Questions That Will Help You Develop New Insights Into Your Lives

The following topics and lists of questions come from a joint research between AIG Life & Retirement and MIT AgeLab.

Housing

• What is your current housing situation today? Are you renting or do you own your home?
  
• If you’re renting, do you have plans to eventually buy a home?
  
• How do you see your housing situation evolving over time?
  
• Do you plan to downsize when you retire? Or possibly move to another city or town? Are there family members you would like to be near–or a particular community that’s of interest to you?

Potential Expenses for Care

• Have you thought about your future expenses to provide for your own care?
  
• For example, health care costs or the cost for care and assistance you may need in late retirement?

Physical Health

• Are there any health-related topics that might impact how we plan and prepare for your future?
  
• What can you share with me about your family’s longevity that might help us better plan for your future?

Fraud Prevention

• Is fraud prevention and identity protection a topic you’ve thought about or discussed with family members?”
  
• Do you currently have any protections in place?
  
• Are you and your family familiar with common scams that could compromise your identity and financial security?

Future Goals and Aspirations

• What are your long-term goals and aspirations?
  
• As you look ahead, what do you hope to achieve – either from a financial perspective or a non-financial perspective, or both?
  
• What’s most important to you and your family today?

Family and Loved Ones' Finances

• Do you anticipate needing to provide care and/or financial assistance to family members? For example, potential expenses for younger family members, aging parents, grown children, siblings, grandchildren, etc.?
  
• Are you providing such care or financial assistance currently?
  
• If you have children, have you discussed how college will be paid for, including repayment of student loans?

Job Transitions and New Careers

• Do you expect any changes to your employment situation in the near future – or do you have any long-term career transitions in the back of your mind?
  
• Have you thought about possibly working part-time once you retire or pursuing a new “career” that may be more aligned with your personal interests or passions?
  
• Have you considered a “phased” approach to retirement, where you continue to work in some capacity for a number of years?

Retirement Planning

• What is your vision for retirement? What are you doing each day?
  
• Have you thought about what retirement might look like? Where are you living?