Since the 1990s an increasing number of people are getting remarried at a later age. Couples who are entering second marriages at this point in life need to fully understand the financial implications. How much wealth and debt will they bring to the union? Whose home will the newlywed couple live in? How do you make compromises on everyday spending and bill payments? And what should each person do to safeguard their own financial interests and those of their own children while still being fair to their new spouse and their children? Since money-related issues are one of the chief causes of marital friction and divorce, it’s important to have these discussions before the marriage takes place, even if the outcome involves establishing prenuptial agreements to protect both spouses. 

For further research:  

• Next Avenue, Financial Advice for Second Marriages
• Terry Savage, Gemma Allen and Michele Lowrance: The New Love Deal: Everything You Must Know Before Marrying, Moving In and Moving On!

Recent research from the Employee Benefits Research Institute reveals that those most worried about financial security during retirement are Gen-Xers between the ages of 42 and 57 years old. With the market experiencing its worst start of the year since World War II, many are wondering whether the two-decade bull market is coming to an end. Others are worried that they’ll have to work longer than they planned. Or that the Social Security fund will be bankrupt when it’s time for them to start collecting. While there are actions Gen X-ers can take now to bolster their retirement nest egg, like maximizing contributions to 401(k) plans and IRAs and resisting the urge to reduce exposure to the stock market, many can achieve greater peace of mind by working with a fee-only financial advisor. These professionals can analyze Gen-Xers’ entire financial picture and recommend a plan to increase their chances of living the way they want to during retirement.

For further research: 

• Next Avenue, Generation X is the least confident about retirement
• Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research, Retirement Confidence Survey 2022

If you want to work part-time in retirement, it's never been easier to find the kind of job you want. And it’s not just lower-paying, physically demanding jobs at retail stores and restaurants. With employers desperate to find workers, many are putting aside their biases against experienced and technically savvy older workers and allowing many to work at home or on their own schedules.  And if you’re still working full-time but would like to ease your workload, your company may offer a phased retirement program that lets you gradually reduce your work hours over time while still retaining your benefits. Even if you officially leave your full-time employer, you may have the opportunity to work for them part part-time or as a consultant. However, the key to remaining a coveted part-time worker is to keep up with the skills that employers find valuable, whether it’s learning new technologies and staying current with the business trends in your industry. 

For further research: 

• Next Avenue, Jumpstart Your Search for a Part-Time Job in Retirement
• Kerry Hannon, In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work
• AARP Employer Pledge Programs: Identify companies that affirm the value of experienced workers.

Ric Edelman, author of the new book “The Truth About Crypto” thinks everyone should have 1% of their investments in cryptocurrencies, including retirement investors. But the U.S. Department of Labor has concerns about allowing crypto in 401(k) retirement plans, just as Fidelity says it plans to let employers allow employees to put up to 20% of their 401(k)s in Bitcoin. The “Friends Talk Money” hosts talk to Edelman about all this and weigh in with their thoughts on putting retirement money into crypto.