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November 19, 2013 at 10:08 AM
The U.S. Supreme Court Decision striking down a provision of the Defense of Marriage Act that denied same-sex couples access to federal marriage benefits has prompted many gays and lesbians to marry and engage in financial planning.
So reports the Insured Retirement Institute in a November 2013 report, “Post-Windsor: Retirement Planning for Same-Sex Couples.” IRI commissioned Woelfel Research to survey same-sex couples in 13 states (plus the District of Columbia) that permit same-sex marriages to determine their reactions to the SCOTUS DOMA decision in 2013 and to gather information on their retirement and financial actions, attitudes and habits.
The report reveals that 95 percent of respondents view the Supreme Court’s DOMA decision as “very favorable.” Nearly half (46 percent) of unmarried respondents plan to marry as a result of the decision. And at least 40 percent of married same-sex couples say they are motivated to financially plan in light of the SCOTUS decision.
When asked how financial services professionals can best serve same-sex couples, 34 percent of survey respondents say “treat us like a heterosexual couple” and “understand we are like everyone else.” Smaller percentages want guidance respecting taxes and benefits (13 percent), desire that advisors understand the issues they face (10 percent), and want planners to “understand the laws” (8 percent).
