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AACREDITUNION.ORG | 19 "It's natural for one partner to be better at handling finances, but both need to be aware." "Communication is key," Fatheree said. "It's natural for one partner to be better at handling finances, but both need to be aware of how much income is coming in and how many expenses are going out. I recommend partners hold monthly budget meetings. This doesn't have to take more than five minutes, but they should discuss the needs for the current month and plan for any unusual expenses that may be coming up so there is an understanding of where the money is going and how much each of them has to spend freely." Additionally, what happens when the relationship irrevocably changes or simply ends? Fatheree said that when a death, divorce they have complete access to all the cash and credit accounts, leaving the other with little or nothing and no way of knowing what accounts are out there. "Because of the [divorce] scenario, I recommend couples find a safe place to record what accounts they have and the passwords, if there is online access," she said. "It's also a good idea to have contact numbers for the family attorney and life insurance providers, if any." Aside from financial literacy, there's also at least one other great reason to manage your money together: There's evidence it aids family harmony. A 2018 CreditLoan.com survey reveals that 91.6 percent of households that share the responsibility of managing finances are happy. Those are numbers we can all get behind. BRIAN KEAGY is a Dallas-based freelance writer and editor who regularly contributes to publications such as and Intelligent Collector. American Airlines Credit Union Our Financial Wellness program is a great way for everyone in your family to better understand how to budget and spend more effectively. Find out more at FinancialWellness.AACreditUnion.org. or even prolonged illness occurs, you don't just lose your partner — you lose that partner's financial expertise. "Recently, a member came to me after her husband had suddenly passed away," Fatheree said. "He handled all the bills electronically, so there were no paper trails. She didn't know who their service providers were or any passwords to online accounts. She was completely lost." Fatheree said she has seen similar situations with divorce. One partner suddenly leaves and