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How to Navigate Money Before Saying ‘I Do’

4 min read

How to Navigate Money Before Saying 'I Do', wedding finances, marriage finances,According to a Bankrate Financial Infidelity Survey, 28 percent of couples said they considered financial cheating as bad as physical cheating. Furthermore, money is one of the top reasons for divorce, says Rahkim Sabree, counselor and financial therapist with the Financial Therapy Association. With these facts in mind, it makes good sense to get all your financial cards on the table (literally and figuratively) before you tie the knot. Here are a few ways to navigate this often thorny subject and create a healthy relationship with money as a couple.

Have a Money Date

Be intentional and carve out dedicated time to discuss the big issues that you both might have questions about.

  • How will we handle student loans?
  • How many children will we have, if any? Will they go to public or private schools?
  • Where will we live? Close to or far away from family?
  • Where would we like to be in our careers in 5, 10, or 20 years?
  • When do we want to retire? How will we spend our retirement?

If talking about these things is difficult, you might consider premarital financial counseling. When you can get on the same page before you get that other page – your marriage license – you’ll be way ahead of the game.

Set Up a Financial Plan, Pre-Marriage

While this conversation probably won’t be romantic with flowers and candlelight, it’s a time where you can share the excitement of your future. While you may not see eye-to-eye on everything, set up short-term goals, long-term milestones, and seek the middle ground when disagreements arise. Remember, life happens. Goals may change. There will be job losses, health issues, and unexpected expenses like HVAC going out or plumbing problems. The idea is to remain flexible and tuned in to each other’s spending habits by using apps like YNAB (You Need a Budget), Empower, or Tiller. When you’re transparent and can see who is spending on what, you can maintain an open dialogue about your cash flow.

Decide if You Want a Prenup

Depending on your resources and if you have children from a previous marriage, you might want to consider a prenuptial agreement. Again, it’s not the most comfortable topic to discuss because it implies that there’s an end to what is ostensibly just beginning. That said, it can pre-empt future problems that might otherwise cause a divorce. It’s also important in the case of death because if you don’t have a prenup, a judge, not the couple, gets to decide who gets what, which might result in an unsatisfactory distribution.

Figure Out Your Checking Accounts

Joint or separate? This is totally up to you, but according to Bankrate, 24 percent of couples have separate accounts; 38 percent have both joint and separate; and 39 percent have a joint account. This topic should be part of your money date.

Consolidate Debt

If you both have debt, consolidate and start paying it off. If you’re thinking about buying a home, lenders will look at debt-to-income ratio to see how much of your total income is being used to pay off debt. If your debt is too high, you might have trouble getting a mortgage. Be honest about it. Have the tough conversations before you say, “I do.” You probably don’t want to surprise your future spouse when you’re in the already emotional process of putting a bid on a house.

Bottom line, figuring out a financial plan for your marriage can be challenging, if not downright tough. But the best time to sort through all of this is before you walk down the aisle. When you have a roadmap, the chances for a successful financial future together increase exponentially.

Sources

Money And Marriage: What To Consider Before Tying The Knot | Bankrate

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Understanding the Goodwill to Assets Ratio

4 min read

Understanding the Goodwill to Assets RatioThe goodwill to assets ratio measures how much of a company’s total assets come from goodwill – an intangible asset like brand value or customer loyalty – and it plays a role in assessing the company’s overall value. It provides a ratio or percentage of the amount of intangible versus tangible assets. Understanding what the ratio represents, how it is calculated, and how to interpret it is essential for effectively applying it to business operations and investment decisions.

Goodwill Defined

Goodwill can be defined as an intangible asset that comes about when the acquiring firm obtains such assets from the acquired firm at a higher value. When it comes to accounting standards, both International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), intangible assets must be evaluated for impairment, but don’t need to be amortized. Based upon IFRS 38, goodwill is generated solely during an acquisition and is defined as the amount of the acquisition price for the acquired company over its book value. IFRS 38 does not recognize goodwill generated by the company internally.

