2025 Retirement Planning Trends Every Advisor Should Know
The retirement planning landscape shifts every year. SECURE 2.0 provisions phase in. Client expectations evolve. Technology advances. Advisors who stay ahead of these trends serve clients better and grow their practices. Those who ignore them risk falling behind.
Here are the retirement planning trends shaping 2025—and what they mean for you.
Key Takeaways
- SECURE 2.0 keeps rolling out. Catch-up changes, 529-to-Roth transfers, and QCD updates affect planning. Update your tools and models to reflect current rules.
- Longevity planning goes mainstream. Clients live to 95+. Planning horizons extend. Guaranteed income, healthcare, and LTC become core considerations.
- Client expectations are rising. Digital access, personalized communication, and holistic advice. Advisors who deliver tech-enabled experiences win.
- Specialization continues. Retirement specialists gain share. Generalists who don't deepen retirement expertise will lose clients at the transition.
- Tech and AI matter more. Tools that automate planning, reporting, and communication free advisors for high-value work. Early adopters have an edge.
SECURE 2.0 in 2025
SECURE 2.0 provisions continue to phase in. Catch-up contributions for those 60+ are higher and indexed. The 529-to-Roth transfer option expands. RMD age remains 73 (rising to 75 in 2033). Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and employer Roth matching become more common.
Advisors need to model these in planning software. Clients will ask. Those who can explain and implement the changes will build trust. Those who can't will look outdated. Our RMD rules guide covers current deadlines.
Longevity and healthcare planning
Clients are living longer. Planning horizons of 95-100 are no longer unusual. That increases longevity risk—the risk of outliving assets. Demand for guaranteed income, annuities, and Social Security optimization grows.
Healthcare and long-term care are increasingly part of the retirement conversation. Medicare, IRMAA, and LTC funding affect withdrawal strategies and tax planning. Advisors who integrate these topics into retirement plans differentiate themselves. See our Medicare IRMAA guide for context.
Client expectations
Clients expect digital access. They want to view accounts, documents, and plans online. They expect prompt communication—email, text, portal. They want holistic advice—not just portfolio management, but income planning, tax optimization, and estate coordination.
Advisors who deliver tech-enabled, advice-driven experiences will win. Those who lag on both will struggle. Technology and AI are enablers, not replacements.
Specialization and market share
Retirement specialists continue to gain share. Generalists who treat retirement as "accumulation with a longer timeline" lose clients at the transition. Clients want advisors who understand Social Security, RMDs, and tax-efficient withdrawals.
The trend favors specialists. Advisors who niche down and build depth will capture the retiring boomer wave.
Lead generation and growth
Lead generation is evolving. Digital marketing, paid marketplaces, and hybrid models are changing how advisors find prospects. Advisors who combine qualification with digital outreach will build pipelines while others rely on referrals alone.
Stay ahead
2025 will reward advisors who stay current, deepen expertise, and deliver the experience clients expect. Update your planning for SECURE 2.0. Integrate longevity and healthcare. Invest in tech. Niche down. The trends are clear—the question is whether you'll act on them.
Ready to grow your retirement practice? Join the Frank Finly advisor marketplace and connect with qualified prospects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Catch-up contributions for 60+ increase (indexed), 529-to-Roth transfer option expands, and RMD age remains 73 (75 in 2033). Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and employer matching to Roth become more common. Advisors should model these in planning software.
Clients are living longer—planning horizons extend to 95-100. Longevity risk (outliving assets) drives demand for guaranteed income, annuities, and Social Security optimization. Advisors are increasingly integrating healthcare and LTC into retirement plans.
Clients want digital access, personalized communication, and holistic planning. They expect transparency on fees and conflicts. Advisors who deliver tech-enabled, advice-driven experiences will win. Those who lag on both will struggle.
The shift from defined benefit to defined contribution continues. More retirees are entering with 401(k)s and IRAs. Demand for income planning, tax optimization, and Social Security optimization is growing. Specialists are gaining share.
Stay current on SECURE 2.0 implementation, deepen longevity and healthcare planning, upgrade tech for client experience, and niche down. Retirement specialists who deliver comprehensive, tech-enabled advice will capture market share.