Foundations of Financial Planning for Couples

Money is one of the most common sources of conflict in long-term partnerships, but most couples have never been taught how to think about shared finances. This foundational course gives you a clear framework for aligning values, styles, and goals before you make joint decisions. By the end of this course you will be able to describe the major financial styles partners bring to a relationship, distinguish merging, joint-only, and proportional account models, identify the conversations couples must have to align on direction, and recognize the patterns that drive most money-related conflict. What you will learn: - The major money styles partners often bring including saver, spender, avoider, monitor, and giver - The main account models: fully merged, joint-and-personal, proportional contribution, and fully separate - How couples can set shared goals such as housing, debt payoff, children, and retirement - How income differences, debt brought into the relationship, and family obligations affect planning - How honest financial disclosure works and why it should happen early - How money conversations connect to power, autonomy, and trust - Common conflict patterns and what they often signal beneath the surface The course uses readings, comparison tables, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with discussion questions designed for you and your partner. This course is written for couples at any stage who want to think clearly about money together. By the end you will have replaced inherited assumptions about how couples should manage money with a clearer understanding of options, and you will be ready to choose a model with your partner deliberately rather than by default.