Too many men – and way too many women – think prenuptial agreements are cynical love-killers. They’re very, very wrong.

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The first words I published on Debt.com were about . They’ll probably be the last words I utter on my deathbed. With my dying breath, I’ll probably encourage women to at least think about saying “I do” to a prenup!

Last year I wrote that a prenup can “keep things romantic.” Now there’s a new poll out that shows most Americans don’t agree with me. A law firm called LegalShield asked more than 2,300 adults how they feel about prenups. More than 6 in 10 were “agnostic to or disagreed that having a prenuptial agreement is important to have before getting married.”

In my experience as an insurance agent and financial counselor for three decades, most couples poo-poo prenups as a cynical way to start a marriage. But the LegalShield poll revealed a weird financial objection: “36% of women never even considered a prenup because they don’t believe their income level is high enough.”

Don’t believe that. Trust me on this one.

I’ve been divorced twice – and the second time, I had to pay alimony to my husband. Don’t sell yourself short, ladies. Just because you’re not earning a lot right now doesn’t mean you won’t be rolling in it later. You should plan for success, and a prenup is just such a plan.

By the way, this is why prenups are actually romantic. Sure, you and your significant other are talking about splitting up assets in the awful event you split up. But you’re also talking about the future, and how lucrative it can be for the both of you. And that’s sexy. As for romance, nothing settles your nerves about the future quite like considering the worst-case scenario.

Besides the cynicism of prenups, another concern is the cost.

“On average, a prenuptial agreement can cost $1,000 to a few thousand dollars to have drafted by a lawyer,” the LegalShield survey showed. But that’s for couples with a lot of money, property, investments, and other assets. For most of us, we can get a complete prenup done online – through Legal Zoom, Rocket Lawyer, or even a website called Hello Prenup, which was featured on Shark Tank.

At this point, there’s literally no reason not to get a prenup. Seriously, give me one good reason. Email me at [email protected]. I’ll respond to the best comments and questions in a future column.

For more information, check out: debt.com/vicki

 

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About the Author

Vicki Gunvalson

Vicki Gunvalson

Before Vicki Gunvalson starred on Bravo TV’s hit series “Real Housewives of Orange County” – which launched the franchise in 2006 – she was already a financial expert. Gunvalson has owned and operated Coto Insurance for three decades. Based in Irvine, California, Coto has been ranked among the top 1 percent of insurance companies nationwide, with more than 10,000 clients in those 30 years. Coto’s success helped Gunvalson become a member of the Million Dollar Round Table – which represents the top life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 70 countries. She continued to grow Coto during 16 salacious years on the hit show and subsequent celebrity projects. But it wasn’t just Coto that has earned Gunvalson praise and awards for her financial acumen. Licensed in every state not just as an insurance agent but also a retirement specialist, she has made it her mission to help people – especially women – become financially independent. She has partnered with Debt.com to help even more of them. “I’ve counseled thousands of Americans who experienced their own melodrama – over money,” Gunvalson says. “Debt.com is in some ways exactly like me – and in other ways, unlike me. We both care deeply about getting good people in better financial shape. But unlike me, they do it quietly!”

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Published by Debt.com, LLC