their retirement savings are invested.

  • Nearly half of Americans are stressed, with money concerns being a leading driver.

  • The Financial Confidence Gap is prevalent across financial behavior, from investing and retirement planning, to major purchasing decisions.

“Americans are navigating an environment where the signals about their financial lives don’t always point in the same direction,” said Michael Liersch, Chief Planning Officer at Edelman Financial Engines. “On paper, they may look financially strong, but their day-to-day experience tells a different story. That tension can make it harder to know where you stand and approach financial decisions with the right level of confidence.”

The findings underscore the value of understanding your full financial picture, recognizing what you don’t know, and having trusted guidance to help put financial decisions into context.

For more information on the Financial Confidence Report, click here.

About Edelman Financial Engines

Edelman Financial Engines is one of the nation’s leading independent wealth management firms1, founded 40 years ago on the belief that everyone deserves access to high‑quality, personalized financial advice. Today, we sit at the intersection of comprehensive financial planning, workplace retirement guidance, and wealth planning, serving more than one million clients and managing over $337 billion in assets.2 We help people navigate their financial lives from their first paycheck through retirement, supported by a fiduciary model that puts clients’ best interests first. Leveraging our scale, innovative planning platform, and decades of experience, we are on a mission to expand access to personal, goals‑based advice, meeting clients where they are—and supporting them at every stage of life.

Learn more at www.EdelmanFinancialEngines.com.

1 The Barron’s Top 100 RIA Firms list, awarded in September based on prior 12-month data through June 30th, is an annual ranking of independent advisory firms, based on qualitative and quantitative criteria. Firms elect to participate but do not pay to be included in the ranking.

2 Edelman Financial Engines data, as of June 30, 2026.

Research was conducted for Edelman Financial Engines by Greenwald Research, through an online survey of 2,000 Americans who were at least 30 years old in October 2025. More on the methodology can be found here.

© 2026 Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. Edelman Financial Engines® is a registered trademark of Edelman Financial Engines, LLC. All advisory services provided by Financial

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