Money continues to be the major issue in marriages, particularly newly marrieds. According to a new survey more than 67% of newlyweds believe the most serious conflict in their first year of marriage is over money.

His account, her account or our account? How do you pay for the wedding if the bride-to-be or groom loses their job? What if one spouse brings more debt into the marriage than the other? Buying your first home, having a baby, shopping habits, supporting aging parents etc have enormous potential for major fights.

Money is one of the top reasons for divorce – everything from a communication breakdown about money, lack of money and even overspending.  The National Directory of Marriage and Family Counseling states, the divorce rate in America has hovered around 50% since the mid 80s, however, research has shown that premarital counseling reduces that number by 30%. Premarital financial counseling is essential for a sound marriage.

That’s why we wrote Before the Wedding Bells: Preparing for a Lasting & Fulfilling Marriage. It is a premarital guide that any single or engaged person should work through. It has tons of relationship principles and practical exercisesto naviagate through relational issues, including many worksheets on budget, financial history, disclosures and financial goals.