Every day I make appointments with people to go over their life insurance. When I schedule the appointment, I go out of my way to ensure that they include their significant other in the conversation. The main reason is that most people won’t make important decisions without their person, so having them on the call and ensures that I can answer both of their questions at the same time. Every once in a while, I find someone who tries to exclude their person from the conversation, and chaos ensues. 

This week, I called a guy in his 30s, and when I made the appointment, I asked if he had a spouse or significant other that he needed to include on the phone call. He assured me that he was single. When I called back in the evening for the appointment, I definitely heard two other voices in the room. As it turns out, he has a kid. Near the end of call, when I asked if he wanted to purchase insurance, he deferred, saying he had to talk about it with his partner. So I offered to answer any questions that they may have.

Spoiler alert, did not sell any insurance that evening. I get that people want to live together and not get married for various reasons. What I don’t understand is that when it comes to financial issues and long-term decisions, how it’s going to play out if they are not including both parties in the information gathering part of the decision making process. Tim and I have often commented to each other how it’s easier to share a bed than a bank account and that maximum continues to play out. 

If a couple is going have a long-term relationship and raise kids together, they should discuss things like bills and beneficiaries and who’s going to pay for what if something happens to the other person.  I know it can be an unpleasant conversation, but things will be infinitely more unpleasant if the conversation never happens at all.