Summary of this article
Sharing your investment details with your partner matters. This isn't about controlling money. It’s about being fair, prepared, and respectful of each other’s roles in the family.
Investing is a personal choice, but involving your partner, especially your spouse, can sometimes make the journey smoother and more rewarding. A partner, who can be your spouse, son or parents, in your investment journey can help you solve different obstacles that might appear along the way.
"Over the years, I've seen this time and again—families run into serious trouble simply because one partner wasn't aware of where the money was, how it was invested, or what needed to be done in a crisis. That's why sharing your investment details with your spouse isn't just good practice—it's absolutely necessary," says Col Sanjeev Govila (Retd), Certified Financial Planner, CEO, Hum Fauji Initiatives, a financial advisory firm.
Here are several reasons which demonstrate the necessity of revealing your investment information to your partner.
Making appropriate investment choices
Discussing financial goals with your partner allows you both to discover many things that you would have missed otherwise.
"When both partners know what's going on financially, they can plan better. They can avoid doubling up on the same types of investments or missing out on tax-saving opportunities. They can have real conversations about goals—like buying a house, kids' education, or retirement—and work towards them together," says Govila.
Financial Transparency Helps During A Crisis
Sharing your investment details with your partner matters. This isn't about controlling money. It's about being fair, prepared, and respectful of each other's roles in the family.
If something happens to you—health issues, travel, or worse—can your partner step in and handle things confidently? Do they know how to access your investments, insurance, PF accounts, or even bank apps? In too many families, the answer is no. And it shouldn't be that way.
"Let's face it: managing money today is far more complicated than it used to be. Multiple apps, digital wallets, online accounts, passwords, mutual funds—it can get overwhelming even for the person who's handling it all, let alone someone trying to figure it out in a crisis," observes Govila.
Helps Better Assess Risk Capacity
Investments face different types of risks. Your partner will assist you in determining your investment risk tolerance. Your personal ability to handle risks might be smaller than the combined risk tolerance that you share with your partner. The appropriate investment risk level emerges from your combined risk tolerance and your partner's, which enables you to select higher return investments. When you invest with your spouse who shares income, you both can modify your shared expenses to calculate total monthly savings which enables both of you to invest in higher return opportunities. The risk-taking ability of partners increases when they choose to invest as a team.
Claiming The Corpus In Your Absence
Who will make sure your investment corpus, together with your legacy, reaches your real legal heir when you pass away? If you have a partner whom you trust, then they can make sure your investment reaches its rightful heir after your passing. A large amount of unclaimed funds exists across banks, life insurance companies and other institutions because investors pass away while family members remain unaware of these funds. These unclaimed funds would have found their way to the right beneficiaries if partners had known about the investments.
"At the end of the day, financial transparency between partners isn't just about money. It's about peace of mind. It's about making sure your family is secure, not just financially, but emotionally too. You've built your wealth with care—make sure it's something your spouse can understand, manage, and feel confident about," suggests Govila.
Because in today's world, it's no longer enough to say, "We're one heart." You also need to say, "We're one plan!"
