More money, broader interests and longer lifespans mean boomers have more retirement pursuits than previous generations. So, it’s no surprise that couples may not always agree on the best way to spend their retirement years.

“This is particularly true for couples that are just starting to talk about retirement,” says Dan Veto, vice president of Age Wave, a San Francisco-based aging-demographic research and consulting firm.

Age Wave has found four broad categories into which retirees fall. Advisors will find it useful to know which profile matches a particular client. And couples will find it helpful to determine their profiles to see whether there is compatibility or if the partners need to make an effort to have a satisfying retirement together.

The four faces of retirement are:

> Ageless explorers. Twenty-seven per cent of retirees fall into this category. Youthful, optimistic and empowered, they are engaged in pursuits and consider retirement a time for personal growth.

> Comfortably contents. These retirees — 19% of the total — cling to traditional ideas of retirement. They enjoy the fruits of their labour and value the freedom from obligation that retirement affords.

> Live for todays. “These [22%] are great folks to hang around with,” says Veto. As the name implies, they’re often adventurous and like having a good time. But they are often financially unprepared because they’ve always taken this approach to life.

> Sick and tireds. This largest and unhappiest group, at 32% of retirees, tend to be pessimists. Often forced into retirement by poor health, they’re generally inactive, unfulfilled and anxious. “They’ve kind of given up,” Veto says.

— WENDY CUTHBERT