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News You Can Use: When it comes to financial planning, two heads not better than one

Strength in numbers tends to be true of most pursuits, but according to new research from Fidelity, couples are, well ... awful at joint financial planning. So pros, you're definitely on the right track with offering financial education and retirement planning resources to spouses as well as employees.

Among the somewhat startling findings:
* Less than half of couples (45%) make decisions jointly regarding day-to-day financial decisions such as budgeting and bill payment.
* Even fewer couples (38%) jointly discuss investment decisions for retirement savings
* 60% of couples don’t agree on their respective retirement ages.
* 44% are not in agreement on whether they will work in retirement.
* 42% have different ideas regarding their expected lifestyle in retirement.

“Many couples told us that they have fewer assets, will need to delay retirement and work longer, and are worried about the impact of inflation and rising healthcare costs on their retirement savings, yet they aren’t talking, planning or managing their finances jointly to address these very important issues,” says  Kathleen A. Murphy, Fidelity’s president of personal investing.

Yikes. I know the “for richer, for poorer” part of wedding vows doesn’t get specific, but I’d think at least basic budget discussions would go without saying. At any rate, keep the financial couples therapy coming, pros. Your workers and spouses clearly need it!

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