What our research found
67%
Of parents aged 38-48 have never run the numbers on whether their retirement savings will actually support the life they want.
Wrong
Parents assume their neighbours are doing better. The data shows they probably are not. But they never find out for certain.
The parent financial paradox
Between school runs, work, and the relentless cost of raising children, financial planning gets deferred year after year. Parents tell themselves: we'll figure it out later.
Financial planning with dependents feels impossibly complex. Pensions, mortgages, school fees, retirement. Where do you even start?
Parents compare themselves to neighbours and colleagues, guessing at their financial situations. Without real data, anxiety thrives in the vacuum.
Traditional financial advice is expensive and hard to access. Generic online tools don't account for the complexity of family finances.
What the data shows
67%
Parents 38-48 who've never calculated retirement sufficiency
Child triggers first serious financial thought
?
Parents comparing to wrong benchmarks
67% of parents aged 38-48 have never calculated whether their pension will be enough for the retirement they want. Despite decades of working and contributing, most parents have no idea if they're on track. They assume they'll figure it out later. But by the time many start paying attention, they've lost years of potential compounding.
Our research found the average UK parent first thinks seriously about their financial future when their second child is born. This is the moment when the reality of raising a family truly hits home.
The problem? By this point, parents are often in their mid-to-late thirties. Decades into their careers, with years of potential financial planning already lost.
Not more information. Clarity.
Parents don't need a 100-page financial plan. They need to know: are we okay? What are the 2-3 things that actually matter this month?
Actions that fit within the chaos of family life. Small steps that compound over time. Not dramatic lifestyle overhauls.
This research was conducted by Delphina, the UK platform for genuine financial clarity. Delphina helps parents understand where they actually stand financially, without the jargon, the judgment, or the generic advice that doesn't account for their actual situation.
March to April 2026
This research synthesises three data streams:
Primary survey respondents (n=2,847):
Delphina (2026). UK Parents Financial Worries 2026. Available at: https://delphina.money/research/uk-parents-financial-worries-2026
"The average parent first thinks seriously about their financial future when their second child is born. Years after they should have started."
Delphina Research, April 2026