Most Americans are not saving enough for retirement. The Retirement Security Project found that more than half of all U.S. households had zero savings in an employer-based 401(k)-type plan or tax-preferred savings plan account—and the  median savings for those who did hold such accounts was only $34,000.

From 2004 to 2010, Pew worked in partnership with Georgetown University’s Public Policy Institute and the Brookings Institution on the Retirement Security Project, dedicated to promoting common-sense solutions that will improve the retirement income prospects of millions of American workers. The project promoted best practices for retirement savings, such as having employees "opt out" of 401(k) plans rather than "opting in." In addition, the project published policy and legislative analyses, original research, and working and discussion papers. Project staff have presented testimony to Congress.

The Retirement Security Project also hosted public forums on retirement security and conducted outreach and communication on the topic. These efforts promoted better retirement savings practices and policies as well as keeping the public informed about important new developments.