Introduction
As a financial planner, I’ve seen this firsthand: couples who communicate clearly about money not only build wealth—they build stronger relationships. The difference between financial conflict and financial freedom in a marriage is often just one thing—a clear, structured financial plan created together.
That’s the heart of my Couple Finance Formula™—a proven system I’ve developed to help Indian couples plan their money in harmony, with purpose, and with peace.
Whether you’re just married, raising a child, managing a joint business, or looking ahead to retirement—this blog will show you how financial planning strategies help you reach every shared goal as a couple, together.
1. Define Your Shared Life Goals as a Couple
The first pillar of couple finance is goal clarity—for both partners. What are you saving for together? Is it buying a home? Educating your child abroad? Traveling every year? Retiring early?
In many Indian homes, one partner may plan while the other is unaware. That gap creates stress.
When I sit down with couples, we list joint goals:
• Emergency fund (₹5–10 lakhs)
• Children’s education (₹25+ lakhs)
• Retirement corpus (₹3 crores or more)
• Annual travel (₹1 lakh per trip)
• Family celebrations (₹5+ lakhs)
What happens when you write goals together? You gain unity, purpose, and financial direction.
2. Build a Couple’s Budget & Cash Flow Plan
A couple’s budget is not just a spreadsheet—it’s a mirror of your relationship with money.
Most couples don’t argue about money—they argue because they don’t talk about it. That’s why I ask both partners to sit down and answer:
• What are our combined incomes?
• Where does our money actually go?
• How much do we save vs. spend?
• What are “his”, “her”, and “our” expenses?
I recommend using a 60-20-20 structure for couples:
• 60% for household and joint living
• 20% for long-term savings
• 20% for individual or lifestyle spending
This ensures both independence and interdependence—a balance every couple needs.
3. Protect What You’ve Built – Together
In marriage, one partner’s risk affects both. That’s why insurance isn’t just personal—it’s relational.
Here’s what I recommend for couples:
• Term insurance for both partners (₹1 crore+ each)
• Family floater health insurance (₹10 lakhs minimum)
• Critical illness or accident cover
When couples take time to discuss “what if something happens,” they become emotionally and financially resilient. It’s about protecting your present and your future.
4. Invest with Shared Vision and Tax Benefits
Are your investments working toward joint goals? Or are they scattered and overlapping?
One of the most powerful habits I help couples adopt is goal-based, automated investing:
• ELSS mutual funds for tax saving under 80C
• NPS or PPF for long-term safety
• SIPs into index or balanced funds for wealth creation
• RD/FDs for short-term goals like holidays or gadgets
Start with ₹5,000/month per goal. The magic lies in automating it monthly and reviewing it quarterly—together.
5. Create a Couple’s Portfolio Strategy
Every couple has a unique risk appetite. One may love equities, the other may prefer safety. That’s okay—as long as you allocate your assets strategically.
Here’s how I structure portfolios for couples:
• 3-month emergency corpus in liquid funds
• Short-term goals in balanced funds or RDs
• Long-term goals in equity mutual funds
• Retirement goals in PPF, EPF, NPS, and SIPs
Make sure both partners know where the money is and can access it when needed. It’s a safety measure and a sign of mutual respect.
6. Start Retirement Planning as a Team (Even If It’s 20 Years Away)
Most couples avoid talking about retirement until it’s too late. But I believe retirement planning is about dreaming together—where do you want to live, how do you want to spend your time, what legacy do you want to leave?
Start small:
• Use calculators to know how much corpus you need (usually ₹2–5 crores)
• Invest 20% of joint income towards it
• Use both partners’ EPF, NPS, and SIPs wisely
Couples who plan retirement together often find more freedom earlier than expected.
7. Plan for the Future – Wills, Nominees, and Legacy
Estate planning isn’t only for the rich. It’s for couples who want clarity, peace, and no confusion for their families.
