Longer Lives Need More Than a Plan on Paper

On October 27, John Hancock announced its 2026 Longevity Preparedness Index, developed with MIT AgeLab and funded by John Hancock. The survey of 1,340 U.S. adults found an average preparedness score of 60 out of 100, unchanged from 2025; the life-transitions score rose by two points. (Read the announcement and methodology.)

That’s a broad measure—not a verdict on anyone’s life. My takeaway is narrower: knowing that change is coming doesn’t tell us what matters to prepare for. A useful starting point might be one question you’ve been postponing about a future transition, then one small conversation or action you choose to take. What kind of preparation would make a future change feel more like your own choice?