Why You and Your Partner Might Not Want to Retire Together

Are you thinking of retiring at the same time as your spouse or partner? It might not be the best idea. Staggering retirement can take advantage of higher Social Security benefits, longer access to health insurance before Medicare becomes available, and larger retirement plan withdrawals. Investopedia author Mark P. Cussen and investment advisor Morris Armstrong explain in this helpful article that

“Unless couples are the same age, and in the same health, it usually makes more sense for one person to retire earlier. There can be both financial and relationship benefits,” says Morris Armstrong, registered investment advisor, Armstrong Financial Strategies, Cheshire, Conn. Financially speaking, the advantages are threefold. When one spouse works longer, the amount of Social Security benefits the couple is entitled to will increase. In addition, the continued income from the working spouse gives the couple a few more years to save for retirement. Finally, a spouse who works an extra three to five years will likely have a shorter period over which to draw on his or her retirement assets, allowing for larger withdrawal amounts each year.

And, given that retirement is a such a significant life transition for most people, Cussen explains that there are often emotional considerations that should be taken into account when couples are deciding whether or not to retire together:

Retirement in the modern era can be an emotionally complex proposition. Losing one’s sense of identity through work can be a major adjustment for some, while others are able to make this transition with relatively little difficulty. When a working couple retires, they suddenly find themselves at home together all the time, without the separation of work that they may have become accustomed to. This sudden shift can often disrupt a couple’s established relational boundaries. As such, it may be easier for couples if only one spouse goes through this process at a time, especially if either spouse expects to have difficulty adapting to the new lifestyle.

 

This gives at least one of the spouses (perhaps the one who is expected to have more difficulty with the process) some time alone to begin creating a new identity while some elements of their relationship, including separation during the day, remain stable. If both spouses retire at the same time, the emotional impact on each partner – and on their relationship as a couple – can create friction that might otherwise have been avoided. If both spouses struggle to find new paths for themselves, they may end up taking their frustrations out on each other.

If you'd like to talk more about your own retirement and whether a staggered retirement is right for you, feel free to get in touch with one of our retirement planning experts at Dunston Financial Group.

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