Love and happiness. It sounds so simple when sung by The Reverend Al Green.
But missing from that winning equation? Money. That's because as soon as dollars and cents make their way into the relationship, things can get difficult.
That understanding, combined with some eye-catching survey results, is what motivated Orion Chief Behavioral Officer Daniel Crosby to develop a new wealthtech tool that's all about helping couples get closer.
Called BiFi20, the tool gives advisors the power to give clients and their partners personality assessments to show how much they differ when it comes to their attitudes about money in real time, and identify ways to strip that stress out of their relationships.
"It gives some form and some function to what is otherwise a pretty ethereal conversation. That's what we wanted to do here," Crosby told Financial Planning. "It's not like we're saying someone is good and someone is bad. We just have to understand where your partner is coming from. This helps give some form and function, and it takes the sting and the judgment out."
And there seems to be plenty of sting to go around.
Orion's new Couples and Money Survey reveals that half of Americans consider dishonesty about money a form of infidelity, and 21% wish they had known more about their partner's financial attitudes before committing to the relationship.
But that isn't keeping people from spending in secret. A quarter of the survey respondents say they have kept a purchase secret from their partner, and nearly 1 in 10 (9%) are keeping their debts on the down low.
Check out the full story, and why Americans have such a hard time talking bucks with their better halves, at Financial Planning.
Anything else on your mind? Drop me a line at [email protected]. Have a great rest of the week!
Regards,
Justin

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