An interview with David Conti, creator of the Retirement Fear Index
If you lie awake at night worrying about healthcare costs, Social Security’s future, or whether you’ll outlive your savings, you’re not alone. Millions of Americans carry these same fears into retirement—and a new tool is bringing them into the light.
David Conti, a financial writer and former Fidelity Investments retirement editor, recently launched the Retirement Fear Index, a monthly tracking system that measures the 10 most pressing anxieties facing retirees and pre-retirees. Unlike traditional financial planning tools that speak in the language of risk, volatility, and asset allocation, Conti chose a more human approach: fear.
"Fear is the human language," Conti explains. "Risk is what the financial industry talks about. But fear is real, fear is emotional, and fear is actionable. When it comes to fear, people have a different level of human motivation."
The distinction matters, especially as we navigate an increasingly complex retirement landscape. Here’s what the July 2026 Retirement Fear Index reveals—and what you can do about it.
The Retirement Fear Index: A New Lens on an Old Problem
Launched in June 2026 with a baseline score of 100, Conti’s index draws from 25 independent sources spanning academic research, government organizations, and financial institutions. The methodology is rigorous—this isn’t anecdotal; it’s data-driven. The July reading sits at 121.7, reflecting a 21.7% increase in overall fear compared to the baseline.
Conti updates the index monthly, tracking which fears are rising, which are easing, and what macro trends—policy changes, economic shifts, market volatility—drive the numbers. For pre-retirees and retirees, the index offers something invaluable: validation that you’re not uniquely anxious, and a window into what others are experiencing.
Steve Gurney founded Retirement Living SourceBook in 1990. Drawing from the experience of observing his family caring for Steve’s aging grandfather, he created a comprehensive publication to help others in the same situation. Over the next few years Steve expanded the publication to three regional editions, DC metro, State of Maryland, and the Philadelphia region. Steve has worked closely with nearly every regional and national organization on aging to help maximize their exposure and helping find solutions to their challenges.
In 1998, Mr. Gurney sold his company to The Washington Post where he served as General Manager of Sourcebook and the Senior Living Solutions Division. In 2019, Mr. Gurney acquired the resource back, and has re-branded as Positive Aging Community adding a new design and content, distribution partners, podcasts, and a robust schedule of live and interactive discussions with thought-leaders on a wide variety of topics.
In addition, Mr. Gurney founded ProAging Network meetings and leads the DC Senior Resource Group important resources for senior-serving professionals.
Mr. Gurney serves or has served on the board of directors for the Grass Roots Organization for the Well-Being of Seniors (GROWS), Alzheimer’s Association, Interages, Business and Aging Task Force, Virginia Intergenerational Task Force, and the Beacon Institute. Steve has served on countless committees and provided guidance to help organizations and businesses better serve the senior population. Mr. Gurney has received awards and recognition from the Seabury Resources for Aging, Maryland Assisted Living Association, the Senior Marketing Institute and other notable organizations. Steve is a regular speaker at local, regional and national events and has been featured in regional and national publications, electronic and broadcast media.
Steve Gurney received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Old Dominion University and a Masters Degree from the Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
Mr. Gurney served as an adjunct professor at Erickson School of Aging Studies at University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), instructing in the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Steve is a competitive endurance athlete and certified level 2 Adaptive Snowboard Instructor with the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), a certified level 2 Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor with the American Canoe Association (ACA). In the winter he instructs with Blue Ridge Adaptive Snow Sports at Liberty Mountain Resort, and for over eight years he led operations and a team of instructors at Surf Reston Stand Up Paddleboarding, which he turned over to Reston Association.
