One In Five Americans Are Hiding Secret Debt From Their Partner

Haven Life Finds that Two Thirds of Couples Would Rethink Their Relationship if Partner Revealed $5,000 in Secret Debt

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Jun 24, 2015, 09:00 ET

BOSTON, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Money is a sticky subject for American couples: a staggering one in six is hiding a financial secret from their partner. Of Americans who would reconsider their relationship due to secret debt, 70% would do so if their partner confessed to $5,000 or more. The findings are revealed today from online term life insurance provider Haven Life, which commissioned accredited research firm YouGov to poll the views of a representative sample of 1,124 American adults.

Key highlights from the report include:

Haven Life conducted original research to determine how comfortable couples are with talking about money.

For women who report financial secrets, top of the list are secret personal purchases (34%)
More than one in four (27%) Americans with financial secrets are hiding a secret checking account
Twenty-one percent have either a secret savings stash or checking account
One in five Americans have secret debt their partner doesn't know about

"Money continues to be a difficult topic for any couple, but what's surprising is how many Americans prefer to hide their spending habits rather than have an honest conversation about them," said Yaron Ben-Zvi, co-founder and CEO, Haven Life. "Speaking openly about finances is vital for all successful couples, especially at key life stages like moving in together, getting married or having a child."

Is it OK to put out (your finances) on a first date?
It might kill the romance, but is America leaving it too late in relationships to talk about money? One in three (32%) Americans will only discuss financial matters with a partner when the relationship has become exclusive, while more than one in five (22%) will wait until after getting engaged.

For Massachusetts couples, the report reveals that one in five (20%) women in the state believe the best time to discuss financial matters with a significant other is after moving in together. This is almost a third higher than the national mean (15%), and indicates that women in Massachusetts are more likely to take the plunge into cohabitation without full financial transparency.

"While Americans are increasingly being seen as casual when it comes to dating – they certainly aren't casual when it comes to talking about money with a significant other," said Ben-Zvi. "Personal finances are a tricky but vital topic for couples. Financial security plays an important role in preparing for life's greatest milestones and ensuring that you are paving the way for a better and more prosperous future together."

Research methodology
Haven Life commissioned YouGov to poll the views of a representative sample of 1,124 U.S. adults in Q1 2015. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+).

About Haven Life
Haven Life (https://havenlife.com) offers the first quality term life insurance policy that you can purchase entirely online. Our aim is to transfer the typically time-consuming and confusing process into one that's easier, faster and just plain better. Haven Term* is designed to be applied for and approved in real-time. When you apply for Haven Term, you receive an immediate decision and coverage can begin right away.

Haven Life Insurance Agency, Inc. is backed and wholly owned by MassMutual**. For more information, please visit https://havenlife.com.

*Haven Term is a term life insurance policy issued by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual), Springfield, MA01111 and offered exclusively through Haven Life Insurance Agency, Inc.

**MassMutual refers to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

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SOURCE Haven Life