If your husband became ill or died suddenly, you would need immediate access to information about your marital finances. Unfortunately, if he is keeping the records and you don’t know where they are, or don’t review them regularly with him, you won’t have the information you need.

If he uses a computer, you need to know his login password and how the software program he uses tracks your financial information. In other words, you need to participate, understand and have a copy of everything that involves your joint financial activities.

Everything you need to know is included in “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear” - Why Women Need Financial Intimacy.

Eight out of 10 divorced people remarry, half of them within three years. Give yourself a better chance at a lasting second marriage by addressing how you’ll handle money this time around.

Disclose everything about your finances before you marry. That means credit card debt, financial obligations to others and credit reports. If your future mate is not willing to do that, that’s a big red flag. It may mean he’s hiding problems which will become your problems after you’re married.

What should you say? What should you ask? What should you do?
Read Chapter 12 in “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear” – Why Women Need Financial Intimacy.

In stressful situations, its hard to remember everything a professional advisor says. When you speak with your lawyer, accountant, financial planner, doctor or any other person you pay for professional advice, it’s your right to record the conversation.

Bring along a sound recorder, either tape or digital, so you can listen to the session again. An advisor who cares about you will want you to remember the discussion. Knowing the conversation is being recorded helps you relax while you’re learning. If your advisor objects to it, consider another advisor.

Finding the right professional advisor means knowing what to look for .Read more about choosing and working with advisors in the How To section of “Don’t Worry about a Thing Dear”- Why Women Need Financial Intimacy

If you’re a business partner, you expect to know everything about the business’ finances. You should do the same with marriage. Consider that a business has income, expenses, assets, liabilities, taxes and net worth.So does a marriage. You need to be financially intimate with everything in your marriage partnership.

Find out more in Chapter 9 of “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear” -Why Women Need Financial Intimacy.

Marriage is a threesome between you, your spouse and Uncle Sam. He’s a major player in your marriage contract. He won’t go away, and he’s very interested in your money.

So pay attention to the marital finances. Understand where the money comes from and where it goes. Don’t sign papers you don’t understand. Open and reconcile your bank and brokerage statements. Marital finances are a shared responsibility.

Want more information about what to look for? See Chapter 9 in “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear”.

If you inherit money from Aunt Martha, it’s separate property. You don’t have to put it into community assets. If you do, you’re putting a legally separate asset into community funds. If you divorce, or you die, whatever is in the community pot is out of your hands as separate property. Fine to do it if you want. Just be aware that the law doesn’t require it.

There’s more information in Chapter 10 of “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear”.

The wedding season is almost upon us.
But wait…How does your credit score compare to your fiancé’s? Is there a big gap between them? This is a red flag for how each of you handles money.

If you score high and he scores low, or vice versa, learn why your scores differ so much and what you can do to close the gap.

If you really love each other, don’t let money come between you. Learn what you need to know in Chapter 12 of “Don’t Worry about a Thing, Dear”.