Retirement Planning: Rocky for Couples

[SumDay]

According to the most recent annual survey of 5,400 U.S. households by Hearts & Wallets, a Hingham, Mass. financial consulting firm, many couples may be headed for trouble. Only 38% of couples engage in retirement planning together, the survey found. (Another 18% say either they or their spouse has engaged in solo retirement planning in the past.) And just 39% say they and their spouse share a similar vision for retirement.

Retirement planning: Rocky for couples - Encore - MarketWatch

Related WSJ article by same author: Seven Resolutions to Get Your Finances in Shape - WSJ.com

 

[bo_knows]

Eh, I feel like it can be easy to skew that poll.

My wife and I are still well within the accumulation phase. We max 401k's, Roth IRA's, and a 529 and invest some post-tax. She has no interest in worrying or even planning ER. I've mentioned to her before that my projections say that we might be able to semi-ER or fully ER in our early 40's, and she just says something like "Oh yeah? That's cool." and continues what she's doing like nothing.

So, in many cases, I feel like one spouse just plugs along and goes at the discretion of the other regarding finances.

 

[haha]

If I had had to consider my former wife's wants when I put together our stash, neither she nor I would have anywhere near as much money as we have. To make sensible decisions regarding money, you have to have some sense, and some people have none and seem unlikely to develop any.

Ha

 

[heeyy_joe]

Probably true considering only about 38% of couples can agree on anything.

 

[growing_older]

Only 38% of couples engage in retirement planning together, the survey found.

18% say either they or their spouse has engaged in solo retirement planning in the past.

So 38% agree to plan together and 44% agree to NOT plan together. Sounds like a solid majority are agreeing about retirement planning. Maybe that's a story for my newsletter.

 

[obgyn65]

Do you mean 'can' or 'can't' ?

Probably true considering only about 38% of couples can agree on anything.