Manulife: Most Asians Do Not Expect Comfortable Retirement
The majority of Asians believe they will not have sufficient funds to retire in comfort but continue to limit exposure to risk assets, according to a Manulife study.
Less than half of Asians believe they will have enough funds to retire comfortably, according to the «2025 Manulife Financial Resilience and Longevity Report». This varies widely between markets within the region, from 48 percent in Hong Kong to 77 percent in Indonesia.
Nonetheless, their asset holdings continue to reflect risk aversion, with cash accounting for around half of non-property investments. Fear of capital loss and lack of investment knowledge were commonly cited as reasons for avoiding higher-yielding assets.
«Holding too much cash and relying solely on property can leave people vulnerable to inflation and income shortfalls,» said Calvin Chiu, head of Asia retirement, Manulife and CEO of Manulife Investment Management Hong Kong. «Building financial resilience means diversifying across income-generating and inflation-protected assets – and doing so early.»
Quality Versus Longevity
On how they would like to live in the elderly stages, Asians are increasingly prioritizing quality over sheer longevity. Less than 10 percent said they wanted to live longer regardless of circumstances. Half said they value living a meaningful life and over one-third expressed a desire not to be a burden on others.
«People across Asia want to enjoy their extended lifespans with dignity, purpose, and freedom,» added Chiu. «That requires a shift in mindset – from saving for retirement to planning for longevity.»
The report was based on a survey conducted between January and February 2025 with over 9,000 respondents from nine markets – mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.
