After Obergefell v. Hodges, retirement income planning became easier for many same-sex couples. Marriage grants access to Social Security benefits and other income sources. Could there still be special issues to consider? The answer is maybe..
Retirement income planning for married couples requires planning for the longest likely period of time that both, then the survivor, will need income. When couples are the same sex, managing longevity risk and healthcare planning can require additional considerations.
The statistical life expectancies for men and women are different. The most recent CDC National Vital Statistics Reports show that a male, age 65, has a life expectancy of 18.1 years, or slightly older than age 83. For a female, it is 20.7 years, or to just older than age 85½. Excellent health can push the number higher. Family genetics can move the number up (or sometimes down) as well.
Retirement income planning is part science and part art. First, spending does not tend to be level. In his 1998 book, The Prosperous Retirement: Guide to the New Reality, Michael Stein contends there are three periods in retirement: the Go-Go, the Slow-Go, and the No-Go years. Spending tends to be higher in the Go-Go years as bucket lists are checked off. As retirees age, they tend to be less active, and thus spend less. In the No-Go years, even less activity may be counterbalanced by increased caregiving or medical expenses.
Could these factors affect same-sex couples? Maybe. It can help to ask two key questions:
For couples, a spouse is most often the primary caregiver. While it is always true that both spouses could begin to fail at the same time, it can be a higher risk for two people who share the same statistical risks. This may make adding long-term care insurance a good option for some same-sex couples.
In honor of Pride Month, be sure to share retirement planning tips with clients who may have children or loved ones in same-sex marriages or are in a same-sex marriage themselves. Help them feel confident about reaching their retirement goals and perhaps help them increase the odds for a long, happy retirement!
For more information on retirement-planning strategies, please contact the Retirement Strategies Group at (800) 722-2333, or email us at RSG@PacificLife.com.
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