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美国婴儿潮一代离婚率飙升,可能影响退休生活

Alicia Adamczyk
2024-05-12

美国50岁以上的夫妻离婚率升高。

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金伯利·戴维斯在50多岁的时候与结婚20多年的丈夫离婚,这件事情对她的财务和情感造成的影响,就像是生活中发生了一次“核爆”。当初为了丈夫的事业,她从美国搬到了英国,离婚后她不得不切断了与住了10多年的家园的所有联系,回到美国。她还要在财务领域重新发展自己的事业,因为她之前为了照顾三个孩子辞掉了工作。离婚拖延了太长的时间,让她和前夫付出了更多的经济成本。

现年65岁的戴维斯对《财富》杂志表示:“离婚的决定毁掉了我的经济生活。当时我54岁,没有人愿意雇佣我。”

她遭遇了越来越多的麻烦。由于戴维斯长期在海外生活,因此她在美国没有信用记录,这导致她很难用自己的身份找到房子。在最低谷的时候,戴维斯不得不请求父亲作为担保人才能租到房子。而且在离开职场数十年后,她很难找到工作。戴维斯最终在摩根士丹利(Morgan Stanley)找到了工作,现在是一位理财顾问和作家。尽管她目前收入丰厚,但她仍然在为退休储蓄而努力。

戴维斯的故事暴露出“晚年离婚”的一些坏处。“晚年离婚”是指夫妻在50岁以后离婚。虽然在过去20年内,美国的整体离婚率下降,但老年夫妻的离婚率却呈上升趋势。目前,约40%的离婚夫妻为50岁或年龄更高。皮尤研究中心(Pew Research Center)的调查发现,自20世纪90年代以来,晚年离婚率翻了一番。65岁以上的夫妻离婚率升高了两倍。

在任何年龄段离婚都会在情感和财务方面造成影响,但老年人离婚可能造成毁灭性的打击。由于夫妻共同积累了数十年的资产,因此离婚的过程更加复杂,而且任何一方在退休前恢复财务状况的时间都少得多,特别是在投资方面。离婚会产生巨大的财务影响。

约翰逊金融集团(Johnson Financial Group)的高级副总裁兼理财顾问凯莉·穆尔德说:“老年人的财务状况更复杂。他们可能有企业;需要分割股份。我们看到隐匿资产越来越多。”

穆尔德指出,夫妻在晚年离婚有许多原因。许多客户会等到孩子长大成人并搬出房子之后,再选择离婚。有些人则因为退休后夫妻两人在一起的时间增多,导致积怨爆发。而且社会上对于离婚的接受度更高。无论因为什么原因离婚,对夫妻双方而言都是一种折磨。

对老年夫妇来说,分割退休账户的过程,例如401(k)账户、个人退休账户(IRA)、养老金账户等,可能是一团乱麻,而且会造成代价高昂的财务影响。部分原因在于,401(k)账户和养老金计划的分割方式要遵守合格家庭关系令(QDRO)的规定,而个人退休账户的分配取决于账户是在结婚前还是结婚后开立。

此外,工作薪酬更低或者不工作的一方,社会保障福利将会被削减,这取决于他们的婚姻存续时间。出售资产,包括房子、汽车等,同样成本高昂。夫妻一方可能要向对方支付生活费。

“你会从头再来”

研究显示,离婚对老年女性的财务影响尤其严重。通常,在异性恋婚姻中,女性比男性更有可能为了照顾孩子而在黄金工作年龄退出职场,这导致她们在离婚诉讼和离婚之后处于劣势。通常她们必须在多年甚至数十年后,努力重新进入职场。

皮尤的调查显示,所有单身的老年人不太可能乐观地描述自己的财务状况。但在2014年,有19%的老年单身女性生活贫困,而男性的比例为15%。《老年医学杂志》(The Journals of Gerontology)2021年的一项研究发现,50岁及以上的女性在离婚后生活标准下降了45%,而男性为21%。

当然,男性也会因为晚年离婚而受到影响。皮尤的调查发现,老年单身男性比单身女性更有可能陷入社交孤立。穆尔德认为,这种情况有迹可循。她表示,据称男性客户在离婚后并不像女性一样,善于维持与家人朋友的联系,特别是在他们再婚的情况下。但研究发现,总体而言,离婚对男性的财务影响要小得多。

无论男性还是女性,有许多方法可以轻松度过这个过程。穆尔德鼓励夫妻双方聘请各自的理财顾问和律师为他们提供支持。戴维斯建议夫妻双方在婚姻期间都要关注各自的财务状况。即使只有一方工作赚取报酬,夫妻两人也应该了解所有资产和账户。戴维斯还建议夫妻签署婚前协议,规定如果一方放弃事业照顾家庭,其在财务上将享有哪些权利。

戴维斯表示,尽管经过了长达数年的煎熬,她终于看到了一丝曙光,而这丝曙光点燃了她决定结束第一段婚姻的导火索。几年前,戴维斯从租户升级成为业主,再次结婚,甚至给自己买了一辆跑车。她的事业蓬勃发展,她对离婚后的生活非常满意。

