Skip to main content

Remarriage among Americans over the age of 55 is on the rise. For many, the financial impact is positive. An Ohio State University study found married people generate 4 percent more wealth per year than singles, accumulating twice the wealth of singles over time.* One obvious reason is the savings achieved by sharing housing, utilities and food expenses. Another big factor is married couples tend to plan for the long-term more. Here are a few other benefits:

Taxes. Even if a couple’s income doesn’t double when they marry, their income tax deductions often do. This may be a benefit if one spouse earns more than the other. Couples selling a home they have both lived in for at least two years may be allowed to make a $500,000 profit without paying capital gains tax (as opposed to a $250,000 limit for single homeowners). Since spouses can combine their gift exclusions, a couple can gift others up to $28,000 annually tax-free. One spouse can gift an unlimited amount to the other spouse. Federal income tax provides an unlimited marital deduction on assets left to a spouse, and most states also offer either a full exemption or a lower rate for spouses.

Retirement. Currently married spouses have the option to receive half of their partner’s Social Security benefits. If an employee chooses a “joint and survivor” benefit, company-sponsored pensions are transferred to their surviving spouse at time of death. Maximum incomes qualifying for tax-deferred or tax-exempt IRA accounts are larger for married couples. An employed spouse can contribute to an unemployed spouse’s IRA. Inherited retirement accounts can be rolled into a surviving spouse’s IRA, potentially providing longer periods of tax-deferred or tax-free growth.

Insurance. An unemployed or self-employed spouse can usually obtain health care coverage under their partner’s workplace policy. Even if both people have health plans, getting a family rate under one policy often saves money. A spouse who is unable to obtain life insurance due to marginal health might secure a joint or survivorship life insurance with a spouse. A couple may qualify for a shared benefit rider on a long-term care policy that is less expensive than separate policies.

If you or someone you know is contemplating a second marriage, we would be happy to work with an attorney or accountant to give the new marriage the best chance of financial success and security. Our Next newsletter will look at potential drawbacks of remarrying.

*“Divorce Drops a Person’s Wealth by 77 Percent, Study Finds,” https://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/divwlth.htm

Securities America and its representatives do not provide tax advice; therefore it is important to coordinate with your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

Important Disclosure Information

Please remember that past performance may not be indicative of future results.  Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, or product (including the investments and/or investment strategies recommended or undertaken by Dechtman Wealth Management, LLC [“DWM”]), or any non-investment related content, made reference to directly or indirectly in this blog will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated historical performance level(s), be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful.  Due to various factors, including changing market conditions and/or applicable laws, the content may no longer be reflective of current opinions or positions.  Moreover, you should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this blog serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from DWM. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing. DWM is neither a law firm nor a certified public accounting firm and no portion of the blog content should be construed as legal or accounting advice. A copy of the DWM’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available for review upon request or at www.dechtmanwealth.com.

Please Note: DWM does not make any representations or warranties as to the accuracy, timeliness, suitability, completeness, or relevance of any information prepared by any unaffiliated third party, whether linked to DWM’s web site or blog or incorporated herein, and takes no responsibility for any such content. All such information is provided solely for convenience purposes only and all users thereof should be guided accordingly.

Please Remember: If you are a DWM client, please contact DWM, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, or if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services.  Unless, and until, you notify us, in writing, to the contrary, we shall continue to provide services as we do currently.

Please Also Remember to advise us if you have not been receiving account statements (at least quarterly) from the account custodian.

Join our newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.