How much do single women need to retire comfortably?

There’s no universal figure, but single women generally need to save more than couples on a per-person basis because all fixed expenses — housing, utilities, insurance — fall on one income. A financial plan built around your specific Social Security benefit, projected long-term care exposure, and desired lifestyle can be factors to consider in your financial planning.

What Social Security strategies work best for never-married women?

Never-married women are entirely reliant on their own earnings record. Delaying your claim to age 70 — and using other income sources in the interim — can increase your monthly benefit by up to 32% compared with claiming at full retirement age. The value of delay is especially significant for women with longer life expectancies.

How does the divorced spouse Social Security rule work?

If your marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are currently unmarried, you may claim up to 50% of your ex-spouse’s full retirement age benefit if it exceeds your own. Your claim has no effect on your former spouse’s benefit or any benefits their current spouse may receive.

How should a single woman over 50 approach long-term care planning?

Start by evaluating your current assets and projected retirement income relative to realistic care cost projections. For women with substantial assets, self-funding a portion of care and securing a policy that covers more severe or prolonged scenarios may be more cost-effective than comprehensive traditional long-term care insurance. Timing matters, as premiums increase significantly with age.

What is the bucket strategy, and how does it work for solo retirees?

The bucket strategy divides retirement assets into near-, medium-, and long-term pools based on when you’ll need them. For solo retirees, it seeks to reduce the risk of selling growth-oriented investments during a market downturn while keeping near-term cash needs covered without disrupting your long-term portfolio.

Who should I name as my healthcare proxy and financial power of attorney if I have no spouse?

A trusted adult — a sibling, adult child, close friend, or professional fiduciary — can serve in either role. Whoever you choose should understand your values, be comfortable acting under pressure, and ideally not have a large stake in your estate, to minimize potential conflicts of interest.

How do I build an estate plan as a single woman with no children?

Begin with the essentials: a will, healthcare proxy directive, and durable power of attorney. A revocable living trust may be warranted depending on the size and complexity of your estate. Charitable giving, a donor-advised fund, or leaving assets to chosen family members are all options that a comprehensive estate plan can accommodate in a tax-efficient way.

What should I look for in a financial advisor as a single woman over 50?

Look for a fiduciary advisor who takes a comprehensive approach — coordinating investments, tax planning, insurance, and estate planning — and who has direct experience working with single women. At Mercer Advisors, we start with your goals, not your portfolio, and will use your full financial picture as the basis for planning.

Retirement Planning Archives

Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is about much more than saving enough money — it’s about coordinating Social Security timing, Roth conversions, required minimum distributions, and retirement income strategy into a plan that can support the life you want to live. At Mercer Advisors, we help clients at every stage of their retirement journey, from early career savers to pre-retirees navigating the most critical decisions of their financial lives. Browse the resources below for evidence-based retirement planning guidance across tax, income, and investment strategy.

Women & Wealth Article

Financial Planning for Single Women Over 50

Single women over 50 face distinct retirement challenges. Learn Social Security strategies, long-term care planning, estate planning, and solo income sequencing.

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Retirement Podcast

Episode 523 – Measuring the Success of Your 401(k) Plan

John Walker and Jason O’Meara of Mercer Advisors join retirement specialist Dennis Jablonski to break down the metrics that define 401(k) plan success.

Retirement Guide

The Complete Retirement Income Guide: How to Make Your Money Last

Explore a comprehensive guide on retirement income planning, including Social Security strategies, withdrawal sequencing, and sequence-of-returns risk.

Couple discussing retirement planning with advisor.

Insurance Solutions Article

Funding LTC Insurance From Your Retirement Plan

SECURE 2.0 created qualified long-term care distributions (QLTCDs), letting retirement plan participants pay LTC insurance premiums without the 10% early withdrawal penalty.

Retirement Article

HSA: A Retirement Account You’re Probably Underusing

Are you underusing your health savings account? Learn how an HSA’s triple tax advantage can become one of your most powerful retirement planning tools.

Retirement Article

Smart Strategies to Retire Early: Beyond the FIRE Movement

Learn how you could retire early with the Retire Sooner method. Discover why financial independence goes beyond the FIRE movement’s extreme frugality.

Investment Management Article

Bond Investing Basics: What Every Investor Should Know

Explore our quick explanation of the bond market. Understand how bond yields, prices, and interest rates can impact your investments and comprehensive financial plan.

What Clients Ask Article

Why One Team Can Simplify Your Financial Life

Mercer Advisors brings wealth planning, investment management, taxes, estate, and retirement under one coordinated team for integrated and aligned financial outcomes.

Professions Article

United Airlines Pilot Retirement: Key Decisions To Consider

Explore key financial decisions for United Airlines pilots to make three to five years before retirement: PRAP strategy, pension elections, and Medicare planning.

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Retirement Podcast

Episode 520 – Inflation and Your Retirement Plan

John Walker and Jason O’Meara discuss how inflation can impact the purchasing power of your retirement savings and share strategies to help protect your wealth.

Professions Article

Delta Pilots: 7 Retirement Decisions to Consider

An overview of Delta pilot pension elections, Delta pilot 401(k) strategy, NQDC planning, Social Security timing, insurance gaps, and estate documents for pilots nearing retirement.

Retirement Article

Prepare Today To Help Avoid Working in Retirement Tomorrow

Learn how to overcome the fear of working in retirement. Explore strategies for income stability, healthcare costs, and debt management with Mercer Advisors.

Tax Planning Webinar

Tax Filing Is Not the Same as Tax Planning

In this webinar, we break down proactive tax planning, Roth conversions, and key changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to help reduce your lifetime tax liability.

About Mercer Advisors

We exist so you don’t have to worry about money. For more than 40 years, we’ve taken the sophisticated, time-tested approach that many ultra-high net worth individuals use to help manage their financial lives and made it accessible to more families.

Want to learn more about Mercer Advisors?

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Retirement Planning

Financial Planning for Single Women Over 50

Episode 523 – Measuring the Success of Your 401(k) Plan

The Complete Retirement Income Guide: How to Make Your Money Last

Funding LTC Insurance From Your Retirement Plan

HSA: A Retirement Account You’re Probably Underusing

Smart Strategies to Retire Early: Beyond the FIRE Movement

Bond Investing Basics: What Every Investor Should Know

Why One Team Can Simplify Your Financial Life

United Airlines Pilot Retirement: Key Decisions To Consider

Episode 520 – Inflation and Your Retirement Plan

Delta Pilots: 7 Retirement Decisions to Consider

Prepare Today To Help Avoid Working in Retirement Tomorrow

Tax Filing Is Not the Same as Tax Planning

About Mercer Advisors

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Want to learn more about Mercer Advisors?

Retirement Planning

Financial Planning for Single Women Over 50

Episode 523 – Measuring the Success of Your 401(k) Plan

The Complete Retirement Income Guide: How to Make Your Money Last

Funding LTC Insurance From Your Retirement Plan

HSA: A Retirement Account You’re Probably Underusing

Smart Strategies to Retire Early: Beyond the FIRE Movement

Bond Investing Basics: What Every Investor Should Know

Why One Team Can Simplify Your Financial Life

United Airlines Pilot Retirement: Key Decisions To Consider

Episode 520 – Inflation and Your Retirement Plan

Delta Pilots: 7 Retirement Decisions to Consider

Prepare Today To Help Avoid Working in Retirement Tomorrow

Tax Filing Is Not the Same as Tax Planning

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