It Takes Two to Plan A Successful Retirement

Many Baby Boomers who are entering retirement may find themselves unprepared for the transition. Angela L. Curl, from the University of Missouri (Missouri, USA), and colleagues find that spouses tend to have similar levels of planning for retirement. This planning can lead to more success and less stress when they leave the workforce. The team analyzed data from the Health and Retirement Study, which included information from married couples who were 45 years of age and older and worked full or part time. The data revealed that when one spouse planned, the other spouse also planned. Even though husbands planned more often than wives, the spouses influenced each other. The team also found that preparing for retirement helped the subjects to transition out of the workforce more smoothly. The study authors conclude that: “These findings identify couples that could most benefit from targeted efforts to increase anticipatory socialization, which predicts better retirement adjustment and satisfaction.”