A lot of thought goes into the date when you retire. However, thinking how long your retirement will last, doesn't attract the same amount of attention. This matters a great deal because it determines how long your retirement will be, and, therefore, how long your money needs to last too. Many people plan for too short a period in retirement. Many retirees who have retirement savings choose to either spend freely until they’re virtually out of money or live too frugally, paralyzed by the fear of running out of savings. On average, women live longer than men. And with improvements made to treating various diseases and other causes of death, life expectancies may rise even further. So plan wisely so your assets can keep up with you!