By: Lillian Turner As a financial planner, one of the most common recommendations I make to couples is to conduct a regular “money date”. Discussing your finances (especially with a partner) can feel uncomfortable, emotional, and even a little scary. However, the more you normalize and share your feelings around money, the easier it becomes to meet your financial goals.  The current rate of divorce sits right around 50%, and money is often named as the most common cause for this devastating event. However, I don’t believe that money should be given such a bad rap. Money itself is neutral. At the end of the day, it’s just a piece of paper with a dead guy on it (sorry, George Washington). Communication around money is the true culprit. The objective of a money date is to organize your financial life, bring awareness to your current spending habits, and create goals to set future you up for success. Most importantly, money dates should be a fun, low pressure time to connect with your partner and communicate about important financial obstacles – before they get out of hand. You owe it to yourself and to your relationship to face your financial fears! Before we dive in, I’d like to note that you don’t need to be married (or in a long-term relationship) to conduct a money date. You can grab a friend, a neighbor, your 4th grade art teacher, your great-great-grandmother, your personal trainer, Flo from the Progressive commercials, your latest Instagram follower, or the guy selling fruit by the side of the road (you get the point!). The key is to find a trustworthy accountability partner who will support your long-term goals and provide an objective point of view. Step 1: Set the Scene  Before embarking on your first money date, it’s important to decide on the cadence. It could be as simple as a 20-minute weekly check-in as you are preparing for the week ahead. Or perhaps you’d prefer to set aside time once a month for a more in-depth review of your finances. The important thing is that you build the habit of checking in about money on a regular basis.  Make sure that the cadence you choose correlates with a time when you are likely to be in a good headspace. Connecting over brunch on a slow Sunday morning will be more beneficial than chatting about money on your way to soccer practice with five screaming kids in tow. Once your money date schedule is set, make sure to mark it on your calendar (this is crucial!). Ahead of your first meeting, you will want to decide on the agenda. It’s important that both partners are prepared for what will be discussed so that no one feels blindsided. The specific topics you discuss will depend on how often you are meeting, but here are a few things we generally recommend that you cover: For money date virgins (don’t worry, we won’t tell!), its best to start simple with

Lillian Turner  If you had three wishes, what would you wish for? Perhaps your wish would be for a fountain of youth, an endless supply of garlic bread, or a year long cruise around the world.  If I were magically given three wishes, I would probably ask for: A close second choice though would be: While my first set of wishes will likely never materialize, my second choice has already come true! Let me introduce you to my magic lamp, or as some call it – the HSA. A Health Savings Account (HSA) operates similar to a personal savings account, only it’s used for medical expenses that can’t be covered by insurance. HSAs offer triple tax benefits – the money you put in is tax free, your earnings grow tax free, and you can spend the funds tax free for qualified medical expenses. The funds you contribute are also tax deductible!  In case you missed that, let me repeat: TRIPLE TAX BENEFITS! This is pretty much unheard of in the investment industry, so if that doesn’t get you hyped up, I don’t know what will. Another fantastic benefit of the HSA is that it can also be used as an investment vehicle. Once you hit a certain account value (typically $1,000-$2,000, depending on your plan) you are eligible to invest the remaining balance in the market. You likely won’t have the same investment options as an IRA, but there should be a decent selection of index funds available to choose from. Great! So…where do I sign up? In order to contribute to an HSA, you must be covered under a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). It’s important to note that not all high-deductible health plans qualify for an HSA, although most do.  If you have a HDHP but don’t have an HSA set up, you can choose a provider yourself. I would recommend contacting your HR representative for more information. Even if you change companies throughout your career, your HSA will stay with you.  In 2024, both you and your employer may contribute up to a maximum of $4,150 for a single person or $8,300 a year per family, with a $1,000 catch up contribution if 55 or older. You can do so through automatic payroll deductions or direct contributions up until April 15th of the following year. You can contribute until you enroll in Medicare, even if you stop working. Once your Health Savings Account has been opened, you will receive a debit card that you can charge directly for prescriptions, doctor’s office visits, lab tests, and anything else you might need. Not only can your contributions be saved and invested for the future, but they can also be used on a short-term basis for elective procedures  – such as LASIK eye surgery or braces. HSAs are a fantastic tool to have in your arsenal if you’re planning on having a baby in the future as well. Fertility treatments can be covered by an HSA, as well as prenatal vitamins,