It's spring, when thoughts turn to love and marriage — but not necessarily to money.

        This year's crop of engaged couples might want to consider putting some financial planning on their “to do” list in advance of their wedding.

        “It's often easier to talk about finances before marriage because there's less baggage,” said Donn Sharer, a vice president at MetLife Financial Services.

        “Too often, couples wait until there's a problem.” he said. “Then emotions can take over and cloud the real issues.”

        Increasingly, money issues are being included in church-sponsored programs for the soon-to-wed.

        Daniel Close, a financial analyst in Chicago, said he and his fiancee, Anna Marie Kintis, a college professor, hadn't talked much about money until they got involved in a premarital program at a Roman Catholic church.

        Each filled out a 180-point questionnaire and found their answers didn't always match, he said.

        “One of the questions was, "Will you have a joint checking account?'” Mr. Close said. “I said "yes,' but Anna Marie wrote "no.' The married couple working with us picked up on it right away and said, "Let's discuss that.'”

        Before they were done, Mr. Close and Ms. Kintis — who are both 26 and will marry in August — had settled some issues.

        They will have a joint checking account. Also a joint credit card. And, if they have children, they think they can budget to manage on just one salary.

        “I don't think we would have talked about those things on our own,” he said. “We would have gone on with our different assumptions and later, we probably would have had disagreements.”

        Rev. Frank Nelson, pastor at the Woodbury Baptist Church in Woodbury, Minn., includes financial issues in his counseling for engaged couples.

        MetLife's Mr. Sharer believes that “the couples who are most successful financially in dealing with money tend to be more open about it.”

Companies may lose tax breaks
Developer Ackermann bucks trend
Productivity booms in wake of recession
Wendy's buys Baja Fresh for $275M
Calcium deposits Coke in court, courtesy of P&G
Enroner: Firing was a surprise
Investors turning to gold during tense times
Nasdaq dumps Adelphia; now it must pay for bonds
Thinking marriage? First, talk finances
What's next - Phone Tag?
Rate report
Business Digest
Tristate Summary
What's the Buzz?