Here’s what every couple must do:
• Create a simple will and register it
• Nominate each other in bank accounts, MFs, insurance
• Use joint accounts where applicable
• Maintain a shared document folder
This shows love, care, and preparedness for life’s uncertainties.
8. Review, Talk, and Adjust Your Plan
Couples change. Incomes change. Goals evolve. That’s why your plan must also evolve.
Set a quarterly “money date”:
• Review goals and spending
• Update SIPs and protection
• Celebrate wins and course-correct mistakes
Make it fun—go to a café, open your laptop, talk money. Remember: clarity brings connection.
9. Cultivate Money Harmony in Your Relationship
Financial success is not just about returns—it’s about trust, transparency, and teamwork.
Here are 3 quick ways couples can stay in sync:
• Share your monthly money wins (however small)
• Respect each other’s spending style
• Dream together often—money follows intention
Money should never be a source of stress in your relationship. It should be a tool for shared joy and legacy.
Summary: The Couple Finance Formula™ in Action
| Step | What It Does | Outcome for Couples |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Setting | Aligns dreams with numbers | Shared direction |
| Budgeting | Creates structure and clarity | Monthly surplus |
| Protection | Guards against surprises | Peace of mind |
| Investments | Automates wealth building | Corpus creation |
| Asset Allocation | Balances risk and goals | Smart diversification |
| Retirement Plan | Gives future options | Early financial freedom |
| Estate Plan | Avoids disputes | Secure legacy |
| Reviews | Keeps goals relevant | Long-term alignment |
| Money Harmony | Builds trust & transparency | Relationship growth |
Couple Action Plan – Start Today
- Sit Down Together
Talk about 5 major goals: Emergency fund, children, home, travel, retirement - Track All Income & Expenses Together
Use a Google Sheet or money app—both should know - Buy Protection Policies
Term and health insurance in both names - Start Investing Jointly
Open a joint mutual fund SIP for ₹5,000/month - Set Your First “Money Date”
Pick a day each quarter to review your financial life
About Me
I’m Taresh Bhatia, CFP®, MBA, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and founder of The Richness Academy. I coach Indian couples through my Couple Finance Formula™—a step-by-step program to help you align your money with your values, reduce conflict, and build lifelong wealth together.
Couple Finance Formula™ – Working Journal & Action Planner
Designed by Taresh Bhatia, CFP® | The Richness Academy
SECTION 1: DEFINE YOUR LIFE GOALS TOGETHER
Instructions: Sit together and write your top 5 life goals. Be honest, specific, and dream big!
| Goal No. | Description (What?) | Amount Needed (₹) | Target Year (When?) | Whose Priority? (Partner 1/2/Both) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | ||||
| 5 |
SECTION 2: JOINT CASH FLOW TRACKER
Instructions: Track your combined monthly income and spending habits. Fill this out together.
Income (Monthly)
| Source | Partner 1 | Partner 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary / Business | |||
| Rent / Passive Income | |||
| Side Hustle / Other | |||
| Total Income |
Expenses (Monthly)
| Category | Amount (₹) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Household (Rent/EMI) | ||
| Groceries & Bills | ||
| Lifestyle (Dining, etc.) | ||
| Childcare/Education | ||
| Travel & Fun | ||
| Insurance Premiums | ||
| Investments (SIP etc.) | ||
| Savings (Bank/RD) | ||
| Total Expenses |
➡️ Surplus / Deficit = Income – Expenses: ₹________
SECTION 3: INSURANCE CHECKLIST
✅ Tick what you already have. Mark what’s needed.
| Coverage Type | Covered (✓/✗) | Coverage Amt (₹) | Premium (₹/year) | Responsible Partner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term Life – Partner 1 | ||||
| Term Life – Partner 2 | ||||
| Health (Family Floater) | ||||
| Critical Illness | ||||
| Personal Accident |
🗓️ Renewal Dates to Note: ________________________________________
SECTION 4: INVESTMENT PLANNING
Write down your investments goal-wise. Review each quarterly.
