Fidelitys Advice: Get Couples to Agree On Retirement Planning

Most couples disagree on a lot of important points when it comes to retirement planning. That lack of agreement can translate into lost financial planning business, making it important for advisors to get couples to work together, according to Fidelity Investments, which conducted the study.

To address the study’s findings, Fidelity also launched a guide for advisors called “Aligning Couples and Retaining Business.”

Almost half of couples — 47% — nearing retirement don’t agree on whether or not they’ll keep working, according to the study. Couples also disagree (53%) on the age at which they’ll retire, and 21% disagree about where they’ll live. In most couples, either one partner or the other speaks to the advisor, with only 38% responding that they interact jointly with their planner. Usually, the primary contact, if there is one, is the husband (34%) rather than the wife (12%).

“Finding a way to engage couples jointly is not only important in designing successful retirement plans, it’s critical to maintaining that couple’s business for the long-term,” said Larry Sinsimer, senior vice president of practice management for Fidelity Financial Advisor Solutions.

Fidelity, with help from independent research firm Richard Day Research, surveyed 648 married couples for the study. Respondents were at least 46 years old, and had a minimum household income of $75,000 or at least $100,000 in investable assets.

Danielle Reed writes for Financial Planning.