Nearly a third of UK adults are not confident their household could withstand an unexpected financial shock, according to new research from The Exeter.

New figures from health and life insurer The Exeter show that 29% of UK adults are not confident their family would remain financially secure if something unexpected happened to them, up from 23% a year earlier.

The insurer’s latest Consumer Health and Finance Tracker also found that only 19% of respondents described themselves as “very confident” in their family’s financial resilience, down from 22% in 2025.

Among those surveyed, 15% said day-to-day living costs would be the biggest challenge for their household if the worst were to happen.

CONFIDENCE DECLINES ACROSS AGE GROUPS

The research suggests financial confidence has weakened across all age groups during the past year.

Adults aged 25 to 34, previously the most confident demographic, recorded one of the sharpest declines. In 2025, 75% said they were confident their household could cope with a financial shock. That figure has since fallen to 67%.

The findings indicate that concerns about financial resilience are no longer confined to groups traditionally viewed as financially vulnerable.

‘SANDWICH GENERATION’ UNDER PRESSURE

Those aged 45 to 54 emerged as the least confident age group in the study.

Just 11% of respondents in this age bracket said they were “very confident” their family would remain financially secure if something unexpected happened to them, while 36% said they were not confident.

More than half (53%) of those aged 45 to 54 were concerned that their loved ones would struggle to manage everyday bills, financial affairs, mortgage payments or funeral costs in the event of their death.

The findings highlight the pressures facing the so-called sandwich generation, many of whom balance financial responsibilities for both children and older relatives.

GENDER GAP REMAINS

The research also found a continuing disparity between men and women when it comes to financial confidence.

Nearly two-thirds (62%) of men said they believed their families would be financially secure in the event of a financial shock, compared with 49% of women.

Women were also more likely to report feeling less financially secure than they did six months ago, with 39% saying their position had worsened compared with 34% of men.

The Exeter noted that women save less on average each month, putting away £252 compared with £404 for men.

Jack Southcott (pictured), head of protection proposition at The Exeter, said: “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.”

The findings suggest that, despite improvements in awareness around financial protection and planning, many households remain vulnerable to unexpected events that could affect income and long-term financial security.