From ‘I Do' to 'We Invest': Why Newlyweds Should Consider Joint Investments

The topic of pooling finances together is one that every married couple has probably discussed at some point. But maybe the topic should be less about how couples can store money together and more about how couples can make money together. Shrewd joint investments can enhance your married life in several ways:

1. More cash to invest: When it comes to an initial investment, two pools of money are better than one. Putting together your and your partner’s initial capital opens the door for a more diversified portfolio and bigger returns.
2. Part of your journey: The thrill of a successful investment is great individually, but as the old saying goes, success is best when shared. Navigating investment opportunities and succeeding together can be seen as part of your journey as a married couple.  
3. Good for your relationship: Evidence suggests couples who put their money together are more likely to stay together. Joint investments can be more fun and a more lucrative option compared to just pooling all your funds into a joint bank account.

Best joint investment options for newlyweds

A house

Nowadays, it’s far more common to live together before marriage, with studies suggesting that 70% of newlyweds are already living together. But if you’re not already sharing ownership of a home, your first investment as a married couple might also be your first home.

One of the best investments you can make as a newly married couple is investing in a family home for your post-marriage life. That’s because benefits go far beyond return on investment, although investing in real estate is generally considered the safest long-term investment. 

But as well as being safe, passive and profitable, owning your own home together is generally seen as an important step in your journey together and can potentially bring you even closer to your partner.

High-value collectibles

Owning your own home might’ve already been ticked off pre-marriage, or if you’re residing in the pricey heights of London or LA, maybe it’s more of a long-term goal. Whatever your reason, if you’re not interested in investing in a home with your spouse, there are still plenty of other options.

A nice way for an investment to double as a sentimental item is to consider a high-value collectible as a wedding gift from yourselves, to yourselves. Items like wine, movie memorabilia and fine art can all take pride of place in your home while increasing in value by the day.

Financial Securities

Stocks, bonds, ETFs - this is probably more what comes to mind when people hear the word investment. Joint brokerage accounts allow 2 people to invest in financial assets together. While this type of investing can seem the most complex if you have no prior experience, the benefits include being able to set aside as much or as little as you want, going as high or as low risk as you desire and also being able to target short, medium or long term investments to suit your goals.

This is great if you want your investments to align with a specific time goal such as saving for a house, the arrival of a baby or a child’s tuition fees. On the flip side, make sure you know what you’re doing when it comes to investing in financial securities. Fraud in this area is rife and you don’t want to spend your honeymoon searching for investment fraud attorneys!