戴维斯说:“你将从头开始。或许你将不得不节衣缩食,但为了获得自由和有机会实现自我并过上想过的生活,承担任何财务压力都是值得的。从某种程度上来说,这是我在50多岁的时候能够经历的最美好的事情。”(财富中文网)

译者:刘进龙

审校:汪皓

金伯利·戴维斯在50多岁的时候与结婚20多年的丈夫离婚,这件事情对她的财务和情感造成的影响,就像是生活中发生了一次“核爆”。当初为了丈夫的事业,她从美国搬到了英国,离婚后她不得不切断了与住了10多年的家园的所有联系,回到美国。她还要在财务领域重新发展自己的事业,因为她之前为了照顾三个孩子辞掉了工作。离婚拖延了太长的时间,让她和前夫付出了更多的经济成本。

现年65岁的戴维斯对《财富》杂志表示:“离婚的决定毁掉了我的经济生活。当时我54岁,没有人愿意雇佣我。”

她遭遇了越来越多的麻烦。由于戴维斯长期在海外生活,因此她在美国没有信用记录,这导致她很难用自己的身份找到房子。在最低谷的时候,戴维斯不得不请求父亲作为担保人才能租到房子。而且在离开职场数十年后,她很难找到工作。戴维斯最终在摩根士丹利(Morgan Stanley)找到了工作,现在是一位理财顾问和作家。尽管她目前收入丰厚,但她仍然在为退休储蓄而努力。

戴维斯的故事暴露出“晚年离婚”的一些坏处。“晚年离婚”是指夫妻在50岁以后离婚。虽然在过去20年内,美国的整体离婚率下降,但老年夫妻的离婚率却呈上升趋势。目前,约40%的离婚夫妻为50岁或年龄更高。皮尤研究中心(Pew Research Center)的调查发现,自20世纪90年代以来,晚年离婚率翻了一番。65岁以上的夫妻离婚率升高了两倍。

在任何年龄段离婚都会在情感和财务方面造成影响,但老年人离婚可能造成毁灭性的打击。由于夫妻共同积累了数十年的资产,因此离婚的过程更加复杂,而且任何一方在退休前恢复财务状况的时间都少得多,特别是在投资方面。离婚会产生巨大的财务影响。

约翰逊金融集团(Johnson Financial Group)的高级副总裁兼理财顾问凯莉·穆尔德说:“老年人的财务状况更复杂。他们可能有企业;需要分割股份。我们看到隐匿资产越来越多。”

穆尔德指出,夫妻在晚年离婚有许多原因。许多客户会等到孩子长大成人并搬出房子之后,再选择离婚。有些人则因为退休后夫妻两人在一起的时间增多,导致积怨爆发。而且社会上对于离婚的接受度更高。无论因为什么原因离婚,对夫妻双方而言都是一种折磨。

对老年夫妇来说,分割退休账户的过程,例如401(k)账户、个人退休账户(IRA)、养老金账户等,可能是一团乱麻,而且会造成代价高昂的财务影响。部分原因在于,401(k)账户和养老金计划的分割方式要遵守合格家庭关系令(QDRO)的规定,而个人退休账户的分配取决于账户是在结婚前还是结婚后开立。

此外,工作薪酬更低或者不工作的一方,社会保障福利将会被削减,这取决于他们的婚姻存续时间。出售资产,包括房子、汽车等,同样成本高昂。夫妻一方可能要向对方支付生活费。

“你会从头再来”

研究显示,离婚对老年女性的财务影响尤其严重。通常,在异性恋婚姻中,女性比男性更有可能为了照顾孩子而在黄金工作年龄退出职场,这导致她们在离婚诉讼和离婚之后处于劣势。通常她们必须在多年甚至数十年后,努力重新进入职场。

皮尤的调查显示,所有单身的老年人不太可能乐观地描述自己的财务状况。但在2014年,有19%的老年单身女性生活贫困,而男性的比例为15%。《老年医学杂志》(The Journals of Gerontology)2021年的一项研究发现,50岁及以上的女性在离婚后生活标准下降了45%,而男性为21%。

当然,男性也会因为晚年离婚而受到影响。皮尤的调查发现,老年单身男性比单身女性更有可能陷入社交孤立。穆尔德认为,这种情况有迹可循。她表示,据称男性客户在离婚后并不像女性一样,善于维持与家人朋友的联系,特别是在他们再婚的情况下。但研究发现,总体而言,离婚对男性的财务影响要小得多。

无论男性还是女性,有许多方法可以轻松度过这个过程。穆尔德鼓励夫妻双方聘请各自的理财顾问和律师为他们提供支持。戴维斯建议夫妻双方在婚姻期间都要关注各自的财务状况。即使只有一方工作赚取报酬,夫妻两人也应该了解所有资产和账户。戴维斯还建议夫妻签署婚前协议,规定如果一方放弃事业照顾家庭,其在财务上将享有哪些权利。

