“My” Money or “Our” Money?
Tips for managing your finances once you tie the knot
By Nikki Young, CFP®, Financial Advisor
Some couples face a difficult question when they decide to tie the knot: Should they combine their finances, keep them separate or do both? What they decide depends on different factors, including how comfortable they are comingling their money and whether they have confidence in their partner’s spending habits. Studies have found that couples who combine their credit card, bank and investment accounts are happier in the long term.1 Their pooled resources help them achieve traditional goals such as saving for retirement and buying a house — and leads to greater wealth. The Wall Street Journal reports that married couples hold four times as much wealth as unmarried couples who live together, and researchers say combining finances is one reason for that.2
There are other benefits to pooling finances, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.3 The study shows that couples who pool all of their money experience greater relationship satisfaction and are less likely to break up. This is especially true for couples with low household income or those experiencing financial distress.
Survey reveals financial infidelity
According to a 2022 survey by CreditCards.com, 43 percent of couples have only joint banking accounts, 34 percent have a mix of joint and separate accounts and 23 percent keep their finances completely separate.4 Thirty-two percent admitted to being “financially unfaithful,” by doing one or all of the following:
- Spending more than their partners would be comfortable with
- Holding secret debt and/or a secret credit card, checking account or savings account
Millennials were more likely to keep financial secrets from their partners, and the reason could be because their relationships are in earlier stages than respondents who are Gen Xers and baby boomers.5
Tips for strengthening financial compatibility
Money is a common cause of stress in relationships, but the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has some tips to help reduce the chances of financial tension between couples: 5
- Start a conversation early in your relationship. Be open about debt, any specific financial goals and your money habits. Your early conversations should include discussing your income, current assets and personal beliefs about how to best manage money.
- Establish a joint spending and saving plan. A simple joint budget that you create together is a good place to start. Add up your monthly income (after taxes) and anticipated expenses. Refine your budget as needed. Also, check to see if you can save money by combining certain expenses, such as insurance.
- Set short- and long-term priorities. Do you want to buy a new house, wipe out debt or plan a trip of a lifetime? Talk about your priorities and goals and set goals together — as a team.
Like all plans, some adjustments may be needed. If you are having difficulty managing finances or aren’t sure how to proceed financially as a couple, please feel free to email me for assistance at nyoung@nwfllc.com or visit my website, nyoung.nwfllc.com.
1 The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 4, 2022: Couples Who Combine Finances are Happier, so Why Don’t More Do it?
2 The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 7, 2022: Moving in Together Doesn’t Match the Financial Benefits of Marriage, but Why?
3 APA PsycNet: Pooling Finances and Relationship Satisfaction
4 Creditcards.com, Jan. 27, 2022: 32% of Coupled U.S. Adults Have Cheated on Their Partners Financially
5 360degrees of Financial Literacy, American Institute of CPAs: Love & Money: 5 Steps to Help Couples Strengthen Financial Compatibility
This material is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. There is no assurance that the views or strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes. Investing involves risks including possible loss of principal. This material was prepared by LPL Financial.
Nikki Young, CFP®
Financial Advisor
Nikki Young is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and advisor with Northwest Financial Advisors, where she’s been part of the firm’s dynamic and client-focused team since 2017.
With over a decade of experience advising individuals and families, Nikki is known for helping clients turn complex financial decisions into strategic, actionable plans.
Her background includes specialized roles in lending and mortgage consulting at PenFed Credit Union, and earlier tenures at Mission Federal Credit Union and Bank of America, where she honed her client-first approach and first embraced holistic planning.
Today, Nikki works closely with public sector employees, high-income professionals and women who have built significant wealth and seek a clear, long-term strategy to preserve it, grow it and use it with intention. Her clients turn to her for guidance on investment management, tax-efficient retirement strategies and legacy planning.
She holds FINRA Series 6, 63, and 7 licenses,* in addition to the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® designation, and earned her bachelor’s in financial services from Penn State University.
Originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana, Nikki now calls Northern Virginia home, where she lives with her daughter, Maela. Nikki finds balance in life through time outdoors, meaningful moments with family and cheering on the New Orleans Saints football team — win or lose.
For videos and webinars on various financial topics, visit Nikki's website at nyoung.nwfllc.com.
*Held with LPL Financial
