Wedding season is a time filled with excitement, celebration, and big decisions. Between the cake tastings, seating charts, and honeymoon plans, it’s easy to put off one of the most important conversations couples should have before marriage: money.
At Keel Financial, we work with many couples preparing for their future together, and we’ve seen how starting strong financially can help build long-term trust and stability. Whether you’re newly engaged or moving toward a long-term commitment, these five financial conversations can help set a solid foundation before you say “I do.”
1. Talk About Your Financial Backgrounds
Every person brings their own history and perspective to the relationship—especially when it comes to money. Before discussing numbers, it’s helpful to understand where your partner is coming from.
Consider asking each other:
- What did your family teach you about money?
- Are you more of a saver or a spender?
- How do you feel about budgeting and financial planning?
This conversation isn’t about right or wrong—it’s about building empathy and awareness, so you can better support one another’s goals and habits.
2. Be Open About Debt
Debt is common, but it can be a source of stress if it’s not discussed openly. Student loans, credit cards, car loans, and personal debt should all be part of the conversation before you combine your financial lives.
Ask yourselves:
- What types of debt do we have, and how much?
- What’s the plan to pay it down?
- Will we pay debts together or separately?
Being upfront helps prevent surprises later and allows you to create a shared plan for moving forward.
3. Decide How You’ll Handle Shared Finances
There’s no one “correct” way to manage money as a couple. Some couples combine everything, others keep things separate, and many find a hybrid approach that works best for their relationship.
Think through:
- Will we open joint bank accounts?
- How will we divide shared expenses like rent, groceries, or travel?
- Who will be in charge of paying bills or managing the budget?
What matters most is that both partners feel the system is fair, transparent, and easy to maintain.
4. Set Financial Goals Together
Once you’re clear on where you stand today, it’s time to talk about the future. Setting shared goals helps you align your spending and saving habits with the life you’re building together.
Some questions to consider:
- Are we saving for a home or planning to rent for a while?
- Do we want to start a family? If so, when and what costs should we plan for?
- What are our travel, retirement, or business goals?
Write your goals down and revisit them often. At Keel, we help couples translate their goals into real, actionable financial plans that evolve over time.
5. Put the Right Legal and Financial Protections in Place
Many newlyweds focus on the day-to-day aspects of money but overlook long-term protections. These aren’t just for high-net-worth families—they’re basic safeguards every couple should have.
Make sure to review:
- Wills and estate planning documents
- Healthcare proxies and financial powers of attorney
- Life insurance needs (especially if you share debt or depend on one another’s income)
- Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance policies
Having these protections in place can bring confidence and help ensure that your financial wishes—and the people you love—are taken care of.
Planning for More Than Just a Wedding
Marriage is about more than one big day—it’s about building a life together. At Keel Financial, we help couples take the same care and thought they put into planning their wedding and apply it to planning their financial future.
If you’re newly engaged or thinking about combining your finances with a partner, we’re here to help. Our team offers guidance tailored to your relationship, your values, and your goals—so you can feel confident stepping into this next chapter.
Ready to build your financial future together?
Schedule a free consultation with a Keel Financial advisor today.
Disclosures
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for individualized legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified attorney.
Financial planning is a tool intended to review your current financial situation, investment objectives and goals, and suggest potential planning ideas and concepts that may be of benefit. There is no guarantee that financial planning will help you reach your goals.
This material was prepared using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
