Almost 40 per cent of Americans lack confidence they will ever save enough money to retire. That number climbs even higher among older Americans, age 54 or more.

That’s despite nearly one in five Americans who said having enough money saved to be able to retire is their most important financial goal, according to a survey of 1,000 adults conducted by LendEDU in May.

More Americans said saving for retirement is more important versus those that indicated paying off credit card debt or building an emergency fund, according to the survey. However, slightly more respondents said buying their own house or apartment was their most important financial goal.

On average, monthly benefits for a retired worker from the Social Security Administration are US$1,468.39 or only about US$17,600 per year.