Why Talking About Money in Premarital Counseling Isn’t Just Smart, It’s Necessary

by Marina Edelman, LMFT | Jun 20, 2025 | Blog

We often shy away from conversations about finances with our partners, whether out of discomfort, embarrassment, or simply because it still feels like a taboo topic. But unfortunately, avoiding the subject doesn’t magically make it any less important.

Finances are one of the leading sources of tension in relationships, and according to the National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH), money disagreements are more predictive of divorce than arguments about children, sex, in-laws, or household chores; how we handle money in a relationship can either strengthen our bond or weaken it over time.

Many couples assume they’ll “figure it out” once they’re married, but that mindset can set the stage for resentment, confusion, or even feelings of financial betrayal. Once you’re married, financial decisions are no longer just individual choices, they affect your shared life, your goals, your credit, and your future family. If you haven’t already built a foundation of honesty and transparency before tying the knot, you could find yourself in a situation of mismatched expectations.

That’s why addressing money in premarital counseling isn’t just a smart idea, it’s essential. It allows couples to have guided, thoughtful conversations about values, goals, debt, spending habits, and financial roles before legal and emotional commitments deepen.

Here are five key reasons why bringing finances into the open before marriage matters most:

1. Everyone has a ‘Money Story’

Believe it or not, money is more deeply connected to emotion than we realize. How we all handle money is deeply connected to and shaped by our personal histories. How we were raised, the expectations placed on us, and the financial behavior modeled by our guardians all impact the way we handle finances in our independent lives. 

Some people grew up in households where money was never discussed, which can lead to financial topics feeling taboo or overwhelming. Others may have seen money used as a form of control, where it became tied to guilt, manipulation, or approval from their guardians or the people around them. Some were raised to fear financial instability, leading to anxiety around spending, while others were taught to spend freely as a form of celebration or status. All of these different situations deeply impact the way we understand money; for one person, saving might represent security and responsibility, while for another, it could represent stinginess. 

Understanding these things not only gives couples insight into why each partner handles money the way they do, bringing a deeper sense of empathy and understanding into this complicated topic, but also allows us to more clearly define each person’s deep rooted ‘money story’ and their financial expectations. 

2. Financial Goals are Deeply Connected to Core Values

Beyond the models set by those we observed in our personal histories, discussing finances in relationships is crucial in ensuring that your core values and life goals are aligned. While we often have important conversations before marriage, like whether we want or don’t want children or where we want to live, we don’t always discuss what those choices mean financially. Whether you want to believe it or not, finances are deeply woven into every long-term decision a couple will face together.

For instance, if one partner sees travel or lavish living as a necessary part of a fulfilling life while the other sees those things as unnecessary expenses, that disconnect can cause tension and arguments down the line. 

Similarly, career ambition is another area where financial goals and expectations are essential to discuss. While one partner may dream of climbing the corporate ladder and devoting a large portion of their life to their work, the other may prioritize work-life balance, or a lower paying job that they are really passionate about. These topics may seem separate from money at first glance, but they often eventually raise financial questions: How will living expenses be split? What happens when one partner earns more but works longer hours?  What sacrifices or trade-offs are each willing to make, and most importantly, are they mutual?

Educational goals can also complicate the picture. Is one partner planning to go back to school or pursue a master’s degree? Will they need to or have they already taken on student debt, and how will that affect the couple’s financial dynamic? If one person is actively paying off debt, does that mean they contribute less to shared expenses? Finding ways to compromise and balance financial responsibilities together can only happen if the conversation is had in the first place.

Premarital counseling provides a safe, structured space to explore these value-based questions in depth, helping couples clarify their individual expectations and compare them to one another.

3. Builds Transparency and Trust Surrounding Expectations and Realities

We often hear that trust and communication are the foundation of a healthy relationship, and that is especially true when it comes to money. While transparency and honesty are essential in any area of partnership, financial transparency holds a particular kind of weight. Money isn’t just about math, it’s about power, security, independence, fear, and sometimes shame. Those are also all aspects that are important in relationships in general. Being transparent and communicative about finances encourages honesty in all aspects of the relationship. That’s why building the habit of open, judgment-free financial conversations early on can make both partners feel significantly more secure and respected.

