Retirement

Getting on the same page: A retirement checklist for married couples

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Written by
Michele Lerner
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  • 5 min read
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If you and your spouse share a vision of retiring together, you’re more likely to achieve that goal with a solid retirement plan. But many couples aren’t prepared. Just 21% of couples have a retirement plan to ensure they don’t outlive their savings, according to Fidelity Investments’ 2015 Couples Retirement Study.

“A lack of planning doesn’t delay life events,” says Len Hayduchok, president of Dedicated Senior Advisors in Hamilton, New Jersey.

Hayduchok says that ideally, planning for retirement starts as early as possible. Waiting until the kids are finished with college, as many people do, can be too late for many couples.

“The most successful couples are transparent about their finances from the very beginning of their committed relationship and talk about their hopes and dreams as well as their financial baggage,” says John Sweeney, executive vice president of retirement and investing strategies at Fidelity Investments in Boston.

No matter what your age, make these topics a part of your retirement checklist to help create a solid plan.

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