Mixing love and money

Many people in committed relationships sometimes underestimate the impact financial decisions can have on their partnership, their family, and their financial future. In fact, most couples don’t discuss their finances on a regular basis, which can lead to personal misunderstandings and resentments. Further, it can prevent people from making informed choices about their finances.

Communication is the key to making good financial decisions that will benefit you both in the long run. When people’s feelings and concerns are heard, it’s easier to move forward with a concrete plan.

Failure to communicate about finances can contribute to most of the relationship conflict between couples.

If you’ve been avoiding the money issue in your relationship, here’s why you should make the move to start a financial conversation with your partner.

Common cause of conflict

Time, plus social and economic changes, have affected how we define “family,” which can get complicated. We’re contributing more financial baggage than ever to our relationships, including credit card debt, student loans, mortgages, and other investments. This can make things seem overwhelming and hamper the financial conversation.

But even if your baggage is light, the money issue often weighs heavy. A 2025 Harris poll found that 85% of Americans are worried about money. Nearly half (46%) are losing sleep over money worries.

Also in 2025, a Talker Research survey found:

Failure to communicate about finances can contribute to most of the relationship conflict between couples.

The meaning of money

Money doesn’t have meaning; we assign meaning to money. Our personal relationship with it is forged early in life. Childhood experiences, education, how our parents handled finances, and our financial and social status influence our views about it.

That means two people often come into a relationship with different ideas about what money represents and how it should be used. What defines a “good” financial decision depends on a person’s unique values and viewpoint.

Start a conversation

If we don’t have serious conversations about money, we won’t understand each other’s perspectives on the topic. And that’s an important first step to take before you can make a plan.

Open, honest communication is just as important with finances as any other partnership decision, whether it’s buying a house, changing jobs, or having children. If you’re not talking finances and feel stressed about it, you may find that once you acknowledge the obvious, it won’t seem so overwhelming. Being open, honest, and clear about monetary expectations may help prevent small issues from turning into big resentments.

Use the questions in the Financial conversation starters document to help you start a conversation, then…

Make a plan

Remember, what works for one couple won’t necessarily work for another. Find a plan that fits you both. And make time to talk together on a regular basis.

Your financial road map

Every member financially secure

Even when things seem uncertain, Member Benefits’ vision for our members can provide a solid path designed to help secure your future.

Learn what we offer you for saving for retirement, protecting your assets, and getting financial advice and assistance. Then read on for how we are here to help you at every stage of your career.

Start here today to prepare for your tomorrow

When it comes time to retire, the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and Social Security may not be enough. Contributing to a 403(b) through your employer, even if you start with a small amount, can make a significant difference in how you might live in retirement.

Member Benefits offers our low-cost 403(b) in 98% of the public schools in Wisconsin. If your employer offers a match, make sure you contribute enough to receive the full available matching amount.

For an additional savings opportunity, our IRA program is a great way to increase your retirement savings and take advantage of tax benefits. Your family members may qualify as well.*

weabenefits.com/retirement

Protect your family and secure your assets

The role insurance plays in your financial security is often misunderstood. Your home and vehicles are big investments. Focusing on the cheapest insurance may leave you at a greater risk than you realize. Instead, you need to make sure you are properly insured to help protect yourself and your family.

Member Benefits created insurance with unique features and coverages you’re unlikely to find elsewhere that may better meet your needs as a public school employee.

Our personal insurance consultants can review your current coverage and make recommendations to fit your needs, whether or not you choose us.

weabenefits.com/insurance

Get advice and assistance

Finances can be complicated, but Member Benefits offers you expert information and support. We can help you with a specific topic or create a comprehensive financial plan, whether you are just starting your career or planning your retirement.

Get help with strategizing retirement, investing, budgeting, and much more with our financial coaching and advice options.

For our 403(b) account holders, we offer a free, interactive wealth management tool called eMoney that includes strategic advice from our financial advisors.

You don’t have to figure everything out yourself. Turn to us for help and advice.

weabenefits.com/fps

We’re here for you along the entire journey

The guidance we provide public school employees can help you get to and through retirement. It’s not just for when you’re working. Even if you change jobs, you can stick with us as long as you maintain your accounts or policies.

Even better, your family members qualify for many of our programs! If eligible, they can take advantage of:

Contact us for more information on these programs or for questions about any products or services we offer.