When partners can share financial wins, losses, goals, anxieties, mistakes, and insecurities without fear of rejection or anger, they demonstrate vulnerability and trust in their partner. These conversations aren’t just about managing money, they’re about deepening emotional connection and building a strong foundation overall in the relationship. Finances are multifaceted, and just like relationships, and practicing communication with this aspect of your relationship will strengthen it as a whole.

Avoiding these discussions doesn’t just lead to budgeting issues; it leads to breaking of trust, unclear boundaries, secrecy, and resentment that can damage the relationship as a whole over time. On the flip side, open communication and trust in financial situations create a ripple effect  throughout the entire relationship of teamwork, reducing anxiety, and making the relationship feel more balanced, trusting, respectful, and secure overall.

It’s also important to remember that if we don’t navigate these conversations with transparency and trust, we can lead to falling back on societal binary expectations, which don’t accurately depict the nuances within relationship dynamics. Without communication, societal expectations and gender roles often creep into how we view money in relationships. There can be pressure on men to fulfill the “provider” role, or assumptions that women will be caregivers and not work, even if those dynamics don’t reflect the couple’s actual individual and combined values or goals. These narratives can feel limiting, unfair, or inaccurate. Talking openly about how each partner feels in relation to these roles, and what feels empowering vs. degrading, is essential for creating a financial dynamic rooted in full transparency, trust, and understanding.

Being financially transparent isn’t just about avoiding conflict or staying “on budget”. It’s about fostering a relationship where both people feel seen, heard, not judged, and comfortable. 

4. Sets Foundation for Future Planning

As mentioned earlier, we often talk about the future with our partners in the form of daydreams and ‘somedays’. For example, couples can often daydream about their future: “someday we will have a family” and “someday we will go on that big trip we always talk about”, and while those sentiments are sweet, they lack the specificity that comes with financing these concepts. 

While it’s not as fun to discuss the financial implications of having a child as it is to pick out baby names, bringing finances into these daydreams shifts them from daydreams into plans. This, in turn, promotes a feeling of deeper security in your relationship and encourages your partner to believe you’re actually serious about the plans you are proposing. When we pair these hopes and ‘somedays’ with concrete financial conversations, we turn abstract ideas into intentional, actionable plans. Talking openly about money can give weight to our words and show our partner that we’re serious about building a future together.

These conversations of how life will look post-marriage are essential to have pre-marriage. Future planning is more than romantic visioning; it’s about clarifying expectations, identifying priorities, and preparing for real-life decisions, and all of those can impact our decision to say “I do”. When couples make space for these conversations early on, they’re investing in clarity and stability through sharing, so that no one feels blindsided or confused with finances once the ‘somedays’ become realities.

5. Prevents Financial Infidelity

Financial infidelity is defined as the act of hiding money-related decisions, habits, or information from your partner. While this act may not always be intentional or malicious, open communication surrounding finances significantly limits the possibility of a partner feeling betrayal on financial matters. A study by Casinos Analysis found that 41% of people admit to sneaky spending behind their partner’s back and 57% say it ‘blew up’ their relationship, and Psychology Today even conducted a survey indicating that 52 percent of respondents said that financial cheating is just as bad as physical cheating, and 12 percent believe it’s actually worse.

What one partner may think is a healthy level of financial independence and privacy can be seen as secrecy and lying to the other party. Asking questions such as “what financial things would you rather not share?” and “what do you expect of me to share with you in terms of finances?” can significantly limit feelings of financial infidelity. Not communicating those understandings can lead to a fractured sense of trust in a relationship. 

Financial infidelity and secrecy can also lead to feelings of disrespect and abuse of power and control. If one partner controls the finances, whether by withholding information, limiting the other’s access to money, or making major decisions without the input of their partner, it can create an unhealthy imbalance. Even if unintentional, this dynamic is emotional manipulation, leaving the other partner feeling powerless or excluded.

