Older Americans Most Likely to Discuss Retirement Goals with Partner

March 23, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Fifty-seven percent of Americans have discussed savings or savings goals with their spouse or partner and 43% have discussed retirement goals, according to the results from a recent poll by the Wall Street Journal and Harris Interactive.

Respondents over the age of 55 are significantly less likely to have discussed spending habits, debt and household budges with their partners or spouses than younger respondents, and more likely to discuss investments and net assets (53%), according the survey report. The report attributed these findings to retirement planning needs.

Retired respondents are much more likely to discuss their net assets with their partner than other respondents (60% vs. 42% total). However, even among the retired, only 32% of respondents have discussed their retirement goals and only 54% have discussed current investments or investment goals. The survey report noted this could be due to a difference in views on financial discussions by different generations.

The poll of 1,516 respondents also found females are more likely (59%) than men (55%) to discuss their current savings or savings goals, and women are also slightly more likely than men to discuss retirement goals, and those making $75,000 or more were more likely to discuss their retirement goals and savings goals than any other income bracket.

Respondents ages 18-34 are more likely to discuss spending habits savings, debt, budgets and financial responsibilities.

The survey report is here .

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