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John Hancock launches tool to help consumers prepare for longer lifespans

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The tool evaluates Americans’ readiness for longevity across finances, health, housing, and social connections

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Mark Huffman
Reporter

Mark Huffman has covered consumer issues since 2004, with a special focus on protecting and empowering older adults. A former news correspondent for the Associated Press Radio Network, Westwood One, and ConsumerAffairs, Mark brings decades of journalistic experience to RetirementLiving.com. He is passionate about giving consumers a voice and helping them make informed decisions. Mark has also created educational content, including Senior Scam Alert, a video resource designed to help seniors recognize and avoid fraud. He holds a B.A. from the University of Kentucky and lives with his family in Richmond, Virginia.

Updated:

key insights:

  • John Hancock has launched a personalized longevity preparedness assessment tool developed with the MIT AgeLab to help consumers gauge how ready they are for longer lifespans.
  • The interactive tool evaluates users across eight areas, including health, finances, housing, and social connection, and provides customized recommendations.
  • The launch comes as the U.S. population aged 65 and older is projected to grow from 58 million to 82 million by 2050, increasing pressure on consumers to prepare for longer retirements and evolving care needs.

John Hancock has developed a new digital assessment tool designed to help Americans determine how prepared they are for longer lives and retirement years that could stretch decades beyond traditional expectations. 

The insurer introduced the personalized longevity preparedness tool at its “Longer. Healthier. Better.” symposium in Boston. Developed in partnership with the MIT AgeLab, the online platform generates individualized scores and recommendations intended to help consumers improve readiness for aging across multiple aspects of life. 

Users complete a questionnaire covering eight categories: health, finances, care planning, housing, daily activities, community, life transitions, and social connection. After completing the assessment, participants receive both an overall preparedness score and domain-specific scores on a scale from zero to 100.

Longevity Preparedness Index

The company said the tool builds on research from its 2025 Longevity Preparedness Index, which found that U.S. adults averaged a preparedness score of 60 out of 100, indicating substantial gaps in areas such as health, housing, and financial readiness. 

“Longevity isn’t just about more years lived; it’s about how well prepared we are to live them,” Brooks Tingle, president and CEO of John Hancock, said in announcing the launch. 

John Hancock said the assessment is intended not only for consumers but also for financial professionals seeking to guide clients through retirement and long-term planning conversations. The tool aims to help advisors identify risks and opportunities associated with longer life expectancy and evolving retirement needs.

Longevity is an increasingly important issue

Researchers and industry analysts say longevity planning is becoming increasingly important as demographic trends reshape retirement expectations. By 2050, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to increase dramatically, creating new challenges around healthcare, caregiving, housing, and financial sustainability.

Dr. Joseph Coughlin, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab, said the assessment was designed to encourage consumers to think beyond traditional retirement savings metrics.

“The Longevity Preparedness Index was designed to highlight the many elements that contribute to a life well lived — not just more years, but better years,” Coughlin said.