Let\u2019s face it, making important financial decisions can be stressful at the best of times. When life partners fail to see eye-to-eye on finances it can lead to discord if they don\u2019t have a way of working through their differences. It\u2019s no secret, when compared to other types of marital disagreements, arguments over finance are the strongest predictors of divorce.\u00a0 Financial decisions get even harder to make as we grow older\u2014the habits of the past increasingly difficult to break. Add a touch of procrastination to the mix and you\u2019ve got the potential for real trouble. It\u2019s no wonder then, how easily decisions affecting retirement can turn into a battle over money, when so much is at stake. The best way to avoid unpleasant (and generally unnecessary) confrontations over money is to have a process in place. Let me explain . . .<\/p>\n
Ideally, couples will create a money decision-making process early enough in their relationship that it becomes almost second nature\u2014ensuring financial discussions are honest, frank, frequent and cordial. Both partners must be kept up-to-date on the family\u2019s financial dealings and how those dealings align with understood and accepted goals. From our experience, monthly or at least quarterly meetings to discuss\/review finances are invaluable.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t to say, every penny must be accounted for. Each partner must feel that they have reasonable autonomy and freedom to act within an allotted budget, BUT both must be clear that there are boundaries. Some couples set a specific dollar amount above which they must check with their partner and\/or reach out to their financial advisor when especially tough financial decisions arise. For example, couples are well advised to discuss in detail funding a child\u2019s college education, their retirement budget, or when to cease working.<\/p>\n
Fights over money can be avoided if both partners have a handle on household finances, and moreover, feel their voice is included in all financial decisions.<\/p>\n
If one partner pays all the bills and takes care of all the investments, the other partner over the long-term will begin to feel they are not a full participant in the relationship (or at least, they ought to feel that way). To counter this possibility, some choose to exchange roles for part of the year. Others have a regular monthly meeting to be sure that both are indeed aware of the family\u2019s finances. AT A MINIMUM, all couples should go over how to access the family\u2019s financial information (bank accounts, retirement plans, insurance, and investment accounts, etc.) AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR.<\/p>\n
When one partner takes on the financial responsibility for the family the inequity can (unintendedly or not) lead to \u201cfinancial infidelity.\u201d Financial infidelity occurs when one partner hides their spending on things they feel strongly about despite a clear agreement to the contrary by the couple. As an example, one partner might secretly fund their child\u2019s business venture. I’m aware of one case where this actually happened. The situation was not revealed until the death of the offending life partner. The surviving partner\u2019s betrayal was made all the worse by the fact that their retirement assets were depleted without his\/her knowledge. The child that benefited from the covert funding, moreover, was not in a position to repay the surviving parent.<\/p>\n
To avoid or at least reduce the likelihood of conflict over money, here are a few helpful guidelines:<\/p>\n
When speaking of goals, articulate them out loud (i.e., verbally or in writing) and be sure to include your goals for both the present and the future.<\/p>\n
The decision-making process itself should be reviewed as part of your conversation. For example, how do you determine your life-style budget, your savings goals, and what happens when you encounter expenses that fall outside of your budget for some reason?<\/p>\n
As large financial decisions approach (such as retirement funding), the reality will undoubtedly generate much needed discussion. This conversation can turn into conflict if one side of a partnership is not in touch with family finances and family goals. Those who opt to avoid financial conversations will invariably find themselves in \u201cmoney battles\u201d that can seriously erode trust and faith in the relationship.<\/p>\n
Facing major financial decisions, such as when, how and where to retire, needn\u2019t be a source of discomfort or conflict. Far from it. If there is a reasonable process in place, the experience can be part of a shared life experience, an opportunity for optimism and mutual support.<\/p>\n
I should add, in closing, that being single and unattached, doesn\u2019t make you less susceptible to the stress imposed by major financial decisions like those discussed above. In fact, the \u201cinternal conflict\u201d may be worse without someone to bounce things off of. If you are on your own, the same guidelines apply, but your \u201cpartner\u201d in this is your trusted financial advisor.<\/p>\n
Edi Alvarez, CFP\u00ae www.aikapa.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Let\u2019s face it, making important financial decisions can be stressful at the best of times. When life partners fail to see eye-to-eye on finances it can lead to discord if they don\u2019t have a way of working through their differences. … Continue reading
\n<\/sup>BS, BEd, MS<\/p>\n