Our research tells us many married couples don’t know anything about their spouse’s pensions and retirement plans. Planning retirement together can make good financial sense. Here we explore pension tips for couples.
Couples who plan their retirement together can be much better off when they stop working.
Of the non-retired and married people we recently surveyed*:
- More than three-quarters (78%) have no idea what their spouse’s pensions are worth
- Nearly half (47%) haven’t spoken to their spouse about their retirement plans
- 85% aren’t aware of the benefits of planning retirement together
Not talking to each other about pensions and retirement plans can be a costly mistake. Couples who plan together can be much better off when they stop working.
Most people have a good idea of what their house is worth. It’s a good idea to have the same attitude about your retirement funds. After a lifetime of saving, the value of a retirement fund can be worth as much as a property. It’s important to know how much your savings are worth and the potential death benefits they offer.
Pension tips for couples
- Pay into your partner’s pension: If one partner is a higher earner and is approaching the Lifetime Allowance or Annual Allowance, they could pay additional contributions into their partner’s pension.
- Don’t forget the death benefits and inheritance tax benefits of pensions: Pensions won’t normally form part of the estate for inheritance tax purposes. In the instance of death before age 75, they can usually be paid out tax free (on death after 75, they are taxed as the beneficiary’s income). It can make sense to discuss when and how to access a pension and if it would be better to spend any other savings first.
- Avoid unnecessary large withdrawals from a pension fund: Couples should consider how much money they need to withdraw from their pension funds. Drawing too much too quickly can lead to large tax bills.
- Make sure your partner knows who to contact about your pensions if you die: You may have carefully arranged all your finances so that they can be passed to your loved ones in the most tax efficient way possible. However, if your partner hasn’t been part of the conversation, they may make uninformed decisions.
Getting specialist retirement advice
As well as talking to each other, it’s well worth talking to a financial adviser. This is especially true for people who plan to retire within the next five years.
At LV= we’ve been specialising in providing trusted and regulated retirement advice for over 20 years. Learn more about how our retirement advice service can help you plan for retirement and get your pensions ready for the retirement you want to enjoy. You can request a call back from one of our friendly advisers today.
Data Source
*LV= surveyed 4,000 nationally representative UK adults via an online omnibus conducted by Opinium in June 2021.
View the July 2021 Edition of the LV= Wealth and Wellbeing report
