Spouses who don't ask one question — "your 401(k) or mine?" — could be losing out on retirement money, research finds. By failing to allocate retirement savings to the spouse with the employer that provides the highest match rate , couples may be leaving money on the table, according to 2025 research published in the American Economic Review . By switching retirement contributions to the account with the higher match rate, 1 in 5 couples could increase their savings by an estimated $750 per