The latest Financial Priorities survey by Aegon has unveiled significant insights into the advice UK adults would give to their younger selves, with the results highlighting the importance of early saving and future planning.
- Half of respondents would tell their younger selves to ‘Start saving as early as possible’ (48%).
- When asked to pick topics people wish they’d learned more about at a younger age, ‘Retirement planning’ came second (17%), behind only ‘Investing and growing wealth’ (22%).
If time travel were possible, then half of Brits would choose to go back and tell their younger selves to ‘Start saving as early as possible’ (48%).
This sentiment is even stronger among women and those over 50, with 51% of each group wishing they could stress the importance of saving early.
‘Take care of your health’ (41%) and ‘Find a job you love’ (36%) emerged as the second and third most popular advice options among time-travellers. Interestingly, ‘Spend more time with family’ was only a top-three choice for 20% of respondents.
The survey also revealed the financial topics that individuals wish they’d learned more about at a younger age, with ‘Investing and growing wealth’ (22%) and ‘Retirement planning’ (17%).
Dr. Tom Mathar, Head of Aegon’s Centre for Behavioural Research, comments on the findings:
“Unless you’re Doctor Who, time travel may not be possible. But what we do today can shape our future in meaningful ways.
“Our findings highlight how difficult it is to balance present needs with future security. A majority, especially women and those over 50, look back with some sense of regret, wishing they had started saving earlier. This suggests that financial planning isn’t just about building wealth. It’s also about making better trade-offs throughout life.
“Our recent Second 50: Addressing the gender pensions gap report outlines the unique financial hurdles that women often face, whether due to career breaks, longer life expectancy, or societal expectations around money management.
“Whilst financial education plays a crucial role, what may be even more important is longevity education: helping people to understand how their financial, health and lifestyle choices interact over a longer life. Different life stages bring different financial priorities, and a more holistic approach is needed to support people in making informed decisions.
“Recognising this need, Aegon will soon be launching an educational hub, as well as a podcast, designed to help individuals navigate these trade-offs: between financial security now and financial security in the future, and between living well today and preparing for a fulfilling later life.”
Methodology
The Financial Priorities survey of 2,000 UK adults was conducted by Opinium on behalf of Aegon UK between 31 January and 4 February 2025, in a study that was nationally representative of age, gender and geographic criteria. Full data available on request.
About Aegon
In the UK, Aegon offers pension and investment solutions to over 4 million customers. Aegon employs over 2,000 people in the UK and together with around 500 people employed by Atos, we serve the needs of our customers. Figures correct as at 31/12/2023. More information on aegon.co.uk/about-us
Aegon UK is part of the wider Aegon Group, an international financial services holding company. Aegon’s ambition is to build leading businesses that offer their customers investment, protection, and retirement solutions. Aegon’s portfolio of businesses includes fully owned businesses in the United States and United Kingdom, and a global asset manager. Aegon also creates value by combining its international expertise with strong local partners via insurance joint-ventures in Spain & Portugal, China, and Brazil, and via asset management partnerships in France and China. In addition, Aegon owns a Bermuda-based life insurer and generates value via a strategic shareholding in a market leading Dutch insurance and pensions company.
Aegon's purpose of helping people live their best lives runs through all its activities. As a leading global investor and employer, Aegon seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion and diversity. Aegon is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange. More information can be found at aegon.com/about
The Information in this press release is intended solely for journalists and shouldn’t be relied upon by any other persons to make financial decisions.