Are you considering getting married? There is a lot more to think about than the ring, or the wedding itself. Marriage is a partnership, and any partnership takes work, and communication. Here are five ideas you may want to discuss with your partner even prior to getting engaged. If you can have a realistic financial conversation up front with your partner, there likely will not be major financial surprises in your future (which will hopefully make your engagement, and marriage, a lot easier!)
TOP 5 CONVOS TO HAVE BEFORE MARRIAGE
- Are you a spender, or a saver? Most people are one or the other. “Spenders” tend to purchase more items, travel more, etc. (even if they are on a budget). However, a “Saver” will tell you that there is nothing you can buy that will feel better than money in the bank. Try to identify which category you fit into and have an open discussion with your partner.
- Should you have a prenuptial agreement? Many people think that a prenuptial agreement is only necessary for people with “a lot of money” or who “want to be greedy.” That is not the case at all. Rather, a prenuptial agreement can protect both parties if a marriage does not work out, and, possibly more importantly, can jumpstart a healthy conversation about each party’s current assets prior to marriage.
- What are your financial goals? Regardless of whether you are a spender or a saver, people can have different financial goals. If you can discuss this with your partner in advance, you can see if your goals align, or, perhaps you can come up with new goals together.
- Do you have any debts? While people may not like to discuss it, debt is not something to be ashamed of. Debt comes in a variety of forms and not all of it is bad. It could be a mortgage, student loans, or even credit card debt. So long as you have a plan to pay off said debt, and are able to monitor it, it will likely be paid off in no time.
- Have you already started to save for retirement? People may start to save for retirement at various ages. Obviously, the younger you start, the more likely you are to save. However, whether or not you have started saving, it could be helpful to have a conversation with your partner about how much you have saved, or want to save, and what age you may consider for retirement.
If you have any questions pertaining to the benefits of a prenuptial agreement, contact us and let Wolf & Shore Law Group go to work for you and help protect your future. Click here, call us at 203.745.315, or email us at info@wolfandshorelaw.com.