| Goal Name | SIP/Instrument | Monthly Investment (₹) | Target Corpus (₹) | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency Fund | Liquid Mutual Fund | ₹5,00,000 | 1 year | ||
| Education Fund | ELSS, Index Fund | ₹25,00,000 | 10 years | ||
| Retirement | NPS + SIP | ₹3,00,00,000 | 20 years | ||
| Travel | RD / Short-term MF | ₹5,00,000 | 2 years | ||
| Other Goal |
SECTION 5: RETIREMENT PLAN TOGETHER
• Expected retirement age (Partner 1): _______
• Expected retirement age (Partner 2): _______
| Item | Estimated Cost (Monthly ₹) | Adjusted for Inflation (30 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Lifestyle & Essentials | ||
| Health & Medical | ||
| Travel & Hobbies | ||
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Total Monthly Need |
➡️ Retirement Corpus Needed = ₹___________________
💡 Use retirement calculators for accurate figures and set up retirement SIPs.
SECTION 6: ESTATE PLAN CHECKLIST
✅ Have you done the following?
| Action Item | Status (Yes/No) | Last Updated |
|---|---|---|
| Written a Will | ||
| Appointed Nominees (Bank/MF) | ||
| Created a Digital Asset Inventory | ||
| Stored Documents Securely | ||
| Assigned Power of Attorney |
🗃️ Document Folder Location: ___________________________________________
SECTION 7: QUARTERLY MONEY DATE PLANNER
Plan your next 4 couple money dates. Write what you’ll review together.
| Date | Location / Setup | Focus Areas | Any Decisions Taken? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | Budget Review, SIPs, Insurance | ||
| Q2 | Goal Progress, Vacation Planning | ||
| Q3 | Investment Rebalancing | ||
| Q4 | Will Update, Tax Saving |
SECTION 8: MONEY HARMONY AFFIRMATIONS
Say these aloud together once a week:
- “We make money decisions together with love and clarity.”
- “We honour our individual choices and respect our joint goals.”
- “We save, invest, and spend in alignment with our shared vision.”
- “We protect our family’s future, together.”
- “We are building a legacy of love and abundance.”
- “We grow stronger as a team with every financial conversation.”
- “We are not afraid to dream big—our plan supports our future.”
TO-DO LIST FOR COUPLES (WEEKLY CHECKLIST)
| Task | Done (✓) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Track joint monthly expenses | ||
| Set up monthly money date | ||
| Update investment tracker | ||
| Review protection policies | ||
| Create or update goal sheet | ||
| Schedule review of financial plan | ||
| Share document folder access | ||
| Practice weekly affirmations |
My Promise to You
Money can either be a source of tension or a foundation of trust. With the Couple Finance Formula™, I invite you to turn your financial journey into one of joy, clarity, and togetherness.
You now have the tools. Use this journal every month. Reflect, adjust, grow. Together.
Ready to Build Money Harmony as a Couple?
Join my next live session on the Couple Finance Formula™ Webinar – Learn the proven system to:
✅ Stop money conflicts
✅ Align your financial goals
✅ Build a plan for lifelong abundance
🗓️ Register FREE: www.CoupleFinanceFormula.in
📧 Email: taresh@tareshbhatia.com
🌐 Website: www.tareshbhatia.com
The author of this article, Taresh Bhatia, is a Certified Financial Planner® and advocate for female empowerment. For more information and personalized financial guidance, please contact taresh@tareshbhatia.com
He has authored an Amazon best seller-“The Richness Principles”. He is the Coach and founder of The Richness Academy, an online coaching courses forum. This article serves educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consultation with a qualified financial professional is recommended before making any investment decisions. An educational purpose article only and not any advice whatsoever.
©️2025: All Rights Reserved. Taresh Bhatia. Certified Financial Planner®
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