Suze Orman says couples are losing as much as $14,000 in 'free money' by failing to save smart as a team

For example, Orman says, one plan offers them a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 3% they save, while the other spouse’s plan gets a 50-cent match on every dollar they contribute up to 6% of their salary. One of those plans offers the couple better bang for their buck — and failing to factor that in is costing them thousands of dollars in savings.

Citing research from the National Bureau of Economic Research, Orman says one in five couples could increase their annual retirement savings by $757 just by working together. By age 65, this amounts to $14,000 per couple.

“That foregone money isn’t because they saved less, it’s because they didn’t save smart,” Orman writes. “They could have boosted their retirement savings without contributing an extra dollar of their own money.”

Part of the problem may be how couples are looking at saving for retirement. Orman has some straightforward advice for these couples: “If you and your spouse both have workplace retirement plans, don’t think of them as separate accounts. Think of them as part of one household retirement strategy.”

What you can do about it

Lack of communication can lead to other suboptimal financial decision-making, according to the NBER study. That can lead to not refinancing a fixed-rate mortgage when it’s beneficial to do so, or co-holding low-interest liquid savings and high-interest credit card debt at the same time.

Leaving money on the table isn’t necessarily about inertia. Rather, “many couples have not considered that there might be gains to coordination,” the researchers write.

The simple solution, it turns out, is just sitting down and running the math together — then coordinating your savings from there.

“For instance, if one spouse has a dollar-for-dollar employer match up to a cap, and the other spouse has a 50 cents-on-the-dollar match, then the efficient allocation at the household level is to fully exploit the match offered to the first spouse before making any contribution to the second spouse’s account,” according to the study.

Orman emphasizes this shouldn’t be a “set-it-and-forget-it” strategy. As employers can change their matching formulas at any time, she says it’s important to review and compare your plans at least once a year to ensure every dollar you’re saving for retirement is working as hard for you as possible.

“A quick annual checkup could help ensure you’re not leaving free money on the table,” she writes.

These conversations don’t have to feel formal and impersonal. Consider having a regular “money date” to discuss your finances as a couple, including reviewing your budget, benefits and future goals. You should aim to have one of these dates at least quarterly or when faced with any major life changes, like getting a new job.

If you don’t have access to employer matching, you can aim to save a higher portion of your pre-tax income to boost your retirement savings. While it may seem like a lot of money, you could save money come tax time if you drop into a lower tax bracket. If you don’t have a 401(k) plan, consider putting money aside in an IRA.

Avoid other mistakes when contributing to your 401(k)

By simply reallocating their existing contributions, couples could “increase their retirement wealth without changing their consumption.”

However, coordination isn’t enough on its own to prepare for retirement. You should be aiming to save around 15% of your salary for retirement each year, including any employer match, Orman says. Once you’ve strategized your contributions, she says your next goal should be to gradually increase your contribution rate until you’re able to hit that target.