Pre-Wedding Planning: 8 Tips for Financial Bliss
For those preparing to wed, planning their future finances together may help strengthen their relationship. Marriage is not just a romantic commitment but also a financial partnership. Here's a guide to help those preparing to ‘tie the knot’ work toward financial bliss before the marriage vows are exchanged.
Tip #1 – Engage in Open Conversations
Transparency is key to an independent future. Both partners should share their income details, assets, liabilities, and financial obligations. Discuss short-term and long-term financial goals, which might include:
- Saving for a vacation
- Buying a home
- Planning for a family
- Preparing for retirement
Tip #2 - Prepare a Joint Budget
Track income and expenses to help understand each partner's overall financial health. Consider lifestyle changes that could affect the monthly budget, such as moving to a new city or starting a family. The budget should reflect this and other factors, such as:
- Fixed expenses: Rent or mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc.
- Variable expenses: Groceries, entertainment, travel, etc.
- Savings: Emergency fund, retirement savings, other goals
Tip #3 – Draft a Debt Management Plan
Coming into a marriage with debt, be it student loans, credit card debt, or personal loans, is common. It's important to discuss how to tackle these debts openly. The couple may want to consider:
- Prioritizing high-interest debts
- Creating a repayment plan
- Considering debt consolidation or refinancing options
Tip #4 – Set Up a Household Emergency Fund
An emergency fund is an essential part of any financial plan. It provides a safety net in case of unforeseen events such as job loss, unexpected medical bills, or major repairs. Aim to save enough to cover 3-6 months of living expenses.
Tip #5 – Plan & Save for Retirement
Start planning for retirement early, since the sooner one starts investing, the more time one's money has to seek growth. Consider these retirement savings options:
- Employer-sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s and other plans
- Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs and Roth IRAs)
- Pensions and Social Security benefits
- Annuities
Tip #6 – Evaluate Insurance Needs
Insurance is an essential tool in protecting one's financial health. Evaluate insurance needs and consider several types of insurance:
- Health insurance to cover medical expenses
- Life insurance to provide for each partner in case of untimely death
- Homeowner's or renter's insurance to protect property
- Auto insurance for vehicles
Tip #7 – Schedule Regular Financial Check-ins
Regularly review and adjust the household financial plan to accommodate life changes and financial goals. Whether it's an annual check-in or a quarterly review, keep the lines of communication open.
Tip #8 – Work With a Financial Professional
It’s essential to work with a financial professional who can review each partner’s progress toward goals while accounting for each partner’s financial situation.
Let's Team Up
Remember, preparing for marriage takes teamwork, commitment, and regular conversations about finances to align goals as you work toward an independent future together.
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
This material was prepared by Nathan Wyatt for the Investment Service Center’s use.
Investing involves risks, including the loss of principal.
New year, new equity market. Value is off to its strongest ever start against growth, and only one Mag 7 is positive, but it’s reasonable to question both the durability and rationality of parts of this rotation. First and foremost, it’s been led by cyclicals like small caps and the energy, industrials and materials sectors. While economic growth should accelerate in 2026, it probably won’t last much longer than people’s tax refund checks. The cyclical value sectors have also been boosted by the run up in commodities. Part of this has been structural; concerns around fiscal deficits and Fed independence are boosting gold, and the AI buildout needs copper and precious metals. But there’s also an element of speculation. Energy is the best performing sector, up over 20% YTD, despite a negative outlook on oil prices, by far the primary determinant of earnings growth. While there are certainly opportunities within traditionally cyclical asset classes, like investing down the AI supply chain, or in undervalued small cap companies, long-term investors should be skeptical of the broad-based rally.
For other sectors, regulation is weighing on returns. In January, President Trump suggested capping credit card rates at 10%, and CMS proposed keeping 2027 Medicare Advantage rates roughly flat, triggering selloffs in financials and health care, respectively. Defensive value sectors, like consumer staples and utilities, are also finally participating in the bull market. But while, utilities are supported by AI power demand, consumer staples companies are struggling with tariffs, commodity costs and a cautious consumer. Most importantly, this rotation is a lesson in diversification. With the Mag 7 down 6% and software down 30% from its October peak, sector, style and geographic diversification is the seatbelt investors need to stay buckled in on the AI roller coaster.
Chart of the Week: Source: FactSet, Standard & Poor's, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Thought of the Week: Source: FactSet, Standard & Poor's, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
Index: Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Index; PCE: Personal consumption expenditures; Philly Fed Survey: Philadelphia Fed Business Outlook Survey; PMI: Purchasing Managers' Manufacturing Index; PPI: Producer Price Index; SAAR: Seasonally
Adjusted Annual Rate
MSCI EAFE is a Morgan Stanley Capital International Index that is designed to measure the performance of the developed stock markets of Europe, Australasia, and the Far East.
Bond Returns: All returns represent total return. Index: Bloomberg US Aggregate; provided by: Bloomberg Capital. Index: Bloomberg Investment Grade Credit; provided by: Bloomberg Capital. Index: Bloomberg Municipal Bond 10 Yr; provided by: Blomberg Capital. Index: Bloomberg Capital High Yield Index; provided by: Bloomberg Capital.
Key Interest Rates: 2 Year Treasury, FactSet; 10 Year Treasury, FactSet; 30 Year Treasury, FactSet; 10 Year German Bund, FactSet. 3 Month LIBOR, British Bankers’ Association; 3 Month EURIBOR, European Banking Federation; 6 Month CD, Federal Reserve; 30 Year Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA); Prime Rate: Federal Reserve.
Commodities: Gold, FactSet; Crude Oil (WTI), FactSet; Gasoline, FactSet; Natural Gas, FactSet; Silver, FactSet; Copper, FactSet; Corn, FactSet. Bloomberg Commodity Index (BBG Idx), Bloomberg Finance L.P.
information from FactSet's Pricing database as provided by MSCI. Russell 1000 Value Index,
Style Returns: Style box returns based on Russell Indexes with the exception of the Large-Cap Blend box, which reflects the S&P 500 Index. All values are cumulative total return for stated period including the reinvestment of dividends. The Index used from L to R,
top to bottomare: Russell 1000 Value Index (Measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with lower price-to book ratios and lower forecasted growth values), S&P 500 Index (Index represents the 500 Large Cap portion of the stockmarket, and
is comprised of 500 stocks as selected by the S&P Index Committee), Russell 1000 Growth Index (Measures the performance of those Russell 1000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values), Russell Mid Cap Value Index (Measures
the performance of those Russell Mid Cap companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values), Russell Mid Cap Index (The Russell Midcap Index includes the smallest 800 securities in the Russell 1000), Russell Mid Cap Growth Index (Measures the performance of those Russell Mid Cap companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values), Russell 2000 Value Index (Measures the performance of those Russell 2000 companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values), Russell 2000 Index (The Russell 2000 includes the smallest 2000 securities in the Russell 3000), Russell 2000 Growth Index (Measures the performance of those Russell
2000 companies with higher price-to-book ratios and higher forecasted growth values).
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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