Offer your thoughts or opinion on the input financial query or topic using your financial background.

First concrete steps for retirement planning when one partner is resistant
I can understand your nervousness being 40 and no retirement savings.  Its understandable especially given your parents.   Before going further, I would really recommend the books and seminars on Love and Respect.  The subject matter is Christian based, but it based upon a lot of secular research from the University of Washington and some other colleges.  It sounds like to me, this is more of a relationship issue than a money issue.   For the first step I would focus on the positive.  The biggest benefit you have is:  Your husband is willing to work!  Was he lazy, there would be a whole different set of issues.  You should thank him for this.   More positives are that you don't have any credit card debt, you only have one car payment (not two), and that you are paying additional payments on each.  I'd prefer that you had no car payment.  But your situation is not horrible. So how do you improve your situation? In my opinion getting your husband on board would be the first priority.  Ask him if he would like to get the car paid off as fast as possible, or, building an emergency fund?  Pick one of those to focus on, and do it together.   Having an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months of expense is a necessary precursor to investing, anyway so you from the limited info in your post you are not ready to pour money into your 401K. Have you ever asked what his vision is for his family financially?  Something like:  "Honey you care for us so wonderfully, what is your vision for me and our children?  Where do you see us in 5, 10 and 20 years?"     I cannot stress enough how this is a relationship issue, not a math issue.  While the problems manifests themselves in your balance sheet they are only a symptom.  Attempting to cure the symptom will likely result in resentment for both of you.  There is only one financial author that focuses on relationships and their effect on finances:  Dave Ramsey.  Pick up a copy of The Total Money Makeover, do something nice for him, and then ask him to read it.  If he does, do something else nice for him and then ask him what he thinks.