Marriage, Personal Finance | featured news

I will never forget the moment that my soon-to-be ex-husband and I sat in our mediator’s office as he illustrated our finances on a chalkboard. “There really aren’t any assets,” he told us. But there was $4 million of debt—from bad investments, lawsuits and failed business deals that I knew nothing about.

On TV it's rare for couples or even roommates to fight about money. Reality isn't always entertaining. Arguments about finances are often what lead to the end of a relationship. Money matters are always a top reason for marital discontent. That's because when it comes to money, opposites often attract.

There are few things less romantic than talking about money. Money is, in some ways, a bigger cultural taboo than sex. You might tell your girlfriends about your hot date Saturday night, but you probably don’t tell anyone your exact salary or expenses.

TODAY Money experts David Bach, Jean Chatzky, Carmen Wong-Ulrich and Allison Linn offer strategies, some from personal experience, on how to reduce tension over money in your life and avoid fighting over finances.