About half of Americans with savings goals are meeting or exceeding them, according to recent surveys showing mixed progress as households navigate financial challenges in 2026.
New York Life Insurance Company’s latest “Wealth Watch” survey found that approximately 1 in 2 American adults met or exceeded their saving goals, indicating moderate success among those with explicit financial targets.
The picture for 2026 is more optimistic. Vanguard’s October 2025 survey found that 84% of Americans have set a financial resolution for 2026, with building an emergency fund and using high-yielding savings accounts as the top two priorities. Despite this ambition, the same survey revealed that nearly 75% of Americans fell short of their saving and spending resolutions in 2025, highlighting the gap between intention and execution.
According to the American Institute of CPAs and CIMA survey from January 2026, 77% of Americans say saving is among their financial goals for 2026, including saving for retirement (32%) and saving for a vacation (29%). The priorities vary by generation, with different age groups citing distinct obstacles to achieving their goals.
Bankrate’s 2026 Emergency Savings Report found that 29% of Americans prioritize increasing emergency savings in 2026, and 44% report having more emergency savings than credit card debt. However, the report also noted that more than half of Americans feel uncomfortable with their emergency savings levels.
Economic uncertainty remains a significant barrier. According to Vanguard’s research, 22% of Americans cite economic uncertainty as their biggest concern about meeting financial goals. Boomers worry most about unexpected expenses (29%), while Millennials struggle with insufficient income (22%), and Gen Z is most likely to live beyond their means (15%).
Despite these challenges, 82% of Americans express confidence in their ability to achieve their 2026 financial resolutions, according to Vanguard. Financial experts recommend setting specific, measurable goals with clear timelines, as research shows vague resolutions like “save more money” fail more often than concrete targets such as “save $6,000 by December 31, 2026.”
Sources
- Vanguard — October 2025 survey on financial resolutions, finding 84% of Americans have 2026 financial goals and 75% fell short in 2025
- New York Life Insurance — “Wealth Watch” survey showing approximately 50% of American adults met or exceeded savings goals
- American Institute of CPAs and CIMA — January 2026 survey finding 77% of Americans include saving in their 2026 financial goals
- Bankrate — 2026 Emergency Savings Report showing 29% prioritize emergency savings and 44% have more savings than credit card debt