Calculating Goodwill

Goodwill = Liabilities – Assets + Purchase Price

If a company looks at acquiring another company for $750,000, and the company being acquired has assets of $900,000 and liabilities of $450,000, the net assets would be $450,000. Based on the goodwill formula:

Goodwill = $450,000 – $900,000 + $750,000 = $300,000

Once the goodwill has been established, the Goodwill to Assets Ratio Formula is used as follows:

Goodwill to Assets Ratio = Unamortized Goodwill / Total Assets

If one company is putting itself up for sale with a selling price of $75 million, it would have to establish its book value, based on recent financial statements, along with its goodwill value. Factors that go into calculating a company’s goodwill include if the company has prime real estate, a well-known brand, a rich list of clients, or intellectual property that sets itself apart from competitors in the industry that won’t expire for years. For example, if its intangible assets are $15 million, subtracted from its selling price of $75 million, its tangible assets or book value would be $60 million.

Based on the ratio, it’s calculated as follows:

$15 million / $75 million = 20 percent

Therefore, the ratio is 20 percent for the company’s goodwill as part of the company’s valuation. Otherwise, if the purchase goes through, whoever buys the company spends 20 percent on the company’s goodwill.

Analyzing the Goodwill to Assets Ratio

This ratio gives an overview of a business’s financial health. The lower the ratio, the more tangible or physical assets that can be sold. Conversely, the higher the ratio, the fewer intangibles a company has. Much like assets that can be written down, so can a company’s goodwill.

This ratio is not one-in-all and should be measured against businesses within the same industry. Based on this analysis, if a company has a large amount of goodwill on its financial statements, if it’s written down, it could still result in a lower valuation despite the company having a large amount of assets.

Looking over time, it shows the importance of ongoing evaluations. In 1975, according to the University of California, Los Angeles, companies on the Standard and Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) had $122 billion of intangible assets and $594 billion of tangible assets, or about a 21 percent intangible to tangible assets ratio. These companies included most industrial and energy sector names like GE, Procter & Gamble, 3M, Exxon Mobil, along with IBM, based on market capitalization. However, in 2018, the ratio increased to 84 percent of intangible to tangible assets. Intangible assets accounted for $21.03 trillion and $4 trillion when looking at most of the companies on the S&P 500, which included Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook, based on market capitalization.

While the growth of technology and communication services has risen and skewed the tangible to intangible ratio, it shows the importance of evaluating companies and sectors individually, not just with a broad brush.

Sources

Boom of Intangible Assets Felt Across Industries and Economy

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Deepfake Detection in Voice and Video

5 min read

Deepfake Detection in Voice and VideoDeepfakes are becoming more convincing than ever. Whether manipulated media or entirely generated by artificial intelligence (AI), deepfakes can now realistically alter faces and clone voices. They can even fabricate entire scenarios across video, audio, and text. Unfortunately, these developments now create significant challenges, and people can no longer trust what is presented online. Methods that have in the past been used to detect less-perfect deepfakes are becoming obsolete. There is now an urgent need to develop more effective detection solutions.

The Escalating Threat

Deepfakes are being actively used in malicious ways. It is being used to fuel misinformation, enable new forms of fraud, and erode the foundations of digital trust. An Identity Fraud Report 2024 by Sumsub noted a four times increase in the number of deepfakes detected worldwide from 2023 to 2024. A research study by iProov tested 2,000 UK and US consumers, revealing that only 0.1 percent of the participants accurately distinguished between real and fake content. These are only a few statistics on the severity of the deepfake problem.

Limitations of Current Detection

There are various tools and technologies available for detecting deepfakes, ranging from manual forensic analysis to automated AI-based solutions. These methods rely on identifying issues such as inconsistencies in blinking patterns, facial warping, extra limbs, or audio glitches. However, new AI models creating deepfakes have advanced to minimize these problems.

Therefore, relying on known flaws to detect deepfakes is not a sustainable strategy in an ever-evolving landscape.

Innovations in Detection Modalities and Speed

Innovation in deepfake detection requires an approach that will address the complexity and diverse nature of modern synthetic media. The new innovations must move beyond analyzing just one type of media.

  • Multi-Modal Detection – The latest deepfakes are multi-modal and can manipulate video, audio, and even accompanying text simultaneously. Therefore, detection software must have the capability to analyze these elements together.
  • Focus on Voice and Audio – This is especially crucial in detecting sophisticated voice deepfakes used in scams. New software is being built to analyze subtle vocal characteristics, background noise inconsistencies, and even speech patterns in combination with any available video to verify authenticity.
  • Real-Time and Scalable Solutions – There is a need for advanced systems that can detect deepfakes quickly and efficiently in livestreams and large volumes of content. Detection system developers must develop algorithms and infrastructure capable of this speed and scale.

Advancements in AI for Deepfake Detection

AI is playing a major role in the development of next-generation detection software that is beyond simple artifact detection to more sophisticated analysis.

