FINANCIAL PERCEPTIONS
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						By David A. Clark, CEP & Joanne Clark ©2002
				Read just about anything on marital problems or causes of divorce, and there you will find one of the main reasons for discord: M-O-N-E-Y! Amazing how one word can start so many arguments and cause so much trouble. If we think about the fact that most of us don’t take the time to talk about money or ask each other about our money “habits,” it’s not difficult to see why so many couples all across America are having problems. Think about how your parents dealt with the subject of money—or did they? In our case, one of us heard many heated debates over the topic, while the other grew up hearing absolutely nothing on the subject of money. This is common in many marriages, where one spouse must account for every penny while the other has no idea where the money is being spent and what is his or her financial responsibility. Suggestion: TALK and LISTEN to each other’s “money values.” Whether we want to admit it or not, many of us measure ourselves according to the money we earn and the material things we accumulate. Sadly, that is the nature of man. It’s really important to know what our ideas are about financial matters so that we can seek God’s wisdom and work together with our spouse to set our financial goals. It’s OK to dream and set big goals, but be sure to determine the part money will play in achieving those goals. Be sure that you have a financial plan in place that shares the responsibility of who will do what, to reach your desired outcome. Once you have your plan in place, be sure to decide how you will make investment decisions. With so many choices and investment opinions, be sure to work together so that your growing financial portfolio is a balanced one. This means keeping the lines of “money talk” open so that both of you are aware of your finances and staying within the goals you’ve set. Be sure to decide who will be in charge of those day to day money matters, as well as who will pay the bills and balance the checkbook. Be sure to consolidate multiple accounts, as this will save you valuable time as well as unnecessary bank service fees. It would be a good idea to sit down with your financial statements, at least monthly, to review and evaluate where you are and if adjustments need to be made. As time goes on, this could be done on a quarterly basis, but be sure not to procrastinate any longer than that. From time to time, priorities change, so be sure to make the time to rethink your goals and make sure you are clear on what you need to do to meet them. If your priorities change, your financial goals must change with them in order for you to have a sound financial future. Remember that you’re in this TOGETHER!
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