Posted by Bill Cass, April 17, 2012

With “non-traditional” households on the rise, identify their unique planning needs

The number of non-traditional households in the United States — those headed by divorced or never-married individuals — is on the rise, and awareness is growing about financial planning challenges that are specific to them.

Some of these challenges may include the following:

  • Unmarried couples are not afforded automatic protections such as legal and property rights, medical decision-making, and wealth transfer.
  • Certain tax provisions are only available to married couples, such as unlimited gifts between spouses and an unlimited estate tax exemption.
  • Children from previous marriages may present special considerations for financial planning.
  • Marital status may also have an impact on retirement planning.

Traditional households are on decline while nontraditional households are increasing

Challenges
Non-traditional families face unique planning challenges that require thoughtful solutions. Advisors who remain well informed about the unique needs of non-traditional households may be better positioned to compete for business.

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