Most people in Latvia would like to retire before the state pension age. This wish is especially pronounced among young people (aged 18-29), 25% of whom would like to retire by the age of 50, while 26% would do so between the ages of 50 and 55. Only 9% of Latvian residents would be willing to keep working until pension age even if they had the chance to retire sooner, according to a survey by SEB banka and Norstat Latvija¹.

If they could afford it, around 20% of Latvian residents would like to retire between the ages of 51 and 55, and 28% between 56 and 60. A further 11% would like to stop working before they turn 50. At the same time, the data shows that men are generally prepared to work slightly longer than women. For example, 63% of women and 54% of men would like to retire by the age of 60. The remaining men are willing to work for longer.

The wish to work less than the state requires is particularly strong among young people: more than half (51%) of respondents aged 18 to 29 would not want to work beyond the age of 55, while among 30 to 39-year-olds the figure is 42%. Only 7% of people in their twenties would be content to retire at the state pension age, and among those in their thirties the share is half that (4%).

Inta Buša, organiser of the Investoru festivāls, notes that this public attitude is increasingly linked to the so-called “FIRE” movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early). It is built on deliberately achieving financial independence, which makes it possible to retire earlier and live off savings or passive income. “If people want to retire earlier, the only solution is long-term financial planning and investment. That means taking responsibility and starting to build capital much earlier than the traditional pension model assumes,” she adds.

Yet the survey data shows that while seven in ten Latvian residents would like to retire earlier than the law currently allows, 31% of respondents do not invest and have no plans to start.

The biggest obstacle to investing in Latvia is still a lack of spare money – more than half of respondents believe they cannot afford to invest regularly (53%). The second most common reason is a lack of knowledge and confidence (36%). Some people also admit that they are afraid of losing money (22%) or that they currently have other financial priorities, such as repaying loans and covering everyday expenses (28%). At the same time, there are positive signals: many people are open to starting to invest in the future, even though they are putting it off until later.

“Investing is a long-term undertaking. That is especially important for young people to understand, as they still have plenty of time. If you want to build up enough capital to take a well-earned rest before pension age, the first steps should be taken as early as possible. You can start investing with as little as ten euros a month, but the important thing is to do it regularly over a number of years, gradually increasing the contributions as your income grows. Unlike keeping money under the mattress or in an ordinary bank account, investing draws on compound interest – the fact that money earns money. For example, by starting to invest 25 euros a month at the age of 20 and doubling the monthly amount every five years until it reaches 200 euros, by the age of 50 you could build up capital of more than 108 thousand euros, assuming an annual return of 7%. If the money had simply been set aside under the mattress all that time, the sum would be just 46.5 thousand euros. You can also work backwards – first set the target sum you want and then draw up a suitable investment strategy. The basic principle stays the same, though: the long term and regularity,” explains Oļegs Andrejevs, Head of Savings, Investment and Pension Offerings at SEB banka.

I. Buša adds: “We can also see that a lack of knowledge and confidence is still an issue. That is why, to inspire people to take their first steps into the world of investing, for the second year running we are providing a special free stage for new investors at the traditional Investoru festivāls, in cooperation with SEB banka. We invite everyone who is interested in starting to invest and drawing inspiration from experienced experts and practitioners to reserve a free ticket to the “New Investors' Stage”.

This year the Investoru festivāls will take place on 6 June at VEF Kvartāls. At Investoru festivāls 2026, financial experts, entrepreneurs and investors will take to three stages – the main stage, the technology stage and the new investors' stage – to discuss how to build capital over the long term and secure greater freedom in the future. The organisers stress that if the public appetite for earlier retirement and greater financial independence continues to grow, investment literacy will become one of the most important skills of all.

About the Investoru festivāls

Investoru festivāls is an annual event that brings investors, entrepreneurs and finance experts together in one place to share experience, analyse current market trends and look for new investment opportunities. The event offers educational sessions, practical masterclasses and discussions on key financial questions, while also creating a setting for valuable networking and the exchange of ideas among beginners and experienced investors alike. This year's festival will take place on 6 June at VEF Kvartāls: https://kampana.investoruklubs.lv/investorufestivals2026/