Nearly half of American workers don’t know where to turn for retirement guidance.
according to 2026 retirement confidence survey In a study conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) and Greenwald Research – the longest-running study of its kind – 43% of workers said they don’t know who to go to for good financial or retirement planning advice. That’s what one in four retirees said.
But here’s what makes that number even more worrisome: Many people who think they know where to go are getting advice from sources that could be doing real harm to their financial future.
The survey explored where Americans really go for guidance. The results are eye-opening. Top source of workers? family and friends. Professional financial advisors ranked third. And the use of artificial intelligence tools has nearly doubled from a year ago.
Here are all five major sources, ranked from worst to best – so you know exactly what you’re dealing with.
5. Social media influencers and financial ‘gurus’
One in five workers said they rely on financial experts or gurus in the media or social media for retirement guidance. That number needs to be reduced.
These people are not fiduciaries, meaning they are not legally required to act in your best interests. Many people are compensated by the products they promote or the clicks they receive.
Some of them give perfectly reasonable general advice. But here’s the problem: General advice applied to your specific retirement situation is like a general weather forecast applied to your backyard. Close enough to feel right, far enough to cause real damage.
If some “gurus” is telling you what to buy without knowing anything about you, stop listening.
Quit immediately – Most internet financial advice comes from people who weren’t alive during the last recession. I’ve been writing about money for over 40 years. Do you want concrete advice? Sign up for the free Money Talks newsletter. It takes 10 seconds. No sparkles. no spam.
4. AI Tools
This deserves more nuance than a simple thumbs-down.
The use of AI as a retirement guidance source increases from 11% of workers in 2025 to 18% in 2026 – one of the fastest growing categories in the survey. that makes sense. AI is free, always available, and doesn’t judge you for not knowing what the required minimum delivery is.
For education, it is really useful. Understanding how a Roth IRA works, what “fiduciary” means, or how Social Security’s deferred retirement credits accumulate – AI handles all of this well.
But AI can’t see your complete financial picture. It doesn’t know the state of your health, your pension, your spouse’s income, or your plans for your 401(k) when you change jobs. It can explain concepts. It can’t make any plans for you.
Treat it as a study buddy, not a strategy session.
3. Family and friends
The top source of retirement guidance for workers is their family and friends – 39% cited them in the survey, ranking them higher than professional advisors.
It’s easy to understand why. These conversations are free, comfortable, and full of good intentions.
But unless your sibling is a fee-only certified financial planner who knows your tax situation inside and out, you’re getting advice filtered through someone else’s life circumstances.
What worked for your neighbor who retired at age 57 on a generous pension may be completely wrong for you. Use these conversations for emotional support, not strategy.
2. Your employer’s human resources department and plan provider
It’s criminally underutilized, and you’re already paying for it.
Only 27% of workers said they turn to their employer’s human resources or benefits department for guidance. That’s a missed opportunity.
Your 401(k) plan provider — Fidelity, Vanguard, Empower, or whoever holds your account — typically offers free planning tools, retirement calculators, and access to real humans who can guide you through your options.
Your HR department knows the ins and outs of your plan: the matching contributions you leave on the table, the catch-up contribution rules after you turn 50, and plan features you might not know about. If you’re not sure where your next retirement dollars should go, the conversation should start there.
This is not a comprehensive retirement plan. But it’s a solid, independent starting point – and most people ignore it completely.
1. A professional, fiduciary financial advisor
This is the right answer – but only if you find the right answer.
According to the survey, nearly 4 in 10 Americans currently work with a professional financial advisor. Among retirees, it is their most used source of guidance, cited by 39%. Only 33% of workers turn to one.
The key word is “faithful.” This means they are legally required to put your interests first – not their own commission income.
That distinction matters more than ever right now. A key consumer protection rule that would have required retirement investment advisors to meet fiduciary standards was struck down by federal courts earlier this year — a change that impacts anyone looking for retirement guidance.
Before you sign anything, ask two questions: Are you a fiduciary 100% of the time? How are you compensated? If the answers are “sometimes” and “commission”, stay tuned. There are 10 questions a bad financial advisor hopes you never ask – know them before you sit down.
A fee-only fiduciary – which is paid directly by you, not through product commissions – is the gold standard. And the payout can be dramatic.
Research cited by Vanguard found that working with a qualified advisor can more than double portfolio growth over 25 years compared to working alone.
If you have at least $100,000 invested, a free service to check out is SmartAsset. You fill out a short questionnaire and are instantly matched with three verified financial advisors in your area.
bottom line
If you’re among the 43% of workers who don’t know where to turn – now you know.
Start with your employer’s plan resources. Use AI and reputable financial sites to increase your knowledge. Rely on family for support, not strategy. Ignore influencers. And when you’re ready to get serious, look for a fee-only fiduciary.
The money you are protecting took decades to earn. The guidance you use to play it safe must clear a higher bar than the YouTube algorithm.