The people I hear this from aren’t reckless. They’re the responsible ones. They contributed consistently for 20 years, asked for advice, trusted professionals, and didn’t log in during market dips. Every review meeting ended the same way: “You’re on track.”

Technically, they were. Right up until they weren’t.

Almost half of all retirees leave the workforce earlier than planned. That number hasn’t moved in two decades. The top reasons are health problems and unexpected company changes. The plan assumed they’d keep earning until 65. Life had other ideas.

In this episode: the difference between the average 401(k) balance and the median, and what that gap actually means for most people ... the six percent of 401(k) holders who raided their retirement savings in 2025, triple the pre-pandemic rate, and why ... and the four assumptions buried inside “you’re on track” that nobody walks you through at the review meeting.

An account is not a plan. A plan is a structure, and most people have only ever built the account.

If you’ve been told you’re on track, what assumptions is that number making about your future? Tell me in the comments.

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