Kids Leaving Home Doesn’t Always Lead To Parents Saving More

CHICAGO (AP) - Raising kids is expensive, so when they strike out on their own it seems logical that parents would have more money to save for retirement. But that's not always the case.

A new report by Boston College's Center for Retirement Research says empty nesters do increase savings, but the increases are "extremely small." The findings suggest that baby boomers may be losing out on an opportunity to prepare for retirement.

The managing director of investments at Wells Fargo Advisors, Joy Kenefick, says that even after kids move out, their parents often continue to cover their student-loan payments, auto insurance, phone bills and other items.

With the kids out of the house, parents also may feel like they can take on home-improvement projects, or maybe some travel, leaving little for savings.