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Student debt can make it more challenging to prepare for retirement — and that is reflected in the retirement balances of older borrowers, Fidelity data shows.
Retirement balances are roughly 30% lower among employees over age 50 who currently have student debt, at an average of $153,000, compared to $221,000 for savers in that age group who do not have such loans, the financial services company wrote in a report published Wednesday.
Workers ages 18 to 49 with student loans have nest eggs about 20% smaller than those of their debt-free counterparts, with an average balance of $58,000 versus $72,000. Fidelity analyzed internal retirement account data, including that of borrowers enrolled in its student debt benefits programs.
“Student debt casts a long shadow,” said Jesse Moore, head of student debt at Fidelity. “It doesn’t fade with age or career advancement. It’s a structural issue that shapes financial security at every stage of life.”
