Couples’ Retirement Coordination and Well-Being: A Multi-Method Approach

Gina Allen, University of Minnesota
Carolyn A. Liebler, University of Minnesota
Sarah Flood, University of Minnesota

Our project investigates the coordination of retirements among married couples age 56 to 62. Specifically, we show how financial, emotional, and health-related considerations impact coordination of the transition to retirement among couples. We draw on data from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and use multinomial logistic regression models and two-stage latent life path models to address three specific issues: 1) the conditions under which husbands and wives coordinate their transitions to retirement; 2) the effects of health, socioeconomic status, and coordination on post-retirement marital satisfaction and well-being; and 3) how the onset of major health conditions affects the timing and coordination of retirement.