Planning for your own future has its challenges. When you get married and combine your plans as a newly married couple, the challenge can be intense. Disagreements about finances is a big problem within some marriages, so getting the issues out in the open beforehand can help minimize these potential disagreements. Talking about finances before you get married is a great way to start your life together on the right path. Discuss your financial situation, assess your goals, and determine the best plan for your future together.

While working on this financial plan, here are some tips.

Align views on money

You have developed habits based on your personal views regarding money, and these might not be the same ideas that your spouse has developed. Your views are based on your own life experiences and the influences in your life. You might have taken a financial management class or taken a cue from your parents. These views are an indication of how you save, invest and spend, for both short term and long term issues. Talking about these views can help you and your spouse understand each other’s views on money and how you will manage your money in the future. It is not that uncommon to see newly married couples have at least three accounts – two single and one joint.

Create short-term and long-term goals

Goal setting and life planning are keys to a successful marriage. It’s one thing to align your views and quite another thing to make sure you understand each other’s goals to adequately plan your lives together. Remember to discuss timelines on your goals so you can differentiate between short-term and long-term goals. Some of the important questions to ask about include starting a family, purchasing a new home, career goals, and if one person plans to stop working when you start a family.

Evaluate financial commitments

Now that you have your goals out there in a plan, you will also need to be realistic. Discuss your current financial situation and the commitments you’ve made regarding finances. Full disclosure is critical to build trust and work in a married partnership. If you already have student loans, a car payment, credit card debt, child support payments, or other commitments, these existing responsibilities will impact how much money you’ll be able to spend and save as a couple.

Be clear about what expenses are whose

You are going to have different spending habits so it is important to agree on what you will consider joint expenses and what you will consider individual expenses. Be upfront and honest about the things that get taken out of each type of account. Differentiation requires trust and responsibility. It can be complex when there are responsibilities from a previous marriage, student loans, existing mortgages and credit card debt. You want to agree on the amount of discretionary money you will each have after the essentials are paid and savings are put aside. It usually works best if that discretionary money is divided in equal amounts for fairness, regardless of income divisions between you and your spouse. While moving forward after marriage, combining your finances into a single financial plan will help build a stronger relationship founded on trust and respect.

You don’t have to be married to start planning for your lives as a married couple. For assistance in making the best financial decisions and planning for your short-term and long-term goals, get help from a financial planner. Find out more by contacting us at (770) 658-9440.

Whether you are just starting your career or you have been in the workforce for years, you might have some misconceptions about retirement. There is not a magic formula or an exact way to plan for retirement. But there are some very bad decisions you can make along the way to this important destination. A major mistake can become a crisis in terms of retirement. Make better decisions by being aware of the risks and debunking some of the myths.

4 Retirement Myths Debunked

Myth#1: You have plenty of time to save for retirement.

Retirement might seem far off with the thought that you could easily postpone learning, planning, and saving for it. In fact, the very question of what is easiest is wrong. It’s always easy to procrastinate. Instead, ask yourself what is the best way to secure your retirement. A secure retirement requires you to begin saving as soon as possible. Now is the best time to develop the habit and start to compound your money so it grows to the it’s full potential. Since retirement accounts can grow exponentially over time, the earlier you begin the habit of saving for your retirement the more growth potential your money has to meet this future need.

Myth #2: It is the beginning of the end.

Historically, retirement came at a time when people only had a few years left to live. You could expect to work hard and have those last years to be taken care of. Today’s vision of retirement has changed significantly. First, there is the concept of not waiting to be happy. Enjoy life and take care of yourself. Second, understand that the attitude you have now will likely be the same attitude you have in retirement. That attitude, along with a healthy lifestyle, is helping people live longer, more fulfilling lives. As a retiree, you can expect to enjoy a mix of activities that include physical exercise, mental stimulation, and socialization. And with the average life expectancy at approximately 85 years of age, you could live more than 25 to 30 years after you retire. Your savings and investments may need to last as long as the length of your working career.

Myth #3: You’ll be on a continuous vacation.

While you could live longer into retirement, you might be surprised to know that it won’t be all vacation. For one, that is an expensive lifestyle to maintain. And even if you could vacation all the time, you probably would tire of it. Secondly, while you might live a healthy life for several years into retirement, you should prepare for health issues that can hamper your continuous vacation. Many retirees slow down at some point and have health issues that limit their mobility and/or require regular medical attention. Plan for a balance of regular everyday activities, doctor visits, socializing with family and friends, volunteering, and some traveling.

Myth #4: Retirement is the end of work.

While some retirees fill in their time with volunteering, a growing number of retirees are returning to the workforce in some capacity. Based on a survey by Merrill Lynch, 72 percent of pre-retirees age 50 and older say they plan to work part-time, full-time, or in an entrepreneurial endeavor after they retire from their primary career. With the potential for you to live well beyond 20 to 30 years after retirement, you might spend as many years in retirement as you did in your career. That’s a lot of time to make an impact by following a passion and pursuing an entrepreneurial dream.

Today’s retirement looks very different from decades ago and can be complex due to the lifestyle and number of years you could be in retirement. Having a solid plan is critical. At Reagan Financial Planning, we can help you develop a financial plan that is right for you. Contact us at (770) 658-9440 for more information.

Reagan Financial Planning, LLC is launching a new series during the month of April designed to help maneuver your finances through this difficult time. The series is titled “Navigating Your Financial Path and Plan Through Times of Uncertainty.” Specific areas of financial planning will be covered, with the first focus of the series being related to how important budgeting can be through this present crisis, as well as through the economic recovery that is sure to follow. Please share the series with your Facebook friends and also find attached a PDF copy of the Budget Spreadsheet. You can also email me a request at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for an excel format of this same spreadsheet that will perform the math for you. I certainly hope this series helps with your planning moving forward!