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Financial Topics to Discuss with Your Significant Other

As Valentine’s Day rolls around, you may be thinking about ways to bring some extra romance into your relationship. Maybe you’re placing an order for flowers or making a dinner reservation. But “talking about money” probably didn’t come to mind. It may not seem romantic, but getting clear about your financial goals and current situation could make your partnership better. 

Our individual relationships with money are deeply personal. In fact, 39% of adults1 avoid discussing money with their significant other altogether. However, 35% of adults2 in committed relationships said that openly discussing finances with their partner had a positive impact on their relationship as a whole. Discovering the ways you and your partner think similarly about money — and the ways you differ — can help pave the way for smooth communication. Learning how to talk about finances before marriage is important to both your financial wellbeing and your overall relationship.

But once you’re ready to start the financial conversation, what should you discuss? If you’re looking for financial questions to ask your partner, here are some topics to consider discussing. 

Accounts

Will you merge your finances when you get married? If so, how? There are many different schools of thought about this topic, but it’s important to make sure that you and your partner are on the same page about sharing money or bank accounts. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, it’s also important to speak openly and honestly about potential wage differences and how you plan to navigate them.

Questions to ask: 

  • Will we keep our accounts separate, merge them together, or create a new account for us as a married couple? 
  • How do we plan to navigate wage differences, both now and if/when they change in the future?

Debt

Debt is a dealbreaker for some individuals, and others carry debt out of necessity or out of habit. Be honest with your partner about any existing debt you have, how you plan to pay it off, and how much debt you’d feel comfortable taking on in the future. Keep in mind that mortgage debt and credit card debt can be very different issues.

Questions to ask: 

  • Do you have any debt right now? Are you comfortable with my debt (if applicable)? 
  • What kind of debt would you feel comfortable taking on in the future? How much? 
  • Do we need to make a plan for getting out of debt as a couple?

Retirement

It’s hard to make wise financial decisions without considering your long term plans and goals. Consider your own retirement accounts, from your employer or otherwise, and ask your partner to do the same. Consider your retirement goals and plans to the best of your ability, factoring in things like relocation, lifestyle after retirement, and money you’d like to save for your children and their education. 

Questions to ask: 

  • What retirement accounts do you currently have? Would you like to open any additional accounts together? 
  • What are your financial goals after retiring? How much would you like to save? 
  • What are your plans after retiring? Where would you like to live? What do you want to do? 

Budgeting

A budget may feel restrictive, but it can actually offer a lot of reassurance. Creating a budget together offers you the ability to get a firm grasp on your financial reality. In most relationships, one person is likely to have more saving tendencies and the other person is likely to have more spending tendencies. It’s healthy to acknowledge this and find a financial plan that works for both of you.

Questions to ask: 

  • How much of our income can/should we save? 
  • What are our monthly expenses, and how will we pay them? 

Remember, talking about money with your partner doesn’t have to be scary. In fact, it can set you up for a better future, a stronger relationship, and a happier life together. Working with a financial advisor can also help you and your partner navigate each of these areas we discussed today with clear counsel and direction. Contact us to discover financial advice that can help you and your partner better prepare for your future. 

The foregoing information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete, it is not a statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision, and it does not constitute a recommendation. Any opinions are those of SageSpring Wealth Partners and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice.

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Jeffrey Dobyns
Jeffrey T. Dobyns

CFP®, CLU, CHFC

President, SageSpring | Financial Advisor, RJFS 
615-861-6102

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Jeffrey T. Dobyns

President, SageSpring | Financial Advisor, RJFS

Jeff Dobyns has enjoyed extraordinary success providing comprehensive financial planning to retirees, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and executives by taking the time to truly know his clients, understand their goals and develop and execute their ongoing, strategic, financial plans.

Jeff earned his finance degree in business administration from Ohio University and has held executive positions with financial planning firms for more than two decades. After serving as Vice President of Investments of Lykins Financial Group, CPA’s, in his hometown of Westerville, Ohio, Jeff moved to Nashville, Tennessee to found SageSpring Wealth Partners in 2002. As its President, Jeff has led SageSpring to remarkable success, holding the distinction of being one of Raymond James’ top independent contractor offices, and a member of its Chairman’s Council*, every year since 2008.

Jeff’s true calling, however, is working directly with clients, helping them plan their financial futures in a manner that aligns with their values and helps provide them with financial confidence. To help meet these goals, Jeff leads the team of Dobyns Wealth Team and also incorporates the expertise of attorneys, accountants and other professionals to provide quality financial, tax and estate planning, and ongoing asset and risk management.

As independent advisory businesses, neither SageSpring Wealth Partners nor Dobyns Wealth Team hold any assets on behalf of clients, with such custodial and brokerage services being provided by Raymond James. As a leader in wealth management, Raymond James has an exemplary reputation and today serves more than $930 billion in client assets through 8,200 financial advisors worldwide (as of 9/30/2020).

In order to meet the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in the industry, Jeff is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner**, a Chartered Life Underwriter and a Chartered Financial Consultant. Jeff is also a participant of the Dave Ramsey SmartVestor program.

Jeff’s work and personal life are both guided by his faith and the Christian principles of honesty, generosity, compassion, and integrity. Accordingly, Jeff devotes considerable time and resources to a number of causes, including serving as a board member of Men of Valor, a prison ministry and mentoring program. He is also on the advisory board of The Signatry of Middle Tennessee, which works with families to increase their charitable giving to their favorite causes. Additionally, Jeff is on the advisory board for Halftime Institute, an organization that coaches marketplace leaders to discern and engage in their life purpose. Lastly, Jeff serves on the board of the Legacy Center of Nashville, a collaboration of independent coaching resources. He is a past board member of Porter’s Call, a Nashville charity that provides free counseling for musicians and their families, and the Martha O’Bryan Center, which empowers those in poverty to transform their lives through work, education, employment, and fellowship.

Jeff and his wife, Amy, are raising their family in Brentwood where they are members of the Brentwood Baptist Church, and their children, Gracyn, Hunter, and twins Tanner and Logan, attend the Christ Presbyterian Academy. For recreation, Jeff enjoys hunting, fishing and just being outdoors.

* Membership is based on prior fiscal year production. Re-qualification is required annually.

**Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

SmartVestor is an advertising and referral service for investing professionals (“SmartVestor Pros”) operated by The Lampo Group, LLC d/b/a Ramsey Solutions (“Ramsey Solutions”). Pursuant to an arrangement between Ramsey Solutions, SageSpring Wealth Partners and your advisor, your advisor pays Ramsey Solutions a flat monthly fee to: (a) be a SmartVestor Pro, (b) advertise services through the SmartVestor website, and (c) receive client referrals in the form of an initial introduction to interested consumers who are located in your advisor’s Pros geographic region. SageSpring Wealth Partners does not endorse and are not affiliated with Ramsey Solutions, except with respect to the arrangement described above, and neither Ramsey Solutions nor its agents are officers or employees of SageSpring Wealth Partners. Further, neither Ramsey Solutions nor its agents are authorized to provide investment advice or act in any way on behalf of SageSpring Wealth Partners, except in connection with providing your contact information to your advisor.

Ramsey Solutions’ relationship and agreement is between SageSpring Wealth Partners only. Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. is not affiliated with the solicitor arrangement between Ramsey Solutions and SageSpring Wealth Partners.

Raymond James is not affiliated with any of the organizations mentioned above.