Is Merging Finances with Your Significant Other Right for You?
Determining whether to merge your finances completely, partially, or not at all can be one of the single most important discussions you have with your spouse/partner as it creates a strong foundation moving forward. As a newlywed, a whole new wave of conversations have come up between my wife and I in recent months. One of the biggest has been around merging our finances and what that should ultimately look like. I also get this question a lot from clients who are planning to get married, were recently married for the first time or are getting remarried and depending on which situation you are in, your perspective on merging finances may vary. Here are some important questions to consider as you and your partner make your own decision.
To consolidate or not?
This
tends to be the most asked question, and everyone seems to have a stance on
whether it is a good idea or not. Whether you decide to do so or not, transparency is key in both situations. Meaning, that even if you don't
combine everything together, you and your spouse/partner should be able to sit
down and have an open dialogue around all the accounts they have set up, any
debt they have outstanding, and what they are currently pursuing on a financial
goal basis (adding more to 401(K), building a reserve, paying down debt, etc.).
If
you do decide to consolidate finances, then you want to be sure
you discuss the importance of joint decision making in this matter. Now that
the money is not just yours, but both of yours, you will need to decide whether
you should make the purchase or not. This can lead to friction, but in every
good relationship there is give and take and you should maintain that stance
with your finances
What should it look like?
The
best thing to do is to set aside an hour or two and bring a copy of every
account that you have to date. You will want to make the decision whether you
are going to get rid of your individual checking accounts or keep them. If you
do keep them, I would recommend putting no more than 10% in there per pay
period to cover personal expenses when you aren't together or would like to
purchase something that is not mutually beneficial. This can help reduce a lot
of arguments around purchases and help you feel at ease when you are out with friends,
and you spend money.
You
should then take the other 70% or 80% (20% for financial goals) and direct that
into your joint checking account. This is where all your bills will be paid out
of (mortgage, phone bill, utilities, etc.). It is recommended that you have
your checking account set up at a bank separate from where your savings account
is and that that be at either a high yield savings account bank or a credit
union. Then the 20% that is designated for financial goals is automatically
deposited into that savings account.
Goals
Another
important thing to discuss when merging finances are the goals that you both
have. You may have discussed this in the past, but now is the concrete time to
sit down write those goals out and make a concrete plan on how to achieve them.
For most they aren't sure where to start or have a clear vision on their goals
which is where your Private CFO can help in giving you that definitive plan
moving forward to make the best decisions for you and your family.
Budget
Whether you merge or not one of the most important things is having the proper financial foundation which entails having a budget. I've mentioned this in the past, but you should follow the 50/20/30 model in the following order:
- Needs | Write out all your fixed expenses and see where they stack up relative to net income (if its below 50% or not).
- Savings/Debt Repayment | The 20% should be pulled to the side each pay period automatically and direct deposited in the savings account you set up.
- Wants | The 30% is what's left over for variable expenses and this is the amount you can budget for monthly because it changes.
This should be set up in an online
software tool like the Financial Dashboard you have access too or even a
spreadsheet if you like manual input.
Sharing finances with your partner depends on comfort level, trust, relative income levels and, ultimately, the dynamics of your relationship. And most importantly, whether you do or do not, transparency is key. 76% of respondents to
a survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education stated that
financial infidelity harmed their marriage and 10% stated it resulted in
divorce. Be sure to be in lock step with your spouse/partner and with clarity
and transparency all things are possible as you embark on this new journey in
your life.
If you would like to receive more information on making smart money moves for your future, be sure to contact us today!
