The biggest financial decisions of your life begin when you decide to get married.  Not just with planning the wedding, but afterwards when you truly start setting the foundation of financial success for you and your spouse. Here are some things to consider when planning for a successful financial everafter.

• Create a budget that you and potential spouse are both comfortable with to avoid any surprises.  It will also become key to compromise and know that what you may want for your wedding may not be financially feasible to have.
• Work together to plan your financial future and set savings goals.  Experts recommend setting aside 15 of your gross salary for retirement.

Financially EverAfter

• Designate a bill payer to avoid confusion and late payments.
• Change your name and address as necessary on important documents including your social security card and drivers license.
• Update your beneficiaries on investment and savings accounts, insurance policies, pension plans, your 401k and IRA.
• Organize all important legal and financial documents and keep them in a protected place in case of an emergency.
• Reconsider your insurance needs – you may qualify for discounted rates by merging all policies with a single provider.
• Inform employers of your new status and make change to benefit plans if necessary.
• Decide whether you want to file joint or separate tax returns.
• Request new credit cards if you change your last name. 

The wedding is always the most exciting time but the real work begins AFTER you are married.  These tips should help you avoid all the pitfalls and get you on the right path