Fostering financial intimacy is an ongoing process.    Ask me how I know this.    I am a dreamer, and my loving wife is more pragmatic. There are many ways we are similar and different.    I didn’t know how this would impact our marriage and money life 17 years ago as we stood at the altar ...

When Financial Resentment Breaks Through Sitting in a parking lot on vacation with tears in my wife's eyes, the reality of financial resentment buildup comes pouring out. We are a couple like so many other couples. First and foremost, we are human. Second, we each have a personal history with mo...

He is ready to kill him, and he is lucky his stepfather didn’t come home that day. The murderous rage courses through Keeper’s veins as he prepares to confront his stepfather about sexually abusing his sisters.    Meeting inspiring people has become a regular part of my life. It surprises me to...

What is the psychology of ownership? Wow is my first reaction to the Google search for the psychology of ownership. The idea of ownership is not new to me and likely not to you. On the surface, the concept of ownership seems pretty straightforward. I bought a car so I own it. I earned this money...

Summer reading can take on many different meanings.   What comes to mind when you think about summer reading?    Is it reading a romance novel on the beach while the kids play in the water?   Is it retreating to a mountain getaway and enjoying a book about the meaning of life?    You may ...

Do you ever wish you could wave a magic wand and all your money differences and financial resentments would disappear between you and your spouse?    I certainly have. I know there are no magic wands but there are keys to fostering financial intimacy which softens money differences and financia...

It All Starts With A NY Times Article Asking hard questions is the job of great reporters, therapists, and researchers. This is something I have found in common between the three professions. However, great questions sometimes lead to difficult and uncomfortable answers or, even worse, more diff...

I often consult with people about complex family dynamics that intersect marriage counseling and fee-only financial planning, my combined area of expertise. It is my true joy to help families sort through their love and money stories.    Recently I was consulting with Melanie (Not her real name...

I have talked with clients and others about their experiences of family vacations for many years now.    Here is what I know. Family vacations are powerful and meaningful. They can also be a source of great distress and overwhelm for some. For others, they are a source of incredible pleasure an...

There are many reasons I love golf. One of them is the many metaphors about life that can be drawn from golf about life. The psychology of couples and money is my favorite topic, especially regarding attachment styles and how our attachment histories impact how we approach love and money. Recentl...