What does longevity look like to you? Tips to prepare to live well, not just long.

Working Americans increasingly expect to live long lives — often into their late 80s or 90s. Longevity may sound appealing, but what will those years actually look like for you? When people picture “aging well,” they’re thinking about maintaining independence, being physically active, staying mentally sharp, and feeling financially stable enough to make choices.

Essentially, longevity feels positive, as long as quality of life keeps pace.

Big expectations require strong foundations across mind, body, and wallet®

Many working Americans desire to live long, capable lives. Yet fewer than half are consistently exercising or keeping up with preventive care. Our research consistently shows a gap between how people imagine their later years and how they’re preparing today.

For instance, almost half (42%) of people say they don’t get enough exercise.¹ Over a third (35%) of people say they don’t do a good job of taking care of their mental health. And a whopping 61% say they’re not good at living within their means.

Half of American workers say they’ve even skipped or avoided doctors’ appointments, missed routine screenings, or put off seeing a specialist because of high out-of-pocket medical costs.² These actions don’t support wellness now, or living well in the future.

In fact, only 18% of Americans under age 65 often think about what life will be like in their 70s and older. We tend to treat that as a retirement-age problem. In reality, it’s shaped by habits and decisions made decades earlier in your 20s, 30s, and 40s.

4 tips to help build financial confidence before retirement

Financial wellness is the linchpin of the three pillars of aging well. Not only because it either ensures or denies whether your retirement savings will last as long as you need, but also because it affects your mental wellness.

1. Save now for medical costs later

Personal savings rates in the US have decreased dramatically.³ But, at the same time, medical costs are rising. This is particularly true for those who need at-home care: The demand for paid care workers is outpacing the supply, leading to significant shortages in the health care workforce.⁴ Guardian data shows that 43% say they plan to work until their health begins to deteriorate, which isn’t surprising given current estimates that show Americans are expected to spend a total of about $172,000 on medical expenses during retirement.⁵

2. Prioritize your debt

Student loans, credit cards, mortgage loans, medical bills. It can be hard to figure out what to pay off first. Pay down high-interest debt first, before you start using your money for investments, as the interest charges can quickly accumulate and outweigh any other investment returns.⁶ Then, call in a financial advisor to work with you to help build a customized approach.⁷

3. Take on a side hustle 

Roughly 1 in 4 (27%) of US adults have a side hustle.⁸ In any economy, having an additional revenue stream can be a great way to earn extra cash or explore new interests.

4. Protect your income 

Consider: One in 4 of today’s 20-year-olds will be out of work for at least a year due to a disabling condition before retirement.⁹ What would happen if you became disabled or ill and could no longer work? Often this kind of income interruption depletes savings accounts or drives people into debt to cover basic expenses. Take a look into your employer-provided benefits, as there may be a solution available to you already.

For a decade-by-decade timeline of action items to support your longevity, check out Mind, Body, and Wallet® 2026.

Start where you are

Wherever you are right now in your well-being journey is exactly the right time to start planning for your longevity. “You don’t have to save a lot to get started,” says Wealth Management Advisor Nichole Mayer.¹⁰ “What matters most is starting early and sticking with it. Putting away even a little in your 20s and 30s helps build a strong foundation for long-term financial confidence.”

Remember, a longer life isn’t just about adding years, it’s about making those years count.