The Planning Gap Most Couples Face

Couples plan for retirement as a financial goal but not as a relational transition—and they discover fundamental incompatibilities only after making irreversible decisions.

Couples Membership Options

All couples memberships include automatic enrollment in the Couples Retirement Planning life event journey

Couples Self Service

$249

Access to the Couples Retirement Planning Alignment Calculator for two people

  • Access to the Couples Retirement Planning Alignment Calculator for two people
  • Access to the PDF "Beyond the Money: The Couples Guide to Enjoying Retirment Together"
Join Now

Guided Couples Retirement Planning

$499

Access to the Couples Retirement Planning Alignment Calculator for two people and two video conference sessions with a coach

  • Access to the Couples Retirement Planning Alignment Calculator for two people
  • Two video conference sessions with a coach to help you access the tool and interpret your resluts (1.5 hours total).
  • Access to the PDF "Beyond the Money: The Couples Guide to Enjoying Retirment Together"
Join Now

What's Missing from Traditional Retirement Planning

What the Industry Provides
  • Financial projections
  • Investment strategies
  • Tax optimization
What Couples Actually Need
  • Frameworks for discussing what each partner wants
  • Tools to honor both partners' authentic needs
  • Structured conversations before major decisions

The Consequences of This Gap

Couples use vague language ("we want to travel," "we want to relax") and assume they agree, when they actually mean completely different things. One partner imagines backpacking through Europe while the other envisions luxury cruises.

Each partner plans separately in their head, assuming the other shares their vision, leading to:

  • One partner buys an $89,000 RV the other never wanted
  • Geographic decisions that devastate one partner
  • Lifestyle choices that satisfy neither person

Couples discover they're incompatible just when they're supposed to be enjoying the fruits of decades of hard work. The very moment that should be celebrated becomes a source of conflict and disappointment.
The Root Cause

Traditional retirement planning treats married couples as single economic units making identical decisions, when the reality is two individuals with potentially different values, dreams, and definitions of a meaningful life.

Our Solution

The Couples Retirement Planning Alignment Calculator teaches couples how to have structured conversations about their individual needs before making major decisions, and provides creative compromise strategies when dreams don't align.

What You'll Discover:
  • Each partner's authentic vision for retirement
  • Areas of natural alignment and potential conflict
  • Practical strategies for honoring both partners' needs
  • How to discuss difficult topics with empathy and understanding
  • Creative compromises that satisfy both partners

Important: This tool focuses exclusively on lifestyle dimensions—not money. You'll explore recreation, travel, daily routines, social connections, personal growth, and other non-financial aspects of retirement life.

What Couples Are Saying

"We thought we were on the same page about retirement until we used this tool. It helped us discover what we each truly wanted and find a path that works for both of us. We avoided what could have been a major conflict."

James & Patricia R.

Retired 2024

"The Alignment Calculator gave us a framework to discuss topics we'd been avoiding. Now we have a retirement plan that honors both of our dreams—and our relationship is stronger because of it."

Maria & Tom S.

Planning for 2026 retirement

"I wish we'd had this tool years ago. We made some big decisions based on assumptions about what the other wanted. This would have saved us a lot of heartache and money."

David & Susan K.

Retired 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

No, this complements your financial planning. While your financial advisor helps you with the money side, the Alignment Calculator helps you figure out what you both want to do with your retirement—the lifestyle, activities, and daily life that your finances need to support.

The earlier the better! Ideally, start these conversations 5-10 years before retirement. But it's never too late—even if you've already retired, this tool can help you realign and make adjustments to improve both partners' satisfaction.

That's actually a valuable discovery! The tool doesn't just identify differences—it provides strategies for creative compromises and ways to honor both partners' needs. Many couples find that what seemed like incompatible dreams can actually work together with the right planning and communication.

Yes, for the tool to be most effective, both partners should participate. The whole point is to surface and align both people's authentic visions. However, one partner can start the process and invite the other to join.

Upon registration, you'll be automatically enrolled in the Couples Retirement Planning life event journey (Life Event Category 48). You'll receive immediate access to the Alignment Calculator and can begin working through it at your own pace.

Ready to Align Your Retirement Dreams?

Don't wait until after major decisions are made. Start the conversation today and create a retirement that works for both of you.

Start Your Couples Journey Today

All couples memberships include automatic enrollment in the Couples Retirement Planning life event