Okay, picture this with me for a sec. It’s maybe ten, twenty years down the track. You and your favourite person, feet up on the verandah railing, the smell of good coffee hanging in the air. No frantic mental calculations about bills, no background hum of money stress. Just… quiet confidence. The kind that comes from knowing you’ve built something solid, together. That feeling? It’s not just a nice daydream for other people. It’s totally doable for Aussie couples like us.
But let’s be real, it doesn’t usually happen by wishing on a star. Building that kind of shared security? It takes teamwork, a whole lot of talking (sometimes over talking!), and some clever investing moves designed for two brains and two hearts. Let’s talk about how you can use your combined superpowers to build a future that feels rock-solid.
1. Talking: The Bedrock of Everything (Seriously!)
Right, before we even think about share prices or property listings, the single biggest investment you can make is in… talking. Like, really talking. Openly. Honestly. Maybe even awkwardly at first! What shaped your own view of money? What are your secret financial dreams – that little beach shack, quitting the grind early, taking the grandkids on a massive trip? What money stuff actually keeps you awake at 3 am?
Make it a thing. Grab a cuppa, sit down regularly for a relaxed “money date.” No finger-pointing allowed, just exploring. Chat about the small stuff (saving for that Bali trip), the medium stuff (smashing the mortgage faster, maybe setting up an education fund), and the big, hairy, audacious goals (that comfy retirement, leaving a bit behind). Getting truly aligned on your shared “why” is the secret sauce. You might need to bend a little, but finding that common vision? That’s the rocket fuel for every other money decision you’ll make together.
2. Risk: It’s Personal (And That’s Okay!)
You might be the type who gets a buzz from riding the sharemarket waves, while your partner feels physically ill at the thought of anything riskier than a term deposit. Sound familiar? Totally normal! The trick isn’t about forcing someone to change their stripes; it’s about understanding where both of you stand and finding that sweet spot in the middle – a strategy where neither of you is lying awake stressing.
Have those slightly uncomfortable chats:
- “How would we really feel if our investments took a 20% nosedive next month?”
- “What level of financial rollercoaster can we actually stomach without panic-selling?”
- “How long are we realistically playing this game for?” (Hint: Longer timeframes usually mean you can handle more bumps).
Respecting each other’s comfort zone is key. It stops resentment building and avoids those knee-jerk, fear-driven decisions later. Your joint plan needs to feel safe and sustainable for both of you. No exceptions.
3. Joining Forces & Watching the Pennies (Yep, Even Those!)
Pooling your resources, even just for investing, is like unlocking a superpower. Suddenly, that property deposit doesn’t seem quite so impossible, and the magic of compounding interest gets way more muscle behind it. Work out a joint budget that makes investing a non-negotiable line item, right alongside the mortgage and… well, your weekend coffee habit. Honestly, just tracking where the cash actually goes can be an eye-opener. You know how it is – those little recurring costs, like constantly having to replace the Wertheim vacuum cleaner bags (if you’ve got one of those trusty old models!), they sneak up on you. Redirecting even a bit of that drip-feed into investments? It genuinely adds up. Set up an automatic transfer straight from your pay into your investment account. Make it invisible. Pay yourselves first, as they say.
4. Don’t Bet the Farm: Spreading Your Wings Together
This is investing 101, but it’s mega-important for couples: Don’t chuck all your hard-earned cash into one thing! Diversification is your safety net. Think about spreading across:
- Different Asset Types: Shares (both Aussie battlers and international players), property (your home, maybe an investment, or REITs), fixed interest (bonds), and some cash for emergencies. They all dance to different tunes.
- Different Sectors: Don’t just back the big miners because they’re familiar! Spread the love across banks, healthcare, tech, even boring old consumer staples.
- Different Ways to Invest: Direct shares, managed funds, ETFs (these are fantastic!), your super, and maybe even some more creative stuff.
Get creative about income too. Could that hobby pay its way? Ever fancied the idea of running a commercial boat hire operation if you’re lucky enough to live near the water? Brainstorm together! The aim is to build a portfolio where if one part has a wobble, the others can hopefully hold things steady. Resilience is the name of the game.
5. Super: Your Secret Weapon for Later (Don’t Ignore It!)
Us Aussies have this incredible tool: superannuation. Seriously, for most couples, it’s either your biggest or second-biggest asset (after the family home). For couples with a decent chunk in super and a real desire for hands-on control, a Self-Managed Super Fund might be an option. It lets you invest in things like direct property. BUT (and it’s a huge BUT), it’s complex, expensive, and comes with massive responsibility. If property is part of the SMSF dream, borrowing within it (through something called an SMSF Loan, or technically a Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangement – LRBA) is highly regulated. It’s not DIY territory.
- Combine Funds: Multiple accounts usually mean multiple fees. Consolidate (but check your insurance cover first!).
- Salary Sacrifice Magic: Agree on a plan to funnel a bit extra from your pre-tax pay. Even small, regular amounts turbocharge your balance over decades thanks to compounding and sweet, sweet tax benefits.
- Free Government Money: Make sure the lower earner checks if they qualify for the co-contribution. Free cash? Yes please!
- Help Your Partner: If one of you earns less, the higher earner can contribute to their super and potentially snag a nice tax offset. Win-win.
6. Getting a Guiding Hand: Worth Every Cent
Figuring out joint tax stuff (like Capital Gains Tax when you sell something you own together), making sure your wills and super death benefits are sorted properly, or just fine-tuning a complex strategy? This is where a good, qualified financial adviser earns their keep. Find one who gets couples. They’re like a neutral referee and a guide rolled into one. They help translate your shared dreams into a real, actionable, tax-smart plan and make sure both of you feel heard. Honestly? Think of their fee as an investment in your financial peace of mind as a couple. Priceless.
Building Your Own Story, Hand in Hand
At the end of the day, investing together is about way more than spreadsheets and interest rates. It’s about building deep trust, becoming a stronger team, and actively shaping the life you both crave. It needs constant talking, genuine respect for each other’s viewpoints (even when they’re different!), and sticking to those shared goals you sweated over. By combining your strengths, understanding your joint comfort levels, using powerful tools like super wisely, and spreading your bets, you shift from being two people managing money to becoming an unstoppable financial partnership. At Restarting Relationships, we believe that money conversations should bring couples closer and not push them apart. Because the best kind of wealth? It’s the kind you share.