Pension funds, Italians a people of procrastinators

Italians, a people of procrastinators when it comes to pension funds. This is what emerges from the research 'Italians and supplementary pensions' by Eumetra-Research Dogma commissioned by Anima Sgr: 61% of those interviewed declared that they are aware that the pension future will be difficult but, at the same time, they do not take action to find solutions. And 31% have never thought about some form of supplementary pension provision.

"Complementary pensions today are becoming a necessity for the new generations," emphasised Saverio Perissinotto, CEO and General Manager of Anima, on his first public outing since taking up his new post. "Our children, our grandchildren have few certainties from this point of view, other than having to work longer and having a replacement rate at the pension level of the last salary that will certainly be lower than that had by the current or previous generations.

The survey was presented duringthe annual workshop organised in Milan by Anima Sgr at the Giorgio Gaber Opera House. 1,022 banked adult Italians were interviewed; responses were taken during the period 23 January-3 February 2026. A survey that comes at a turning point for supplementary pensions, given that the Stability Law has introduced a series of changes for pension funds in particular to incentivise the choice of an annuity at the end of the employment period.

In this regard, 38% of respondents answered that when they retire they would 'be better off' with a lump sum. On the other hand, 21%, in a more Solomonic way, chose the solution of half capital and half annuity. 25% opted for all or part of the annuity while the others did not know what to answer.

Then there is the fateful question about severance pay, the main element for financing one's position in a pension fund. Well, when asked about the destination of the severance pay, 20% replied that they left it in the company, 17% that they allocated it to a pension fund, and 13% explained that they collected it and used it for something else. Then there is a 37% who answer that they do not have the Tfr either because they do not work or because of the type of work they do.