Retirement Planning For Couples

Couples have some unique advantages when it comes to retirement planning. For one thing, you have someone to pool resources with, share expenses, and help inspire (or nag) one another to save more.

However, there is a key ingredient which is essential to couples taking full advantage of these leg-ups in the retirement planning game, and that ingredient is communication. As in, you need to be on the same page and share the same goals for retirement and talk about them, so that they are clear and achievable.

Having full disclosure is important. Take for example your 401k balances. Do you really know the balance of your spouse’s retirement account? Don’t you think that would be helpful in planning your golden years together?

It’s the equivalent of two travelers on a long journey, and each doesn’t fully know what tools and guides the other has at their disposal.

Open and honest communication among couples is good advice for not only maintaining a healthy relationship, but also for avoiding fights. Fights about money hamper marriages. In fact, according to surveys, couples fight about money twice as much as they fight about sex.

The moral of the story is that conversations about financial goals are helpful to a couple. Talk about your mutual goals, often and in detail. If you’re not aligned and working toward a common goal, chances are you are at odds with one another.

Once you’re on the same page, start planning for it now, if you haven’t already. Retirement savings plans are easily accessible and are worth every penny you stash away when you’re sitting on that cruise ship, or on a tropical beach somewhere, smiling at one another, sipping on exotic sounding cocktails.

Start a savings account together. And an emergency fund. Invest together. You’ll be glad you did. Save your money. Spend less than you earn, and avoid the stress of trying to juggle expensive bills that you can’t afford. Time spent with one another is the best investment a couple can make.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES

Material contained in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be used in connection with the evaluation of any investments offered by David Lerner Associates, Inc. This material does not constitute an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities and should not be considered in connection with the purchase or sale of securities.

To the extent that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed by law.

Each taxpayer should seek independent advice from a tax professional based on his or her individual circumstances.

These materials are provided for general information and educational purposes based upon publicly available information from sources believed to be reliable– we cannot assure the accuracy or completeness of these materials. The information in these materials may change at any time and without notice.

David Lerner Associates does not provide tax or legal advice. The information presented here is not specific to any individual's personal circumstances. Member FINRA & SIPC