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Smart Couples Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Creating a Rich Future for You and Your Partner
by
David Bach
From first-time newlyweds to people on their second or third marriage, couples face an overwhelming task when it comes to money management. Nationally renowned financial advisor and bestselling author David Bach knows that it doesn’t have to be this way. In Smart Couples Finish Rich, he provides couples with easy-to-use tools that cover everything from credit card manageme...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
January 8th 2002
by Crown Business
(first published March 6th 2001)
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This book was written in 2001. As such, I think SOME of the specific investment advice might be a bit off given the state of the economy. However, there is lots of good information here to take away.
I appreciate the emphasis on creating a relationship between money management and one's core values. Identifying those core values and standing for them even when they don't align with ideas forwarded in media culture can be a challenge. However, according to Bach, doing so is key to creating the sma...more
I appreciate the emphasis on creating a relationship between money management and one's core values. Identifying those core values and standing for them even when they don't align with ideas forwarded in media culture can be a challenge. However, according to Bach, doing so is key to creating the sma...more
Yes, it's self-help. Yes, the writing is mediocre-- it's spattered with exclamation points, rhetorical questions, and incorrect uses of the word "literally." But who cares! The advice is invaluable, and thanks to this book I know with certainty that Adam and I will be more than comfortable in retirement. Hell, we might even be able to retire much earlier. Here are two of the choicest nuggets of wisdom I picked up:
1. Start a retirement plan. Now. There's a reason that the phrase "compound interes...more
1. Start a retirement plan. Now. There's a reason that the phrase "compound interes...more
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This helpful book is based on the premise that couples should be on the "same page" financially and, in the remaining chapters, addresses all the basic financial advice that young adults should know. The author proposes that couples identify 5 of their most important values, assess how money affects those values, identify goals that correspond to those values and action items to achieve them. Andres Tobias' book, The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, is a better reference tool than Smart C...more
Recommended by my boyfriend's cousin, a professional financial advisor. The emphasis on in-depth communication and the risk of different assumptions is certainly worthwhile. The rest didn't seem as relevant to my own life and patterns as many of the other financial advice books I've read, however. It really feels like it's for yuppies. There's quite an emphasis on saving for big-ticket expenditures. Which many people do need, but not me right now. And the values project just didn't click, especi...more
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Tyler said that since I read so much, I should try reading something that would benefit us both every now and then (Bill Simmons, apparently, doesn't count). Fair enough, so I looked up the most popular book on finances and put in a hold for it at the library. In the meantime, I went to the money section and picked this one up randomly. It was written in a MUCH more financially stable time. The author mocks people who would let their money waste away in a CD with an annual return of a measly 5-7...more
Offers straightforward dvice to couples on how to put together retirement savings, security investments (the different types of insurance and how to buy), and savings for your dreams. Somewhat complicated financial concepts are explained in a logical and easy-to-understand way. One kind of strange thing is that this book appears to be targeted toward couples just starting out (i.e. lots of references to "if you're not married yet" etc.), but there is a lot of information presented as if the read...more
Initially I was turned off by the overuse of the phrase "get rich", but the author has some valuable advice that will help you and your partner find financial security, the kind you've always wanted but never thought was a reality. The couple aspect of this book is probably the best feature, in that it asks you and your partner to focus on your core values and personal dreams, creating a financial plan to achieve them. This book helps you to create a plan, which is what most people neglect to do...more
My husband wanted me to read this book. There were a lot of things I already knew, and a lot of things that didn't really pertain to our situation. I did really like his emphasis on the fact that there are more important things than money in this life, and we should spend our time focusing on its' quality instead of trying to acquire "things" or "stuff." We are the kind of people that could figure out where to cut out all the little things - like eating out or seeing movies, spending more on gif...more
Everyone knows that senselessly accumulating wealth is pointless, so one of Bach's first steps is to have you really think about what you (as a couple) want to accomplish in life, then think about what kind of money is needed to be able to accomplish those things. This sparks vital conversation, allows you to think about how your goals could be accomplished with less moolah, and gives you something to work towards that is much more important than money itself. It stresses that money is a tool to...more
Wow, I'm amazed at all of the things that this book is forcing me to do. I thought I knew 'enough' about our finances, investing, saving, etc but I really wasn't getting anywhere or making progress. I didn't know what I didn't know! The opening section on first determining your values as a starting point was eye-opening. Then, I totally failed the quiz. Yikes! After submitting to the fact that I wasn't being a very good financial partner, I decided to take it seriously and do all of the little e...more
May 24, 2010
Stephanie
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to Stephanie by:
Fiance
Shelves:
re-reading
I think this book is a great resource for either young couples just starting out or people who are later in life and are trying to get back on track with their finances. I read this book once already and am reading it again so that we can reevaluate our finances. It is easy to read and to understand for those who don't feel confident about their knowledge in finances. It has really helped us get our finances organized for our life ahead.
Oct 30, 2010
Doug
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nonfic-instruction,
abandoned
Yikes. This one sucked me in because it purported to be different from all the others.
It isn't.
It contains advice that a first-year financial advisor should give you in five seconds. If you're a lonely person looking for a daddy figure and direction on how to spend your money, read this. If you have a brain and can tell a good deal from a bad one, don't bother. Call your FA and have him or her drop by for six seconds and save yourself this reading.
It isn't.
