KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Having made it past "Divorce Month" are you really ready for true love, asks Crown CEO Chuck Bentley in a national column, on the eve of Valentine's Day. "After the holiday season ends, there will be about a one-third increase in divorce filings in January as too many couples decide that they want to begin their new year with an ending," wrote Bentley. "It's a tragic tale really as the hype of a romantic connection becomes big business in February even as divorce attorneys are gearing up for court."
Interestingly, some cutting-edge research at Kansas State University reveals that what you argue about is a good indicator of whether you will divorce. "Arguments about money is by far the top predictor of divorce," said Sonya Britt, assistant professor of family studies and human services and program director of personal financial planning, in unveiling the study. "It's not children, sex, in-laws or anything else. It's money -- for both men and women."
"When common ground cannot be found – or created, marriages end," observed Bentley. "So this Valentine's Day, take the time to better understand the one you love, and save money on the flowers.
Bentley recommends a Couples Compatibility Assessment. Such guided reflection can be a door that opens up the kinds of conversations that lead to real intimacy and less emotional disagreements as people learn how to work together.
Consider this: An interesting difference in personality, neither good nor bad, but of profound impact is seen in two key traits: Conscientious vs. Unconventional. A conscientious person is comfortable with details. They like precision and if overdone, can tend towards perfectionism. On the other hand, an unconventional person is instinctive. They like to improvise and can tend towards being unorganized, even sloppy.
"Anyone married more than a day knows the tug of war between spouses when it comes to whether you're energized by living on a budget and keeping accurate records vs. the one digging through the receipts and statements at the end of the month to find out if you have any money left over. But if your Valentine happens to be a perfectionist, you may be surprised to learn that there are financial benefits to you," said Bentley.
Researchers found that the spousal trait of conscientiousness, also predicted income, number of promotions, and job satisfaction, regardless of gender. The more conscientious your spouse, the higher your income on average, the more likely you are to move up on the job and the more likely you are to report job satisfaction. To learn more, read Bentley's column here.
Bentley is CEO of Crown, the largest Christian financial teaching organization in the world, author of "The Worst Financial Mistakes in the Bible And How You Can Avoid Them" as well host of the nationally syndicated radio feature, My MoneyLife™, follow him, @chuckbentley. For interviews, e-mail: [email protected]
SOURCE Crown
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