1-800-279-4030

Don’t get reeled in by phishing scams

Response required. We emailed you a little while ago to ask for your help resolving an issue with your PayPal account…We noticed some unusual log in activity with your account. Please check that no one has logged in to your account without your permission. To help us with this and see what you can and can’t do with your account until the issue is resolved, log in to your account and go to the Resolution Center…

Have you ever received an email like this? This is just one example of many common phishing emails that tend to make the rounds. Most of us have received more than one—in fact, over 162 billion spam emails like this are sent every day.

Phishing is a scam in which a person uses fake emails, texts, and/or phone calls to try to get you to share valuable information such as your Social Security number, account numbers, or user names and passwords. Once they have this information, they may steal your money, your identity, or both. They may also try to access your computer or network by installing ransomware or other programs after you’ve clicked a link in one of their emails or texts. These programs can lock you out of your computer and allow thieves to steal your personal information.

Don’t take the bait

There are a few common tactics you can watch out for that scammers use to try and entice you to hand over your personal information.

Familiarity. Using familiar company names, or pretending to be someone you know, is known as email spoofing. The email appears to be from a trustworthy source, like a legitimate company, family, friend, or even coworker, and lends the recipient a false sense of security that makes them more likely to open files and click on links.

Website spoofing is often used in concert with the fake email by linking it to a website that looks legitimate, but isn’t. When the user goes to the site, they may be asked for sensitive financial or login information. These fraudulent websites may also contain malicious code that ends up on the user’s computer.

Timing. Attackers often take advantage of current events and certain times of the year, such as natural disasters, health scares, major political elections, and holidays.

Attention. Attracting your attention with lucrative offers or eye-catching statements is another common tactic. For example, a message may claim you just won an iPhone, gift, or large amount of money. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Enticement. Scammers will try to encourage you to click on a link or open an attachment. They often tell a story to trick you by claiming they’ve noticed suspicious activity, such as stating there’s a problem with your account, directing you to make a payment, or announcing you’re eligible for a refund.

Limited time only. Phishers rely on urgency to increase the odds of pressuring you to ACT NOW and quickly hand over your sensitive information. A legitimate website for a bank, credit card company, or other organization isn’t going to have an air of desperation about it by posting urgent messages on their website. If you see this on a site you visit, double check the URL to make sure you’re actually in the right place.

Please update your account. Hi Dear, We’re having some trouble with your current billing information. We’ll try again, but in the meantime you may want to update your payment details. Update account now. Need help? We’re here if you need it. Visit the Help Centre or contact us now. –Your friends at Netflix

Avoid getting hooked

Sources: Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency,  Phishing.org

Top frauds of 2024

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these were the top schemes reported by more than 2.6 million people in 2024, with losses of $12.5 billion dollars.

  1. Imposter scams.
  2. Online shopping and negative reviews.
  3. Business and job opportunities.
  4. Internet services.

Further, according to the FTC:

If you spot a scam, report it at the Federal Trade Commission Complaint Assistant.

Be prepared for personal loss

Many of us don’t have a plan when it comes to preparing our family or ourselves for loss. To help you, we have put together two eBooks with guidance in letting your family know your wishes before you pass away and what needs to be done when you lose someone close.

A Love Letter to My Family: A financial ‘love letter’ to your family organizes your personal paper trail, enhances the legal documents you have prepared, and helps reduce stress and potential conflicts for your loved ones. It is NOT a binding legal or financial document but a tool that can help you organize your thoughts, wishes, and assets in one place.

What To Do When You Lose a Loved One: When you lose someone you love, there are many details to consider. Our financial guide walks you through important financial tasks to do during the days, weeks, and months that follow after a loved one passes away.

Download your FREE eBooks.

Take advantage of this perk!

Did you know that as an added benefit for WEA Member Benefits’ home policyholders, you have free access to a program where you can create many important legal documents?

Personal Risk ProtectionTM is an easy-to-use online service that can save you and your family hundreds of dollars.

Options include:

Renting out a property with a lease, and more.

Visit the Personal Risk Protection page to learn more, then call 1-800-279-4030 to get your registration code.

NEW eBooks for you and your family

Did you know Member Benefits has a variety of free eBooks for you to download?

UPDATED!

We have updated our very popular eBook, What To Do When You Lose a Loved One. When you lose someone you love, there are many details to consider. Our financial guide walks you through important financial tasks to do during the days, weeks, and months that follow after a loved on passes away.

