New data from UK health and life insurer The Exeter’s Consumer Health and Finance Tracker, has found that nearly a third (29%) of UK adults are not confident that their household would be financially secure should something unexpected happen to them, up from 23% in 2025.
Only one in five (19%) of those surveyed by The Exeter reported feeling ‘very confident’ in their family’s financial resilience, a drop from 22% in 2025. In fact, 15% believe day-to-day living costs would be the hardest thing for their family to manage if the worst happened.
Financial confidence drops amongst all age groups
Confidence declined across every age group in 2026, not just those typically considered financially vulnerable. In 2025, UK workers aged 25-34 were the most assured age group, with three-quarters (75%) confident they could cope with a financial shock. A year on, that figure has dropped to just two-thirds (67%).
‘Sandwich generation’ hit the hardest
On the other end of the scale, the ‘sandwich generation’ of those aged 45-54 are feeling the pinch most. Just one in ten (11%) said they feel 'very confident' their family would be financially secure – the lowest of any age group – while more than a third (36%) are not confident their family would be secure.
Over half (53%) of this age group were worried that, in the event of their death, their loved ones would find it difficult to manage day-to-day bills, financial affairs, mortgage payments or funeral costs.
The disparity between men and women persists
Men continue to report higher financial confidence than women. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of men believe their families would be financially secure in the event of a shock, compared to just half (49%) of women. Women are also more likely than men to feel less financially secure than they did six months ago, at 39% compared to 34%, which may reflect the fact that they save less each month on average, putting away £252 to men's £404.
Jack Southcott, Head of Protection Proposition at The Exeter, comments: “It’s not uncommon for many people to overestimate how secure their family finances would be in the event of an unexpected event or income shock, but today’s data shows that financial resilience is weakening across the UK. Nearly a third of adults are now concerned about unexpected shocks and for many it would only take a single illness, injury or period out of work to turn that worry into reality.
“While the industry has made strong progress in improving customer outcomes under Consumer Duty, there remains a significant gap between those who would benefit from financial advice or protection and those who actually seek it. Closing that gap will be critical to improving financial resilience across the UK.”
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