As family structures in the U.S. have changed significantly overrecent decades, so too have the financial concerns of new familyconfigurations.

Only 19.6% of U.S. households today represent marriedheterosexual couples with children, compared to 40.3% of suchtraditional families in 1970, according to a new report fromAllianz.

Today’s modern family structures create unique pressures thatrequire new approaches to serving each family’s own financialneeds.

In a white paper released this week, Allianz shows howfinancial professionals may better serve the unique financial needsof not only traditional families, but also six different types ofmodern families.

Related: All in the family: Essential facts about 3 modernhouseholds

Though different in many ways, all these family groups sharesome needs in common:

• 51% believed they were on track to achieve their financialgoals
• 76% worried about running out of money in retirement
• 43% had worked with a financial professional
• In general, modern families reported feeling less financiallysecure than traditional families.

The white paper is based on findings from Allianz’sLoveFamilyMoney study, conducted online in January 2014 with some4,500 respondents ages 35 to 65 with a household income of $50,000or more.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Traditional families

The study defined the traditional family as two opposite-sexadults with at least one child under age 21 living in thehousehold.

The study found that only 33% of this family type was likely tobe working with an advisor on financial strategies and retirementincome planning.

At the same time, 61% of respondents in this category werelikely to consider a financial advisor’s services worth theexpense.

Families in this group were relatively well off and, accordingto the paper, may provide an opportunity to tell other similarlysituated couples about their experience working with anadvisor.

This is not a given, however. Recent research showed that affluent investorsdid not necessarily refer their service providers to their friendsand family, making it incumbent on the advisor to make thishappened more often.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Multigenerational families

Multigenerational families have three or more generations livingin the same household, including children and a parent orgrandparent.

Respondents in this configuration reported having not enoughmoney or too much debt. An advisor could help them form a basicfinancial strategy to identify short- and long-term goals.

Related: 5 hacks to engage with Hispanics

Saving for education and unexpected expenses is very importantto this group, the study found.

These families may need help balancing conflicting financialpriorities. As well, because of more complex caregivingresponsibilities, they may welcome having someone else help themtake control of their finances.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Single-parent families

Single-parent families comprise one unmarried adult with atleast one child under age 18 living in the household the majorityof the time, and no other adults in residence.

According to the study, 45% of respondents in this category saidcollege funding assistance would motivate them to develop andexecute a long-term financial strategy.

The vast majority of single-parent respondents reported thatthey had access to a retirement plan at work. A financialprofessional could help them find other ways to save forretirement.

More than half of these families said they wanted to become debtfree, and so may need help developing a financial strategy thatbalances all of the household needs.

Life insurance is critical to single-parent families. An advisorcan offer to conduct a policy review to help determine whethertheir current coverage is adequate.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Same-sex couple families

For purposes of the study, this grouping is defined as a marriedor unmarried couple of the same gender living together, regardlessof whether children are present.

The study found that 48% of these families were likely to workwith a financial professional, but because their needs may belegally complex, it said, they should also work with a CPA orlawyer who specializes in planning for same-sex couples.

Same-sex couple families prioritize retirement planning, and arelikelier than other family types to depend on IRA assets. They arealso most likely to own an annuity.

Advisors should note that these families may have a greater needthan other families for secured retirement solutions to allayconcerns about retirement funding.

Jay and Ann Young are pictured with 15 of their 16 children,Nov. 21, 1963 in Dallas, Penn. Dr. Young, a college professorat nearby King's College, and a widower with youngsters 4-12 ,married Ann Treacy, a widow with four children, and together theymade a life. (AP Photo)

Blended families

These families are defined as parents, either married orunmarried, who are living together with someone of the opposite sexand with a child or stepchild from a previous relationship in thehousehold.

The study found this grouping was least likely to have workedwith a financial professional; at the same time, 35% said theywould be open to the idea.

Thirty-six percent of respondents without a financialprofessional said the main thing they wanted from a financialadvisor was a plan for saving money.

Among those using a financial professional, 53% said planningfor and managing retirement accounts was their chief requirementfrom their advisor.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Older parent/young children families

In this configuration, at least one parent is older than 40 andat least one child in the same household is under five.

Nearly half of respondents in this group said saving for theirchildren’s education motivated them to develop and execute along-term financial plan.

They also reported needing help with retirement planning.Seventy-two percent listed a non-IRA retirement plan at work as asource of income in retirement.

Thirty-four percent of these families who did not work with afinancial professional said they would be open to doing so, and thesame percentage said they most wanted help setting up a plan forsaving money.

(Photo: Shutterstock)

Boomerang families

Boomerang families comprise opposite-sex couples ages 40 to 65,married or living together, with at least one child age 21 to 35who left home and then returned to live with his or herparents.

Only 14% of respondents in this group said they had set adeadline for their child to move out.

The white paper said a financial advisor could help theseclients ensure that taking care of adult children does notnegatively affect their retirement income.

Forty percent of these families said saving for retirement was apriority, and 49% expressed concern about having a comfortableretirement.

More than half of boomerang families also said they wanted to bedebt free and to get help with managing their investmentportfolio.

Related: What insurance advisors should know about 80% ofAmerian families