When my wife and I got married 23 years ago, I earned roughly three times as much. I worked two full-time jobs and was the primary earner in our household.
Today, that dynamic has intentionally reversed. My wife earns about five times more than I do.
Our situation isn’t unusual. Income roles are more fluid than they were a few decades ago. In the 1970s, men were far more likely to be the sole or primary breadwinners. Dual-income households are now the norm, and women are increasingly out-earning their partners.
As a financial counselor who works primarily with couples, I’ve seen firsthand that we all have different financial realities. What feels fair in one relationship may not work in another.
Still, one thing has remained constant in our marriage: We’ve always managed our money together through joint accounts — and our relationship is stronger because of it. What’s hers is mine, and what’s mine is hers. Here’s why.
