15 Questions Couples on the Brink of Retirement Should Ask Themselves Now

Are you or your partner considering retiring soon? Before you do so, make sure you're ready for such a big switch.

Retiring isn’t a decision to make lightly — or alone. Here are 15 essential questions to discuss with your partner as the two of you craft your retirement plan.

This is a personal, multifaceted question. To come to a firm answer, you may need to have some honest conversations with your partner about your financial situation.

If you haven’t saved a lot of money, retiring too early can jeopardize your financial fitness. Meeting with a financial planner might be helpful before you make a decision.

Also, don’t forget to weigh your mental and physical health and think about your long-term goals prior to making this big decision.

Don’t let fantasies of playing golf all day cloud your judgment here. That will be fun for a week or two.

But once the thrill wears off, how will you spend your time? It’s important to think about how you will derive meaning and purpose from your life.

Simply “getting by” in retirement is one thing, but do you have the cash to fulfill your retirement dreams?

If you have specific plans for retirement — such as travel or buying a new home — it’s imperative that you have enough funds to make them happen. Include these expenses as you calculate the money you will need each month during retirement.

The driver behind a desire to move is often to be close to family, but there are many financial implications to weigh here.

As the source of your income shifts from wages to living off savings and Social Security, pay attention to how a new state’s cost of living and tax situation might impact your money.

You can begin receiving Social Security benefits at age 62, but you will receive a larger monthly payment the longer you wait to file up to the age of 70.

Figure out how much income you can generate from other sources and then decide when it makes the most sense to begin taking Social Security.

Generally, people qualify for Medicare at 65. So, if you are retiring earlier than that, you need to have a plan for how to pay for health insurance.

Options may include purchasing an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan, paying for COBRA coverage to extend the insurance from a former employer, or joining your spouse’s insurance plan.

Also, remember that Medicare itself does not cover all health care expenses and that you will still need to cover many costs out of pocket.

Many investment experts advise dialing down your risk as you enter retirement. Market downturns are much scarier when you rely on investments to fund your day-to-day lifestyle.

As you age, you also have fewer years to recover from market downturns.

Working part time during retirement can decrease your reliance on investments, supply you with health insurance, and give you a productive way to spend your time.

It can also prevent you from becoming socially isolated. But working is not the right fit for all seniors, particularly if they have serious health issues that limit their ability to work.

Traveling is a dream of many aspiring retirees. Whether or not travel is important to you will determine a lot about your retirement plan.

Do you want to retire early while you have the stamina for globetrotting? Or does it make more sense to stash away cash and build a larger nest egg so you can retire later and see the world in style?

Just because you are not working doesn’t mean you no longer need a budget. In fact, a budget can be even more important during retirement than it was during your working years.

Outliving your money is a real risk during retirement. Keeping track of and reining in your monthly expenses will help ensure your nest egg lasts.

While it’s not a requirement to be completely debt-free before you call it quits on working, have a plan in place to repay any outstanding debts during retirement.

Downsizing your home, selling an extra car you no longer need for commuting, or choosing to live in an area with a low cost of living can help with this goal.

Retirement is the time when you need to consider what you want for your partner and heirs after you die.

A good start is to take inventory of all your assets and then decide who should inherit each one. You might also consider who you want to take care of your finances and medical decisions later in life if you become unable to do so yourself.

Once children are grown and flown, you might consider downsizing your home. If you downsize, your equity could help you move into a smaller home you can buy in cash.

Downsizing to a single-story home also can be helpful in the event that you have mobility issues as you age. Downsizing won’t make sense for every situation, but it’s worth considering.

During your working years, life insurance might have been essential for protecting your family in the event of your premature death. Once you retire, you will need to decide if this coverage still makes sense.

Life insurance can help provide for the needs of a spouse or children after you are gone. It also can help you leave a legacy to a charity you love or pay for your funeral expenses. Discuss with your partner whether the ongoing expense of life insurance still makes sense for you.

Up to 70% of people who live to the age of 65 will develop severe long-term services and supports needs at some point, and 48% will pay for care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

With these statistics in mind, long-term care should be a part of a holistic retirement plan. As you prepare for retirement, make sure you have a plan to pay for long-term care services should you need them.

When to retire is a personal choice. Financial considerations will inform your decision, but so will emotional, health, and family factors.

Exploring and discussing the many facets of your life with your partner and family will help you better gauge your retirement readiness so you can decide whether this is the time to finally leave work behind.