BRAND NEW!

We have added a new companion eBook, A Love Letter to My Family. This guide is meant to be a financial ‘love letter’ to your family. It helps you organize your personal paper trail, enhance the legal documents you have prepared, and helps reduce stress and potential conflicts for your loved ones. It is NOT a binding legal or financial document but a tool that can help you organize your thoughts, wishes, and assets in one place.

Learn more and download these and other helpful eBooks on retirement, insurance, financial security, and starting out your career as an educator.

What kind of investor are you?

Before investing, it’s important to know what kind of investor you are so you can select a mix of investments consistent with your financial situation and your risk tolerance. Assessing your risk tolerance is a key factor in determining what kind of investor you are.

Risk can be defined as the possibility of losing all or part of your investment. The potential for higher returns goes hand-in-hand with higher risk. Conversely, low-risk investments are associated with lower returns.

Find out what kind of investor you are with our 403(b)/IRA Investor Suitability Profile Questionnaire. Answer a series of questions to help determine your risk tolerance and appropriate investments for you.

Visit our free financial calculators page for this and many other helpful financial calculators.

Preparing your loved ones for when you pass

We put together a list that may help prepare and guide your conversations with loved ones. Some of the highlights include:

Add a trusted contact to your account(s).

This allows us to communicate with your trusted contact if we cannot reach you and helps prevent fraud attempts.

Review and (if necessary) update your beneficiary designations.

The beneficiary designation(s) listed on your retirement savings accounts override your will, so it’s important to keep them updated. To review your beneficiary designations, call us, log in to your online account, or review your quarterly statement.

Put in place a durable power of attorney (for financial reasons).

Having a power of attorney in place, if it comes to that point, is much easier on your loved ones.

Create a list of your accounts, the organizations each of your accounts are with, and contact information for each account location. Share the list with a trusted individual.

This list can help reduce some of the stress and scrambling for loved ones by having all the information in one place.

Download our What to do when you lose a loved one eBook to share with family/friends.

In the midst of grief, life goes on. There are arrangements to be made and logistics to take care of. This informational eBook helps guide you through the financial journey that follows the passing of a loved one.

If you have a 403(b) or IRA retirement/investment account with WEA Member Benefits, we are still here for your beneficiaries. Our team can be reached at 1-800-279-4030, ext. 8568.

Spring into action with Individual Financial Consultations

Where do I start saving for the future? How do I open a retirement savings account? Am I on the right track?

Who are MBCs?

As retired educators and financial sector employees, our MBCs know the importance of saving for the future. They’ve spent years in education and have made the decision to give back and support those who work in public schools with their financial journeys.

MBCs are part-time employees who are available for a quick check-in with Wisconsin public school employees for individual financial consultations (ICONs). (For more in-depth help, explore our Financial Planning options.) Two people from the MBC team are highlighted on the sidebar.

What is an ICON?

ICONS are for everyone, whether you’re a first year teacher or months away from retirement.

ICONs are a time for you to meet with one of our MBCs and get your specific questions answered related to your financial journey.

MBCs can walk through your questions on topics such as 403(b)/IRA enrollment, the importance of saving for the future, or tips for purchasing auto and home insurance. They can also help you review or consolidate your current retirement accounts.

How do I schedule an ICON?

Our staff manages their availability on a scheduling platform called Calendly. This allows anyone who wants to meet with one of our MBCs to pop on the scheduling link, find the times that work for them, and schedule their ICON. Easy as that!

If you have a current MBC you’re working with but need their Calendly link, please reach out to them directly. If you haven’t met with anyone from our MBC team yet, visit Consults page to schedule your ICON. We even offer evening and weekend appointments.

Where can I find additional resources?

Our website has great financial resources. Start by checking out our Learning Center, full of articles, resources, and calculators.

Once you schedule an ICON, you will also receive an email with a link to a resource page to use before, during, and after your consultation.

Interested in joining our MBC team?

We are always looking for new MBCs to help us better serve public school employees. Visit our Careers page to check out the job description and learn more. We’d love to chat with you about this amazing opportunity!

Member Benefit Consultants can provide assistance with your retirement savings accounts but do not offer investment advice. Registered Representatives of and securities offered through WEA Investment Services, Inc., member FINRA.

