Combining Finances After Marriage | New York Life (2024)

FAQs

Is it smart to combine finances after marriage? ›

Combine your bank accounts and credit cards.

Budgeting is easier and more organized when your money is in one place. A joint savings account also helps you work toward taking your next vacation or purchasing a new home.

39% of couples had combined all their finances, 39% kept things completely separate, and 22% did a partial combination. A final survey I can bring to your attention is conducted by creditcards.com with a sample size of 2,404 adults. In their survey, they found that 43% of couples had only joint accounts.

A lot of folks ask if they can invest in the same account as their spouse. And while we do recommend combining your finances once you're married, you can't open a joint 401(k) or Roth IRA like you can with a bank account. There is an “i” in IRA—and it stands for “individual.” That doesn't change once you're married.

Key takeaways. Keeping separate bank accounts after marriage could help you stay engaged with your money. Paying for shared expenses could mean using bill-splitting apps and extra planning for emergencies, but it's worth it for some couples.

'It's almost not fair to split finances 50-50'

For example, one partner may be saddled with student loan or credit card debt while the other partner is not. The latter may have the financial strength to carry rental or mortgage expenses so the other person can focus on paying down their liabilities, said Daigle.

Key Takeaways. Financial infidelity is when couples with combined finances lie to each other about money. Examples of financial infidelity can include hiding existing debts, excessive expenditures without notifying the other partner, and lying about the use of money.

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

The financial role of a husband in a marriage varies. It depends on the couple's values, expectations, and circ*mstances. It also comes down to the evolving work world. Women are now breadwinners or earn around the same as their partners in 45% of American households.

It's estimated that financial problems contribute to 20-40% of all divorces. That means that for every 10 marriages that end in divorce, four of them are because of money.

How do most married couples split finances? ›

Some couples pay their household bills from a joint account to which both partners contribute. Others divide the bills, with each partner paying their share from their individual accounts. It's also important to make sure the division of bills is fair and equitable for both partners.

Joint bank accounts are already fairly common, with a slight majority of male–female couples in Western nations reporting using only joint bank accounts (52–65 percent). Still, 10–15 percent report maintaining completely separate accounts, while the rest use a combination of joint and separate accounts.

There's no rule that getting married means you have to combine everything, including money. For couples in certain situations, such as blended families, couples with financial incompatibility or a spouse with an inheritance, it may be best to keep at least some finances separate.

However, research from MarketWatch Guide shows that joint banking could lead to fewer arguments and increased relationship satisfaction. According to the study, 55% of couples who use solely joint bank accounts claim they never fight about money, compared to only 39% of partners who have personal accounts.

Fortunately, shared financial decision-making can positively impact a marriage in several ways: Increased trust. As partners set goals and work to reach financial milestones together, trust will naturally grow.

Previous studies have shown a link between holding a joint bank account and having a higher quality relationship. Perhaps couples with a shared account might prompt each other to consider how their purchase will affect their partners or might facilitate transparency around finances.

Married people can qualify for higher income thresholds, tax deductions, and tax credits. Here's one powerful example: When you sell a home as a single person, there's a home sale exclusion of up to $250,000 available. For a couple, it goes up to $500,000.