Financial questions to ask before tying the knot - AmericaNowNews.com

Financial Q's before "I Do"

Couples spend months planning the perfect wedding day. However, financial advisors say before you walk down the aisle, you should be planning for more than the nuptials. Marrying your finances can be more stressful than the wedding, if you don't plan ahead.

Jeremy Ludwig and Karel Mitchell are just days away from their big wedding.

Karel said, "Not nervous, just a little stressed."

They've put a lot of work into this day, from making flower arrangements, to getting candles and cookies all ready to go.

Jeremy said, "It's been stressful."

But it's what comes after the wedding that financial experts say couples should plan for.

Jane Haskin, president of First Bethany Bank and Trust, said before you say, "I do," you should to ask a few critical questions.

First, how much debt are you each bringing to the marriage?

Haskin said, "There's all kind of debt that can come in to the marriage and you need to have a mutual agreement in how you'll deal with those."

Next, how much money will you have together?

Haskin said, "Very rarely do you make the same amount of money. Generally, one will make more. How are you going to spend the difference in incomes?"

And what will your financial future look like?

Haskin said to plan how much will you save and to start making long-term financial goals.

Haskin said, "I think it's extremely important to have these financial discussions before the wedding."

Jeremy and Karel have had those money talks.

She said, "He's going to be in charge of all the budgeting and all the finances."

They are well prepared for the challenge of joining their lives and finances.

Karel said, "We both had our own lives and were settled with our own lives and now we're coming together and it's different."

Haskin said, "If they sit down and talk about these things before they get married, then it keeps them from having a lot of surprises after the wedding and it decreases the amount of stress."

She suggests couples get to work early saving an emergency fund of anywhere from one to six months of living expenses, just in case they run into an unexpected financial issue.

Unfortunately, she said, money conflicts seem to be the number one reason she's seen young couples get divorced.

Copyright 2011 KFOR-TV and America Now. All rights reserved.

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