Sarah’s garden of financial knowledge

Sarah Campbell has been sowing seeds since 2009. She has watched those seeds sprout, grow, and in some cases, produce. The seeds Sarah sows are the seeds of financial literacy.

Her passion for financial literacy sprouted in her second year of teaching when she made discoveries about how to cultivate enthusiasm for this important topic in her students. She struggled her first year, teaching content straight out of the textbook. “The kids didn’t care,” she told us.

But after taking courses at the National Institute for Financial and Economic Literacy during summer break, everything changed. The experience showed her how to engage students by making the information personal and real.

Over the last 13 years her methods have changed—going deeper and broader—to reflect the needs of students and to keep up with advancements in technology and the financial world. But she is still teaching Personal Finance at Wisconsin Dells High School (WDHS) with great determination, and her responsibilities have grown, giving her more opportunities to promote financial literacy. But what does financial literacy mean?

Digging deep

For Sarah, it’s not enough to simply understand financial concepts and best practices. It’s much bigger than that. Being financially literate, she says, is about looking at your financial life from many angles—like how you fit into the economy, understanding your role in managing your finances, what your decisions mean to you and those around you, and taking a hard look at what you want your life to be and understanding how finances play into your ability to achieve goals. Sarah likes the term financial independence—it plays like a drum beat in her classes. “It’s the ultimate goal. Regardless of how financially literate you are, the end game is financial independence.”

But Sarah digs deeper still, helping her students look inward at their financial beliefs and why they hold those beliefs. “Understanding the financial mindset that drives decisions, even those that don’t seem financial at the time, can be really useful and necessary.”

If it sounds a little philosophic, that’s because it is. Taking responsibility for your own financial position has been her emphasis from the start, telling students to ‘own’ their future. Her message was and still is, “It’s up to you to determine what you want your life to be like and how you are going to make it happen. No one else can do that for you.”

To incorporate her philosophy in the classroom, Sarah created characters they follow through the units. “I give them a variety of back stories and future plans to reflect the diversity in my class. We analyze their situations, create solutions, discuss back-up plans, and plot out future plans for them.”

And she says a change in scheduling has played to her advantage. Back in 2009, Sarah’s personal finance class lasted nine weeks. Not a lot of time to cover so much ground. That changed to 18 weeks after the district moved away from a block schedule. “I still have around 65 hours, but now it’s spread out into shorter chunks. For me, it’s a win. The longer time frame allows for more time for students to process the information and practice self-observation, and I have more time to build trusting relationships,” she explains.

“Understanding the financial mindset that drives decisions, even those that don’t seem financial at the time, can be really useful and necessary.”

Born to sow

“Without a doubt, imparting financial knowledge is what drives me in the classroom, and not just in the Personal Finance course. I incorporate a lot of financial literacy into my other classes AND my academic support period.” Her additional responsibilities give her plenty of opportunities. She serves as the MATC Dual-Credit Instructor for Accounting and Microsoft Office. Dual-credit courses, she explains, allow eligible students to complete their high school graduation requirements while earning college credits at no cost to the student. “But becoming the Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator was the biggest change to my duties. This program integrates school-based and work-based learning to instruct students in employability and occupational skills.” In essence, students get to “try on” possible career paths without the expense of post-high school courses. Sarah sees it as a time of discovery with very real financial implications.

“I had a student work for two years as an auto mechanic, and during his last semester realized he wasn’t happy. He was relieved that he didn’t waste two years of time and money after high school only to learn it wasn’t for him. Another student, interested in business, was able to complete an accounting program at MATC in a year and a half and begin working. It saved him both time and money,” she adds.

WDHS gives students a head start

Wisconsin Dells is one of just 800 school districts in the nation where a one-semester personal finance course is required for graduation. Currently, just one in six students across the nation graduate with a decent financial literacy education, and only 10 states guarantee at least a one semester course in personal finance before graduation. Wisconsin is not among them—leaving it up to the district to decide if and how they want to do it.

“High school is really the best time to get it into their head,” Sarah explains, “while they are on the cusp of major decisions that could determine the trajectory of their lives.”

Data supports Sarah’s hypothesis. Studies show that graduates of high schools with guaranteed financial education are 21% less likely to carry a balance on a credit card while in college1 and are less likely to fall prey to high-cost predatory loans (such as payday loans) than their peers without guaranteed financial education.2

Statistics like these, financial literacy advocates say, show that providing financial education offers a great return on investment.