戴维斯表示,尽管经过了长达数年的煎熬,她终于看到了一丝曙光,而这丝曙光点燃了她决定结束第一段婚姻的导火索。几年前,戴维斯从租户升级成为业主,再次结婚,甚至给自己买了一辆跑车。她的事业蓬勃发展,她对离婚后的生活非常满意。

戴维斯说:“你将从头开始。或许你将不得不节衣缩食,但为了获得自由和有机会实现自我并过上想过的生活,承担任何财务压力都是值得的。从某种程度上来说,这是我在50多岁的时候能够经历的最美好的事情。”(财富中文网)

译者:刘进龙

审校:汪皓

When Kimberlee Davis got divorced from her husband of over 20 years in her early fifties, the financial and emotional consequences were akin to a “nuclear explosion” in her life. Having moved from the U.S. to England for her husband’s career, she had to cut all ties with her home of over a decade and head back to the States. She also needed to rebuild her career in finance after quitting to care for her three children. The divorce dragged on and on, costing both her and her ex-husband more money.

“That decision destroyed my economic life,” Davis, now 65, tells Fortune. “I was 54 years old. People were not clamoring to hire me.”

Problems piled up. Having lived abroad for so long, her credit in the U.S. was nonexistent, making it difficult to find housing on her own. Her lowest moment was asking her father to act as a guarantor so she could rent a house. And she had a difficult time finding work after decades out of the corporate world. Davis eventually landed a job at Morgan Stanley, and is now a financial advisor and author. Despite earning good money, she is still playing catch-up with her retirement savings.

Davis’s story exemplifies some of the perils of “gray divorce,” which describes spouses separating after age 50. While overall divorce rates in the U.S. have fallen over the past 20 years, they have actually increased for older couples. Currently, almost 40% of those getting divorced are 50 or older. Since the 1990s, gray divorce has doubled, according to the Pew Research Center. For those over 65, the divorce rate has tripled.

Divorce at any age will lead to emotional and financial fallout, but it can be particularly devastating to older Americans. Not only is the process likely to be more complicated because of decades of accruing assets together, but each spouse has far less time to rebuild their finances before retirement, particularly investments. The financial implications are huge.

“You’re looking at much more complex finances. They could own businesses; stock needs to be divided,” says Kelly Mould, senior vice president and financial advisor at Johnson Financial Group. “We’ve seen an increase in hidden assets.”

There are any number of reasons couples divorce later in life, says Mould. Many clients wait until their kids are grown and out of the house to separate. For others, retirement can bring long-simmering resentments to a head once spouses are spending significantly more time together. Divorce is also far more socially acceptable than it used to be. Whatever the reason, both spouses suffer.

For older couples, the splitting of retirement accounts—401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, and so on—can be a messy and expensive financial hit. This is in part because the way 401(k)s and pension plans are split is governed by a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO), while IRAs are distributed depending on if they were opened before the marriage or during.

Additionally, the partner who had a lower-paying job or wasn’t working outside the home may see their Social Security benefits slashed, depending on how long they were married. The sale of assets, including the home, cars, etc., can also be costly. And one spouse may owe the other alimony.

“You’ll start over”

The financial effects are especially pronounced for older women, research shows. Generally speaking, women in heterosexual marriages are more likely than men to drop out of the workforce in their prime earning years to care for children, putting them at a disadvantage in the divorce proceedings and after the split is finalized. Often, they must try to reenter the labor force for the first time in years or even decades.

All older adults who live alone are much less likely to describe their financial situation favorably, according to Pew. But 19% of older women who lived alone were in poverty in 2014, compared to 15% of men. And women 50 and older experience a 45% decline in their standard of living postdivorce, compared to 21% for men, a 2021 study from The Journals of Gerontology found.

Of course men, too, suffer from gray divorces. Older men who live alone “are considerably more likely to experience social isolation than women who live alone,” per Pew. Mould says this tracks. Anecdotally, she says, male clients aren’t always as adept at keeping up with their families and friends postdivorce as women often are, particularly if they remarry. But on the whole, the financial fallout is far less severe, the research finds.

There are a number of ways to ease the process, for both men and women. Mould encourages both spouses to have their own financial advisor and lawyer to advocate for them. Davis advises both partners to be on top of their finances throughout the marriage. Even if only one spouse works outside the home for pay, both should have knowledge of all of the assets and accounts. Davis also encourages couples to get prenuptial agreements that outline what one spouse is entitled to financially if they give up their career to be the family caretaker.

Despite the years of strain, Davis says there’s a light at the end of the tunnel—the light that sparked the initial fuse to end her first marriage. She upgraded from renter to homeowner a few years ago, got remarried, and even bought herself a race car. Her career is thriving, and she feels fulfilled with what she has built post-split.

“You’ll start over. Maybe you’ll have to live on a tighter budget, but the freedom and the chance to go self-realize and live the life you wanted is worth more than any financial stress,” she says. “It was in some ways the best thing that could have happened to me in my fifties.”

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