Do men and women think alike? Most of us agree with the title of John Gray\’s book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Ameriprise Financial\’s The New Retirement Mindscape City Pulse Index (2011) gives some insight into how the sexes think about various aspects of retirement:

Are planning financially for retirement: Women 72%; Men 77%

Are confident they will reach their financial retirement goals: Women 19%; Men 25%

Have determined how much $$ they\’ll need in retirement:
Women 20%; Men 31%

Have invested in stocks and IRAs: Women 46%; Men 54%

Are making plans to ensure a healthy retirement:
Women 54%; Men 48%

Family proximity a big factor in choosing a retirement location: Women 40%; Men 27%

Preparing how to spend time in retirement: Women: 25%; Men 19%

Judging from the statistics, it seems that women do a better job addressing the lifestyle issues of retirement, but we\’re not so fabulous when it comes to thinking about the monetary issues. Of course, it\’s important to plan for both the lifestyle and the financial aspects of retirement. After all, the retirement lifestyle you desire will have to be supported by the money you have. If you have a significant other, it would be interesting to compare your responses to these statements, and then work to be on the same page when it comes to retirement planning.

Jan Cullinane is the co-author of The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale).

Jan Cullinane Author, Entreprenuer, Retirement Expert

Jan Cullinane is the co-author of The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale, 2007). She gives seminars on the (primarily) non-financial aspects of retirement through her company, "Retirement Living from A to Z."