Survey: Married Folks More Retirement-Ready (Chicago Tribune)

A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed a little-known perk of marriage: married couples are significantly more likely to be well-prepared for retirement. The study sampled 66 to 69 year-olds, and found that 80 percent of people who were married had adequate retirement funds, while just 55 percent of singles did. 

“There’s an illusion for those who are single that you don’t have responsibilities, and important things can wait,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, president of the Charles Schwab Foundation. “But when it comes to saving and investing for later in life, time is of the essence,” especially if you’re single.

Married couples tend to have higher household incomes than singles, and they also have lower per-person living expenses. Because of this, it’s critical that singles start saving for retirement early.