  • Leveraging Foundation Models – Researchers are exploring large, pre-trained AI models that are behind many generative tools. Since these models are trained with vast amounts of data, they understand natural media. They can be fine-tuned and incorporated into detection software to help spot deviations that indicate synthetic origin.
  • Proactive and Generative Approaches – Some innovations are proactive, where generative models are being used to understand how fakes are made. This will allow detectors built into software platforms to anticipate and identify novel manipulation techniques even before they become widespread.
  • Towards more Robust and Explainable AI – Software development is also focusing on robustness against adversarial attacks. New training methods are being implemented to make detection software more resilient to deliberate attempts at evasion. There is also a push for Explainable AI (XAI) within detection software. This will help users understand why a piece of media was flagged.

Authentication and Verification Beyond Pure Detection

Advanced detection is bound to be challenged; therefore, next-generation solutions are incorporating methods for authentication and verification built into software systems.

  • Blockchain and Media Provenance – Exploring how blockchain technology can be utilized to create immutable records of media origin and any subsequent changes.
  • Human Element and Crowd-Sourcing – Integrating human expertise as a judgment of human expertise will help in complex cases. Crowd-sourcing expertise is also being explored as a way for platforms to scale human review.
  • Detecting Deepfakes in New Frontiers – As digital interactions move into new spaces like virtual worlds and the metaverse, detection software for these platforms is also necessary. This will help identify manipulated avatars and synthetic content within the immersive environments.
  • International Collaboration and Standards — fighting deepfakes is a global challenge, as synthetic media can easily spread worldwide. Therefore, collaboration among international researchers, governments, and technology companies is crucial. To accelerate the development and deployment of effective countermeasures, the involved parties can share data on new deepfake techniques and detection methods, as well as common technical standards.
  • Public Awareness and Digital Literacy – educating the public on how deepfakes are created and what to look for empowers them not to be duped by fakes. Promoting digital literacy helps people evaluate online content more skeptically and understand the importance of verified sources.

Conclusion

The race between deepfake generation and detection will undoubtedly continue. The ongoing development and deployment of sophisticated detection software is an important step toward safeguarding the integrity of digital media and preserving trust in everyday digital interactions. To deal with the escalating deepfake threat, passive defense is insufficient. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize adopting integrated, next-generation detection software and verification methods to safeguard operations and trust.

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Rolling Back Regulations, Proving Citizenship Birth for Voting Rights, and Blocking Nationwide Injunctions

4 min read

Rolling Back Regulations, Proving Citizenship Birth for Voting Rights, and Blocking Nationwide InjunctionsProviding for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to “Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heaters (HJ Res. 20) – The House and Senate both passed a resolution negating a previous rule mandating that tankless gas-fired water heaters meet certain criteria (less than 2 gallons capacity and greater than 50,000 Btu/hour) for efficiency standards, which would have phased out non-condensing technologies. Introduced by Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) on Jan. 15, the resolution is awaiting signature by the president.

A joint resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection relating to “Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions” (SJ Res 18) – This joint resolution, introduced by Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) on Feb. 13, reverses a federal regulation governing overdraft fees charged by large banks. The previous rule limited overdraft fees to one of the following options: $5, cap the fee at an amount that covers costs and losses, or disclose the terms of their overdraft loan to give consumers choices for opening a line of overdraft credit, shopping for comparative loans, and determining a payment plan. The resolution passed in the Senate and the House on April 9 and presently awaits signature by the president.

SAVE Act (HR 22) – Introduced by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) on Jan. 3, this legislation passed in the House on April 10 and is currently under consideration in the Senate. This bill would amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship to register to vote in elections for Federal office. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act mandates that U.S. citizens present proof of citizenship in-person to election officials when registering to vote; making changes to their voter status (i.e., address change, party change); or the state election authority requests proof of citizenship when reviewing the integrity of current rolls. Voters must show both a valid ID and documentation that indicates the applicant was born in the United States, such as a passport or birth certificate. However, should the name on the ID and birth certificate not match, the applicant would also have to present legal documentation verifying the reason, such as a marriage certificate or other legal name change certification.

NORRA of 2025 (HR 1526) – Also referred to as the No Rogue Rulings Act of 2025, this legislation would restrict district court judges from issuing nationwide injunctive relief in cases only applicable to the district court. Cases involving two or more states would be referred to a three-judge panel, which would determine whether to issue a nationwide injunction. This bill was introduced by Rep. Daryll Issa (R-CA) on Feb. 24, passed in the House on April 9, and is under consideration in the Senate..

Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act (HR 1039) – Introduced on Feb. 6 by Rep. Tom Barrett (R-MI), this bill would direct the Veterans Affairs (VA) to partner with an outside communications agency to make benefits communications more concise and easier for veterans to understand. The bill passed in the House on April 7 and is currently under consideration in the Senate.

Vietnam Veterans Liver Fluke Cancer Study Act (HR 586) – The purpose of this bipartisan bill is to authorize the VA to study and report on the prevalence of cholangiocarcinoma in veterans who served in the areas of conflict during the Vietnam War, including South Vietnam, North Vietnam and surrounding areas like Laos and Cambodia. The study would include identifying the rate of incidence of cholangiocarcinoma from the beginning of the Vietnam era to the date of enactment of this act. The bill was introduced by Rep. Nicolas LaLota (R-NY) on Jan. 21, passed in the House on April 7 and currently lies with the Senate.

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Financial Implications of Marriage

4 min read

Financial Implications of MarriageMarriage isn’t just about two people who fall in love and choose to spend the rest of their lives together. It is also a contract. And while that contract might not be forever binding, marriage does come with certain financial and familial obligations regardless of whether the couple stays married or not.

That is why it is critical for couples to discuss their finances and goals early in the game. In fact, the best time to begin this conversation is actually before they begin making wedding plans. That’s because weddings can be very expensive. If the couple bears this expense, they will remove funds from their future plans and opportunities, which they should consider carefully before designing a wedding budget.

However, many times the parents of a couple will pay for the wedding. In this scenario, the newlyweds should consider how the cost of an expensive wedding would impact the paying party’s long-term financial situation. This is important because bankrupt parents could lead to a potential live-in caregiving situation once they are too old to take care of themselves. That’s quite a trade-off for a $100,000 wedding.

Takeaway: Regardless of who pays for the wedding, moderation is perhaps both prudent and considerate.

Partners also should share information about their earnings, assets, debts, and credit reports before getting married. They should discuss their career goals, preferences for children, type of housing, living location(s), and any big-ticket dreams, such as an expensive vacation or starting their own business. Together, the couple should consider each other’s goals and develop a plan to achieve those goals given their combined financial situation.

Takeaway: Note that while each spouse retains their own credit score and liability for debts prior to the marriage, joint debts acquired during the marriage are recorded on both credit reports.

Once married, couples often assume respective responsibilities, such as household earner and bill payer, while the other is a homemaker and primary child caregiver. From a financial perspective, this is not wise. It’s better for the marriage when each spouse takes turns managing finances, including paying bills, learning about investing and working with a financial advisor if they have one, being on all the joint accounts (home deed, insurance policies, etc.) and even each having their own retirement account (e.g., IRA, employer-sponsored retirement plan).

Takeaway: A collaborative approach to finances enables transparency so each spouse is aware of the other’s spending habits and bill-paying discipline.

The relationship tends to have more balance if each spouse has their own money, even if they do not work outside the home. If both spouses work, they could each have a checking account for their own personal expenses as well as a joint account used to pay for communal expenses like rent/mortgage, utilities, food, and upkeep.

Takeaway: A higher-earning spouse may contribute to a lower/no-earning spouse’s Roth IRA so that person has income to manage as they see fit.

Shared finances among married couples do offer certain benefits, such as lower costs for housing, health, long-term care, and auto insurance premiums. With particular regard to health insurance, consider if one spouse should join the other’s plan and how that might impact premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses.

Takeaway: Find out if either spouses’ employer offers an incentive for declining coverage. This bonus income provides a good reason to join the other spouse’s plan.

Couples also have the option to compare the advantages of filing joint or separate tax returns, which may be impacted by one partner’s medical expenses or student loan debt. Also, be aware that no matter what time of year you have your wedding, as long as you are married as of Dec. 31, the IRS considers you married for the whole year for tax-filing purposes.

Takeaway: If one spouse is on an income-based student loan debt repayment plan, be aware that filing jointly with two incomes may result in higher payments than if they file separately.

Right after the wedding, there are several actions most couples should take. For example, report any name changes to the Social Security Administration; update any address changes with the Postal Service, employers, and the IRS; and supply your employers with a new W-4 withholding form.

Takeaway: If you’re taking an extended honeymoon, you might want to complete some of these tasks before your wedding day.