Money is frequently a stressful subject in romantic relationships and one of the leading causes of divorce. Even when finances are not a point of contention in a relationship, they can easily become an afterthought with everything else going on in life. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Working with a financial trainer will help you and your partner align on your finances and free up more time (and money) for the things you both care about.
Opening Up
If you and your partner want to have financial discussions but don’t know where to start, meeting with a financial trainer can reduce the pressure and awkwardness of talking about your finances. During the first session, your financial trainer will ask you to get “financially naked” and spill the details of your financial life. Depending on where you are in your relationship, getting information about your partner’s financial life (and vice versa) without having to ask the questions directly yourself can feel more doable.
Unbiased Perspective
If you and your partner are having difficulty aligning on money, working with a trainer can help you both view your finances more objectively. Financial trainers are not therapists or trained mediators, but they are impartial third parties who can look at your financial situation without bias and make recommendations without laying blame. (And if needed, your trainer will help you fit a couples therapist in the budget).
Bigger Picture
As a couple, you are focused on managing the day-to-day of your lives together: what to have for dinner, your plans for the weekend, and the big vacation you will take this year. It’s hard to break out of short-term thinking to dream together about your future. Your financial trainer will ask about your short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals. This gives you and your partner the chance to discuss what you both want out of life and dream together.
Increased Transparency
Sometimes, one person in a couple takes on more responsibility for handling the couple’s finances. Even when both partners like that arrangement, it can leave one party more in the dark than they should be. During quarterly reviews with your trainer, you’ll discuss all of your account balances and changes to your expenses. This ensures that both people are aware of what’s happening with their money.
Working Together
You are probably with your partner because the two of you make a great team. Working together on shared goals is motivating. Problem-solving and shared success will bring you even closer together.
More Fun
Working with a financial trainer will make talking about money a more regular part of your life. Counterintuitively, this means that you can spend less time thinking about it because you know that there are set check-in points when you and your partner will touch base on it. This leaves more time for fun in between!