“Regardless of how financially literate you are, the end game is financial independence.”

Reaping the harvest

Sarah also has a lot of personal examples where the seeds she sows yield good results.

“Just last summer a student stopped by on her way to college, literally packed up in her new (used) vehicle purchase. She was excited to tell me that although the dealer encouraged her to take a six-year loan to reduce monthly payments as a college student, she was adamant on a four-year loan because she did NOT want to have the loan follow her after college. She was so proud of herself,” Sarah shares.

Another time, she saw a student at a baseball game. “Always the jokester—he told me he bought a brand-new truck and stretched out the loan to seven years! But then he began laughing and said, ‘just kidding, I knew better than that.’ In reality, he purchased a used truck for a price that fit into his budget with a four-year loan.” Then his friend jumped in. “He said he got his first credit card and likes to max it out, then make only the minimum payments when he remembers. He broke out laughing too, and assured me he only uses it for gas and pays it off every month. They knew these things were the exact opposite of what I taught them and they didn’t want to disappoint me. Not only did they apply the concepts to make responsible choices, but they wanted me to know it, too. And, they enjoyed hassling me a little,” Sarah chuckles.

In her own backyard

Sarah’s ultimate goal of financial independence for her students is also something she strives for personally and teaches in her home.

In 2009, when her daughter was just three years old, Sarah was intentional about financial literacy—using real life experiences as teaching moments such as the act of using cash in the grocery store to demonstrate the value of money in a transaction. And the financial lessons continued over the last 12 years.

“Because it has always been just the two of us, we have a lot of discussions about opportunity cost—not necessarily using economic terms, but instead ideas. ‘If we did this, got this, spent this—then what would we be willing to give up.’”

When her daughter turned 15 last spring, she started her first part-time job at a local greenhouse. “She loves getting her email alert on paydays. She examines the hours, the taxes, and the amount sent to her savings account. She’s had a savings account for a long time, but now she can see how her actions affect the balance.”

Her daughter has also dabbled in buying stocks with the help of her uncle. “They decided on an amount to invest five or six years ago. She looked for businesses she believed in and purchased a handful of shares in several. She watches them and has seen the ups and downs in performance.”

Sarah’s perennial practice

As for Sarah, she continues to practice what she preaches “maybe to a fault,” she admits. “Sometimes I am a little too frugal. I do love a good garage sale!” Giving herself permission to splurge sometimes is maybe her greatest financial challenge. “I probably could loosen up and enjoy some spending, but my mindset has always been focused on the financial security side of life.”

Sarah set her path when she was a teenager, taking some of her earnings from summer jobs to open an IRA. Then, she opened a 403(b) when she started teaching and has continued to invest and increase her contributions over the years. Saving is second nature for her. “I feel a great sense of security when I open my statements, knowing that the money is growing and will eventually meet me when I need it.”

Her parents, who retired shortly after the 2009 interview after a combined 78 years of teaching, inspire her. “It is encouraging to see them enjoy a comfortable retirement because of their commitment to saving and investing for their future. It motivates me to stay on track.”

Sarah points to the purchase of her home as the most important financial decision she has made since we last talked. “I was able to buy a home in the neighborhood where I grew up. I’m proud that I managed a 15-year mortgage so it will be paid off in five more years.”

Looking to future seasons

This hard-line approach isn’t for everyone but it works for Sarah. As for her future? She will continue to sow financial literacy seeds at WDHS in and out of the classroom. “I want to grow the Youth Apprenticeship program to reach more students and allow for more opportunities in all career paths,” she says. This school year she doubled enrollment in the program and looks to continue that trend.

“Personally, the next big step for me will be helping my daughter take her next steps in education.” The contributions Sarah has been making to her 529 college savings plan will help with the cost, but you can be sure her daughter will be involved in the financial aspects of her higher education. It’s just how Sarah helps good things grow.

We’re here for you

Learn more about Member Benefits’ programs and services by calling 1-800-279-4030.

1 Stoddard, C. and Urban, C. (2018). The Effects of K-12 Financial Education Mandates on Student Postsecondary Education Outcomes.
2 Harvey, M. (2019) Impact of Financial Education Mandates on Younger Consumers’ Use of Alternative Financial Services. The Journal of Consumer Affairs.