Money and Life
(Financial Planning Association of Australia)
With divorce rates rising among couples aged 55+, more people could find themselves going it alone in retirement. We explore the pros and cons for your lifestyle and finances and speak to Dianne Kemp about her experience of planning for retirement after divorce.
While divorce rates have fallen in Australia in recent years[1], there is one age group where itâs becoming more common. In the two decades to 2017, the divorce rate for men aged 55-59 more than doubled. For women in the same age group it has tripled[2]. Although some of these people may re-partner or remarry before retirement, others will be facing this life stage as a free agent, with all the uncertainty that brings.
The financial impact of divorce
For women approaching retirement, divorce can potentially introduce greater financial insecurity into their lives. In a 2018 report from Monash University and Australian Super, 40 women were interviewed about their financial situation in retirement. 45% of interviewees had been divorced at least once, often with significant impact on their finances. This was particularly the case for women who had taken on the lionâs share of childcare and household tasks, with limited opportunities to work and save for retirement as a result. After a divorce they no longer have their partnerâs financial assets and income to rely on in their retirement years and little in the way of savings or assets of their own.Â
Retirement, then divorce
Not only can divorce be disruptive to lifestyle and finances in the lead up to retirement, it can also ambush the best laid plans for life after work. âIâd been married for 35 years and our second child had just left to start university when we decided to relocate from Sydney to Noosa,â says Dianne Kemp. âAfter the move, my husband met somebody else. We tried to reconcile but eventually went our separate ways. I found myself single again at age 65, which meant a lot of unexpected decisions about my future and finances.â
The pros and cons of independence
Although Dianne had made the move to Noosa expecting to continue life as part of couple, she was quick to adjust to her new situation. âThe minute I walked out and said ‘itâs done and dusted’ a huge relief came over me,â says Dianne. âBeing able to make choices and plans based on my own wishes was a really good outcome.â But Dianne also needed to adjust to meeting her needs and enjoying life on just one income.
Living as a single person generally costs more than half what youâd spend as a couple. Many essential costs â rent, utilities, running a vehicle â are the same whether youâre living alone or with someone else. This is why estimates for retirement income from the Association for Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA), and Age Pension rates, are more per person for singles than couples. Itâs pretty unlikely that youâll be able to cut your living expenses in half just because youâre living on your own.
Dianne has found that her personal expenses are higher overall as a single person, but says the extra cost is more than worth it in her case. âBeing single might cost you more day-to-day,â says Dianne. âBut for me itâs a small price to pay for my wellbeing and feeling positive about the life Iâm living.â
Making the most of a settlement
Having said this, Dianne is quick to acknowledge that she hasnât had to âdo it toughâ with her finances as other women in her situation have. âI hadnât worked for years so earning an income at 65 would have been a big challenge,â she says. âFortunately I had a decent amount from the sale of our house in Noosa. But I knew that it wouldnât last unless I made smart choices. So I went to see a financial planner back in my home town in Wagga who had provided really sound advice to my parents. Together we decided that I would invest in a managed fund and the income from that, with a part Age Pension, would be enough to cover my rent and other living expenses.â
Dianne says her sense of security at this time of transition came from two things â having a financial plan that allowed her to earn an income without touching her lump sum, and making the most of her lifelong budget habits. âIâve been accustomed to having a budget to stick to all my life,â she says. âItâs a habit thatâs good to have when youâre single, with nobody to fall back on to make sure bills are paid.â
Navigating changes and opportunities
Becoming single hasnât been the only important turning point in Dianneâs life in the last decade. Sheâs met a new partner, Ralph, who has relocated from New Zealand to make a new life with her in Queensland. Sadly, sheâs also had to farewell her father who passed away recently. Both these changes have meant making new choices about her financial circumstances and living arrangements.
âBuying a home with Ralph was a big decision and soon afterwards, I was left some money by my father,â says Dianne. âLosing Dad was awful but itâs given me an opportunity to invest in a property nearby so I continue to have an income. If something should happen to Ralph and Iâm on my own again, itâs somewhere I can move to as itâs right on the golf course where I love to spend time. Each time Iâve been thinking through my options, Iâve sought advice from my financial planner. It really helps to have an independent voice to guide you when youâre looking to set yourself up for the future.â
Looking for advice and guidance on achieving financial independence? Speaking with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERŽ professional  can help you make positive choices for your financial future, as a couple or a single person.
[1] Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3310.0 â Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2017, Crude divorce rate, Australia, 1997-2017, 27 November 2018, https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3310.0Main%20Features42017?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3310.0&issue=2017&num=&view=
[2] Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3310.0 â Marriages and Divorces, Australia, 2017, Age-specific divorce rates(a), Australia, Selected years, 1997â2017(b)(c), 27 November 2018, https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3310.0Main%20Features42017?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3310.0&issue=2017&num=&view=