We investigate the dynamic links between couple relationship quality and financial well-being to better understand how couples navigate money management and how relational skill-building may promote stronger financial outcomes.

Our work examines:

  • How individual characteristics and behaviors shape financial attitudes and management.

  • The influence of couple-level factors (e.g., communication, satisfaction, support) on shared financial decision-making.

  • The role of relational and financial self-efficacy in predicting both financial and relationship well-being.

  • The impact of couples relationship education, when supplemented with financial education, on improving financial security and relationship health.

Couples and Money 

Funding Sources 

  • U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (2015-2020, 2020-2025, 2025-2030)

Select Publications

  • Dai, Y., Futris, T. G., Stanford, W., Richardson, E. W., & Koss, K. (2022). The association between financial distress, conflict management, and co-parenting support for couples receiving child welfare. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(11), 3329–3350.  https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221096783

  • Stanford, W. D., Futris, T. G., Richardson, E. W., Koss, K. J., & Brown, G. L. (2022). Social integration buffers the impact of financial distress on coparenting. Journal of Family Psychology, 36, 919-931. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000995

  • Palmer, L., Richardson, E. W., Goetz, J., Futris, T. G., Gale, J., & DeMeester, K. (2021). Financial self-efficacy: Mediating the association between self-regulation and financial management behaviors. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 32(3), 535-549. https://doi.org/10.1891/JFCP-19-00092