Solid financial advice for everyone. Not just people in a relationship. Only the first two of steps, parts of step 8, and step 9 focus on couples. The rest is just good info, except the last chapter. The last chapter was corny.

Note: It would be much more useful as a physical book instead of an ebook because of all of the worksheets.

The earlier steps contain useful concepts and exercises like the Value Circle process, which makes you think about and write down the things that matter most to you in life. Then once you do this, you'll have a purpose-focused financial plan so that your money is used for your values, not for random things.

The most helpful steps are 5 and 6. Step 5 has a lot of helpful pearls of wisdom about investing and step 6 walks you through what to do with everything when you die. I was also surprised at the brief introduction to the different types of health insurances. That was helpful and I would recommend just those pages to people who don't understand that.

Step 7 is very useful but a lot of information. I would buy this book as a reference instead of borrowing it from the library so I can reread this section.

Overall, answered my stupid questions about investing and is a helpful book for the basics of money management. It is better as a physical book than an ebook.

A financial book getting 4/5 starts? WTF? It surprises even me. And I think it's safe to say that five years ago I would NEVER have dreamed of picking this book up. But now that I'm in my mid-twenties, married for more than three years, and have a career, I'm suddenly very interested in not living so dirt poor.

But still I don't care a great deal about finances. At least, not enough to read most financial books. But Bach does a nice job of keeping the information light and relevant. And he uses plenty of examples to explain his position.

I really did like the book, but those that read it should know there might be a few parts that don't really apply to you. I read them, but I think it'd have been okay to skip those areas.

this is a good manual, full of the same advice you'd hear other places (after all, most of personal finance is just common sense). it didn't add much to my understanding, but then i've read quite a few personal finance books.

This helpful book is based on the premise that couples should be on the "same page" financially and, in the remaining chapters, addresses all the basic financial advice that young adults should know. The author proposes that couples identify 5 of their most important values, assess how money affects those values, identify goals that correspond to those values and action items to achieve them. Andres Tobias' book, The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need, is a better reference tool than Smart Couples Finish Rich, but I would nonetheless suggest that couples pick up SMCFR ASAP simply to drive home the importance of having mutual financial goals and the tools to start that conversation.

This book focuses much on the mechanics of individual finance and doesn't spend much time and working together as a couple. Most of his advice is sound, but I think he has lost touch with much of the general population. In each chapter, he has a new suggestion to store away 5-10% of your income. I don't think giving up latte's is going to work for the household making the US median of $62,175. Yes, it's good to max out your tax advantaged retirement accounts, having income reserves, college savings accounts, maximum health coverage, 15 year mortgage, etc.., but I don't think you can do all this if you are making what most Americans make.

Wow, I'm amazed at all of the things that this book is forcing me to do. I thought I knew 'enough' about our finances, investing, saving, etc but I really wasn't getting anywhere or making progress. I didn't know what I didn't know! The opening section on first determining your values as a starting point was eye-opening. Then, I totally failed the quiz. Yikes! After submitting to the fact that I wasn't being a very good financial partner, I decided to take it seriously and do all of the little exercises throughout the book (and I have now officially annoyed my husband in doing so). The filing system exercise was amazingly informational and getting our Will completed felt like a huge accomplishment. I would have never considered a 'long-term care' plan but now realize how much cheaper it is to buy one now rather than to wait. Next up is experimenting with DRIP investing - should be interesting! The quote that affected me most in the book was "Failing to plan together is the same as planning to fail together". Before reading this book, I really didn't think it was possible to make financial planning an enjoyable aspect of a marriage. Now I understand how much fun dreaming together is and setting up plans to actually make them happen.

This book reminded me in a big way of Bach's Automatic Millionaire along with some fun remarks about marriage and planning things together. It was still a great reminder of all the great information and principles.

This is an amazing book that puts budgets & financial planning in basic terms that everyone can understand. GREAT read if you are starting a long term relationship and want to understand more about planning for the future.

Highly recommended!

I liked his approach. He emphasizes values and relationships, not just accumulating wealth. He also had a lot of good ideas and information. I have a better understanding of investing, mutual funds, retirement, and insurance than I had before I read this book. I found this to be a great supplement to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Now I am off to make a value chart and get my financial stuff organized!

I enjoyed it. Lots of good ideas to get you and your partner on the same track. I would recommend it. But since it was written before the recession. Some of the advice dealing with interest rates was out of date, but it made me wish for days when interest rate will look like that again for investments (8 to 10% CDs! They are 1.3% right now haha. So there are definably some things to skim but some good meat too.

This is a great book for people who don't have a background in personal finance. It was given to us as a wedding shower gift from my sister-in-law. We still use it as a reference.

A little outdated but some great advice especially for younger couples.