Addressing the anxiety of a "1:2 dependency ratio": MetLife collaborates with Wudaokou to advocate for strengthening pension financial innovation

Facing aging and understanding how changes in population structure will affect social life is a matter that concerns every individual.

According to predictions from the National Bureau of Statistics, by 2030, the population aged 60 and above in China will reach 350 million; with the proportion of elderly living alone surging, the domestic family support ratio may reach 1:2 in 30 years.

Recently, MetLife and Tsinghua University's Wudaokou School of Finance jointly released the "China Family Pension Financial Health Index Research Report (2025)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Report"), which, based on 27,000 valid samples nationwide, indicates that the surveyed population generally feels anxious about retirement.

Among them, "insufficient family support," which includes burdens from children, lack of family care, and risks of living alone, is the core of retirement anxiety across all age groups.

The real dilemma faced by those born in the 70s and 80s is particularly evident, as the 30-50 age group, often referred to as the "sandwich generation," may simultaneously bear the dual pressure of educating children and supporting parents; yet they also lack attention to pension insurance and commercial pension products.

The "Report" shows that currently over 70% of families have annual expenditures on pension financial products below 5,000 yuan, with 30% spending less than 2,000 yuan; the high living costs for middle-income families lead to a lower willingness to purchase, with over 60% of families earning 200,000 to 500,000 yuan unwilling to spend.

In response to the current dilemma, the "Report" suggests a comprehensive effort from various aspects, including the construction of a pension financial system, public financial literacy education, innovation of diversified financial products, the concept of health management throughout the life cycle, and the establishment of intergenerational family protection systems to enhance people's pension financial health.

Regarding the current predicament of family pensions, Cao Deyun, former executive vice president and secretary-general of the China Insurance Asset Management Association, stated that there is significant room for optimization in China's pension insurance products.

Cao Deyun pointed out that pension financial products should be inclusive, safe, and long-term. "In recent years, the innovation of pension financial products by financial institutions has often been driven by policy, which may not fully reflect the real needs of the public. Product innovation must come from the market to be more aligned with public needs."

Chen Hui, director of the China Actuarial Science Laboratory at Central University of Finance and Economics, stated that retirement planning should involve reasonable family financial planning and the formulation of a scientific pension savings plan, arranging the monthly pension savings amount based on the family's income level and expenditure situation; at the same time, attention should be paid to the diversification of asset allocation.

Yao Bing, chief marketing officer of MetLife, stated that in today's Chinese society, retirement is a common issue for two generations of a family. "Retirement preparation should not only start at retirement but should begin as early as possible; retirement is not just about financial arrangements but involves cash flow planning for the entire life cycle of the client's family."

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