A Goldman Sachs survey finds that more than one-third of America’s highest-income households struggle to make progress on long-term financial goals. Rising expenses, family obligations and lifestyle expectations are changing what financial security looks like.

More than one-third of American households earning over $500,000 annually say they live paycheck to paycheck, according to a new Goldman Sachs Asset Management survey. The finding challenges a common assumption about financial security: that earning enough money eventually eliminates the pressure of managing it. For some of America’s highest-income households, substantial earnings come with substantial financial commitments, leaving less flexibility than their salaries might suggest.

The findings, examined by Steven John in an October 13 Fortune report, come from Goldman’s 2026 Retirement Survey & Insights Report. Among respondents with household incomes above $500,000, 36.6% described themselves as primarily living paycheck to paycheck, while 80% reported postponing a major financial goal. The study surveyed 5,106 working and retired Americans in July, examining how expenses, savings behavior and financial obligations influence retirement readiness.