Marriage

Besides interpersonal issues, getting married has serious practical and legal implications in almost all areas of your financial life, from taxes, credit ratings, investments, owning property, and so on.

The statistics are depressing--7 out of 10 married couples disagree about finances. Differences in financial goals, buying a home, and children's education are leading sources of conflict. By planning for expected financial responsibilities and harmonizing your financial goals, you can avoid much of the friction caused by finances.

Joint Financial Goals
The first step for a couple is to harmonize their financial goals. We've developed a few worksheets and methods to facilitate discussion and hopefully reduce your stress caused by money. This section includes tools that can help set concrete joint financial goals.

Consolidating Finances
When you get married, your spouse's financial assets and liabilities often become yours. Now is the time to make major decisions that affect how you consolidate your finances. We outline 5 big issues to resolve as well as some possible solutions.

Family Planning
Having a baby is a joyous event, but it can be very expensive. Luckily, there are ways to make it more affordable. Learn how to cover your costs--from health insurance to daycare to allowances.

College Planning
You've heard the horror stories of paying for a 21st century college education. But you're in luck--here, we explain the special savings plans available for parents as well as some strategies to finance your child's education.

Financial Aid Center
Don't rule out Financial Aid as an option until you've visited our Financial Aid Center. This comprehensive section walks you through the most frequently asked financial aid questions and provides tools to help determine the amount of aid you may need. It even describes the different types of aid available. Once you've done your research, you can even apply for aid online!