Spouses have crucial impact when planning retirement

September 05, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Share & Print

Spouses tend to a have profound impact on one another's retirement planning according to recent research from the University of Missouri (UM).

Angela Curl, an assistant professor with UM's School of Social Work had this finding published in Clinical Gerontologist.

In the article, "Anticipatory Socialization for Retirement: A Multilevel Dyadic Model," Curl culled and analyzed data and concluded that among married couples who were 45 years of age and older who worked full or part-time, when planning took place by one spouse, there was a direct correlation with an increase in planning activity on the other.

Curl determined that white men with higher incomes were the most likely to comprehensively prepare for a retirement that facilitates a smooth transition from the workforce. The impact that this group potentially has on their spouses could portend healthier retirement planning for individuals outside the affluent, white male demographic.

Although couples influencing each other's retirement planning insinuates that retirement planning is happening separately within in a marriage, Curl found that preplanning together goes a long way towards fomenting more positive retirement experience.

Curl concluded that there is significant onus on other parties besides the individual to provoke substantial retirement planning among individuals outside the proactive, wealthy, white male segment.

"Retirement is not just something for wealthy individuals. Too often retirement planning is thought of purely as financial planning, but that isn't necessarily the case. Employers should develop better training programs to help women and minorities plan for their retirement years so they can also be successful," Curl said in a statement. 

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Related Stories

Resource Center