Just in time for Valentine’s Day, MetLife has released a top 10 list of
financial tips designed to assist couples in achieving their financial
goals. Given the significant role that financial matters play in
couples’ lives—with the average couple discussing money 20 times a
year—the tips provide a blueprint that will help couples avoid common
mistakes and manage their finances in a way that suits both partners.
“As every couple knows, it’s important to be on the same page when it
comes to money,” said Jeff Tulloch, vice president at MetLife Premier
Client Group. “With Valentine’s Day approaching, we wanted to share some
simple tips that can help contribute to a sound financial future for
couples—and a sound relationship.”
The list of tips comes from a “Love and Money” workshop that is part of
MetLife’s workplace-based PlanSmart® Financial Education series.
Launched in 2008, the series offers a selection of workshops relevant to
employees of varying ages and career stages. The workshops fulfill
employees’ interest in financial education and planning help in the
workplace, and address a variety of topics such as Investing 101,
planning for college, and estate and retirement planning.
MetLife PlanSmart Top 10 Financial Tips for Couples
1.
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Learn about your partner’s financial situation before
committing to a long-term relationship. Talk to them about
their credit score, debt, and how you will handle larger financial
issues as a couple.
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2.
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Adopt the “yours, mine, and ours” approach to joint accounts.
Set up a joint account to manage your money collaboratively, with
monthly payments directed to individual accounts that allow each
person to spend some money as they choose.
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3.
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Determine who will be responsible for paying bills,
balancing the checking account, and researching large purchases,
based on each of your talents and needs. It’s okay to make changes
as you go along if one person becomes too busy or isn’t doing a
good job.
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4.
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Establish shared financial goals for both the short and long
term, and how you will work together as a couple to achieve
them. If you need to, seek the advice of a financial professional
to help you set your priorities.
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5.
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Create a budget that allows you to track how you spend money as
a couple and reflects your individual spending habits. Don’t
use the budget to force your own habits onto your partner or to
blame your partner for spending too much.
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6.
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Work together to pay off existing debt, and understand the
difference between good and bad debt. Be careful that you
don’t take on too much debt, good or bad, as too much of either
kind still hurts your financial security.
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7.
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Discuss your individual levels of risk tolerance and identify a
level that you are both comfortable with. Make sure to take
the time horizon for your investments into account.
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8.
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Avoid keeping financial secrets from your partner, which
can create feelings of distrust and betrayal. Honest and open
communication about financial matters is best.
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9.
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Be a team player. If you and your partner earn different
salaries, don’t point out your partner's lack of income or brag
about your paycheck. Look at other contributions the lower-earning
partner makes to the household.
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10.
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Carve out a dedicated time to have specific discussions about
your financial situation and how to improve it at least four
times a year.
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Join the conversation about personal finance for young adults at
#PlanSmart. For the latest news and information, follow MetLife
on Twitter and like MetLife
on Facebook. Visit PlanSmart at www.metlifeplansmart.com/solutions.
About MetLife
MetLife is a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), a leading global
provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving
90 million customers. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife
holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin
America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. For more information,
please visit www.metlife.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2014