It contains advice that a first-year financial advisor should give you in five seconds. If you're a lonely person looking for a daddy figure and direction on how to spend your money, read this. If you have a brain and can tell a good deal from a bad one, don't bother. Call your FA and have him or her drop by for six seconds and save yourself this reading.
I read a lot about personal finance and this book didn't have much new for me but I did like it because it got my wife excited about money management.
We went through the exercises together and I don't know that I would have gotten her to do that if it weren't for this book. So if you're looking to have a good conversation with your spouse about your family's budget and financial future, this is a good book to get.
We went through the exercises together and I don't know that I would have gotten her to do that if it weren't for this book. So if you're looking to have a good conversation with your spouse about your family's budget and financial future, this is a good book to get.
The Automatic Millionaire, by David Bach, was such an easy read and so motivational, I thought I'd see what he has to say in this book for couples. It gave really great information, but was almost identical to Smart Women Finish Rich, so you don't need to read both. I really had a hard time noticing much difference at all between the two.
But this was a great source on how to easily save money regularly and invest for retirement, focusing on pre-tax contributions. A lot of the information is rat...more
But this was a great source on how to easily save money regularly and invest for retirement, focusing on pre-tax contributions. A lot of the information is rat...more
OK, so Bach has the typical problems self-help writers have of using excessive exclamation points, somewhat annoying cheeriness, etc. But I really like his approach of fitting your financial plan into your values and goals, rather than having a one-size-fits-all financial approach. And he does make finance very accessible to the lay person, and I like that he emphasizes making gradual progress, rather than feeling so overwhelmed by the big list of things to do that you don't do anything.
Should I be embarrassed that I read a book with this title? I feel like a miser or something. Anyway - while it was very dry in parts, I gave it 4 stars because by the end, I felt motivated to re-evaluate several aspects of our finances and had a full-size sheet sheet of paper full of discussion points for my husband and I. Worth reading simply for the discussion I think it will encourage.
This book was an OK introduction to personal finance. I found that there was a 60% of common sense advice, which doesn't change over time. But the rest was outdated since it was written before the 2008 recession (for example, the author states some percentages that are impossible to attain today with the current interest rates). It is also clearly a book written for americans with some words changed for the "canadian edition".
I suggest reading a more recent book on investing and/or personal fina...more
I suggest reading a more recent book on investing and/or personal fina...more
Who wants to read about finances? Boring, right? Well, if we must, David Bach is THE man. I've seen him on Oprah, and reading this book was very educational. He has a great/easy writing style, very conversational and easy to understand. He also adds just the right amount of his personal life story to keep you interested in (at times) not too interesting topics.
The best personal finance book I've ever read...it is responsible for getting my and my spouse's personal finances in order and educating me on what our priorites should be and how to achieve our goals. I would say it's for those who already have a basic knowledge of finance,and will help take you to the next level up. Would recommend for ALL COUPLES.
Luckily at this point in my life most of the information in this book was review. It has inspired me to start teaching my 3 year olds about money now though. It is a sad state of affairs that so many Americans don't have a clue about money or figure it out too late to enjoy a comfortable retirement. It is now my wife's turn to read this book.
This is a very good book for the newly married. Us old married folks won't get as much out of it, but it was worth a quick read. Lot's of topics that are redundant topics through all Personal Finance books, but as always, Bach writes them in an easy to read manner with a slightly different perspective. Bach is a financial counselor, so it's a pretty good bet that his advice is solid.
If you're a newlywed, it's worth the pickup.
If you're a newlywed, it's worth the pickup.
This book is another typical instructional book for organizing finances and planning for a families financial comfort. However, the author does present the information in an easily understandable and comprehensive manor. Its a great 1st read for any couple starting out with financial planning.
Some really good advice, however, the overall is message is scrimp until you retire, and then enjoy yourself, whereas it would seem more sensible to learn to balance living well and saving long term. A lot of the information about pensions is American-specific and not suitable to UK readers.
I think the first few chapters about communication with your spouse are good, but the rest of the book seems to just be standard advice. If you've read Bach's other books or any other books on the subject, then there is nothing new here. A good beginner book, though.
A financial book getting 4/5 starts? WTF? It surprises even me. And I think it's safe to say that five years ago I would NEVER have dreamed of picking this book up. But now that I'm in my mid-twenties, married for more than three years, and have a career, I'm suddenly very interested in not living so dirt poor.
But still I don't care a great deal about finances. At least, not enough to read most financial books. But Bach does a nice job of keeping the information light and relevant. And he uses...more
But still I don't care a great deal about finances. At least, not enough to read most financial books. But Bach does a nice job of keeping the information light and relevant. And he uses...more
I had reservations before listening to this audio book because the info is 11 years old. While interest rates and college tuition has certainly changed since it was written, most advice is not technical but rather about defining your values and goals.
This is an amazing book that puts budgets & financial planning in basic terms that everyone can understand. GREAT read if you are starting a long term relationship and want to understand more about planning for the future.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
I've liked all David Bach's books. This one was probably my least favorite, because it focused a lot on worksheets and dreambuilding, instead of the way to get the money set up. But overall, it was a good book and I'm glad I read it.
I found this book very helpful. I've read a few financial books lately and this was the easiest read. I like how he gives useful information, but makes the book relatable. I just finished it and I'm hoping my husband will read it next.
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