When these conversations are avoided it makes it harder to be vulnerable in other areas as well. Financial transparency protects emotional safety and builds a relationship with honesty and respect.

Ultimately, financial conversations can deeply strengthen a relationship by fostering trust, clarity, and emotional intimacy. When couples approach money with honesty, understanding, and non-judgement, they create space for mutual respect, aligned goals, and long term partnership. It’s not just about managing finances; it’s about building a life together with intention, planning, and transparency.

Below are 50 questions you can discuss with your partners to begin the conversation surrounding finances and promote honesty, connection, and transparency. Book your couples consultation today and start the conversation that brings you closer: financially, emotionally, and beyond.

Money Story

● What’s your earliest memory of money?
● How did your parents or caregivers talk about (or avoid) money?
● Was money a source of stress, pride, control, or freedom in your household?
● Were you taught to save, spend, give, or fear money growing up?
● Did your family live paycheck to paycheck, or was there a financial cushion?
● What financial habits have you kept from your upbringing? Which ones have you
rejected?
● Do you associate money with security, status, freedom, guilt, or something else?
● How do you typically respond to financial stress (avoid, fix, panic, deny)?
● What messages about success and wealth did you absorb as a child or teen?
● How have your money beliefs evolved over time?

Building Transparency

● Have you ever felt uncomfortable talking about money? Why?
● Do you prefer joint or separate accounts in a relationship?
● How do you feel about financial privacy vs. full disclosure?
● Are there any past financial mistakes you’re still carrying guilt or shame about?
● What spending habits of mine (if any) make you uneasy?
● How do you define “financial honesty” in a relationship?
● Do you expect us to check in on big purchases beforehand? What counts as “big”?
● Have you ever hidden or downplayed a purchase in a past relationship?
● What would help you feel safe and respected in our financial conversations?
● How often should we talk openly about finances (weekly, monthly, as needed)?

Setting a Foundation for Future Planning

● Do you see yourself owning property one day? Why or why not?
● What does your ideal retirement look like, and when would you like to retire?
● How much of our income should go toward savings each month?
● How do you feel about creating a shared budget or financial plan?
● Do you want to have children? If so, how do you imagine budgeting for that?
● Are you open to caring financially for aging parents or family members in the future?
● How would you handle an unexpected financial emergency (i.e. job loss or a major
necessary expense)?
● Are you comfortable with us seeing a financial planner or using budgeting apps?
● What are your non-negotiables when it comes to future financial planning?
● How do you want us to approach holidays, big expenses, or milestone celebrations?

Preventing Financial Infidelity

● What do you think counts as “financial infidelity”?
● Have you ever lied about or hidden a financial decision in a relationship?
● Do you think it’s okay to have a private account or fund for personal use?
● What boundaries would you want us to agree on around secret spending?
● Would you be open to setting shared limits for discretionary purchases?
● How would you want me to bring up a financial concern or mistake?
● How can we create a judgment-free space to talk about financial slip-ups?
● What’s a sign that someone might be keeping money secrets in a relationship?
● How would you want us to repair trust if financial honesty was broken?
● Have you ever struggled with impulsive spending, gambling, or other habits that could
affect our finances, and how can we support each other if something like that comes up
in the future?

Financial Goals (Short-Term and Long-Term)

● What’s your biggest financial goal in the next 1–2 years?
● What are three things you’d like to save up for — individually or as a couple?
● How do you feel about budgeting — empowering, annoying, necessary?
● Do you prefer saving slowly and consistently or aggressively when possible?
● Are you currently saving for retirement? If not, when would you like to start?
● Would you prioritize paying off debt over saving for a home or vice versa?
● How do you feel about investing? Is that something you’d like to learn together?
● Do you have a dream purchase or financial milestone that feels symbolic to you?
● How do you want to balance fun experiences now vs. planning for the future?
● What would financial “success” look like to you 10 years from now?