The ultimate measure of retirement success is whether workers accumulate enough assets to support themselves throughout retirement.
The challenge is real. In Chile, pension authorities found a median self-financed replacement rate of just 17% among retirees from 2015–2022, highlighting how difficult it can be for workers to build sufficient retirement income through personal contributions alone.
That challenge has also become increasingly difficult. Longer life expectancies mean retirement savings must last longer. Inflation continues to pressure purchasing power. Concerns about public retirement systems have reinforced the importance of personal retirement assets.
As responsibility shifts toward individuals, policymakers are increasingly focused on helping workers build larger and more resilient retirement portfolios.
