From the Wall Street Journal —
Why Couples May Disagree;
Women have good reason to be more anxious about the size of a nest egg —
By Glenn Ruffenach
My wife and I are approaching retirement. I think our nest egg is in good shape, but my wife is worried that our expenses will be larger than we think and that, in the long run, we might run out of money. She even talks about delaying our retirement. I have assured her that the numbers work, but she’s still anxious. Any thoughts?
This question gives me the chance to highlight an issue that can get overlooked in retirement planning: the financial burdens that women, in particular, face late in life.
First, I applaud the fact that you and your wife are talking about retirement budgets. (Many couples don’t.) I’m not sure what, specifically, is prompting your wife’s concerns, but it might help her to know that she has lots of company.
Consider: A survey last year by the National Council on Aging and Ipsos, a polling and data firm, found that fully half (51%) of women age 60 and older are worried about outliving their savings. In the same survey, almost six in 10 women (59%) said they are worried about losing their independence.
Why these fears? The answers, in large part, are tied to longevity and health care. …
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