More couples are now considering including “financial growth clauses” in prenuptial agreements, signaling a shift towards pragmatic financial planning before marriage. A recent 2025 survey by Headway found that 51% of unmarried individuals would contemplate signing such clauses, which essentially commit both partners to continued personal and financial development within the marriage.
Delayed Marriage, Greater Stakes
This trend is linked to the rising age at which people marry. The U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average first marriage age now exceeds 30 for men and 28.6 for women, a sharp contrast to the 1950s when marriages occurred in early adulthood.
This delay means couples enter marriage with more accumulated wealth, advanced degrees, and higher incomes—all of which they are increasingly inclined to protect. As family attorney Damian Turco of Turco Legal points out, the volatile economic landscape of recent decades has also created a heightened awareness of financial risk.
The Reluctance to Discuss Money
The reluctance to openly discuss financial matters is a significant driver behind this trend. A study by Ally Bank reveals that less than half (44%) of unmarried Millennials and Gen Z feel comfortable discussing future career plans with their partners. The discomfort extends to even more fundamental topics: 54% avoid talking about homeownership, and 62% hesitate to disclose debt levels.
Financial problems also take a toll on intimacy, with 44% of couples admitting that money issues have negatively impacted their physical relationship.
How Financial Clauses Work
These clauses in prenups aim to address these concerns by outlining how income, savings, investments, and future financial growth will be handled during and after the marriage. Davina Adjani of HelloPrenup highlights that these agreements can either keep assets separate or establish a framework for joint financial growth.
“These clauses spell out that each person’s income, savings, investments, plus any financial growth, remain separate or assure each partner that neither would owe the other financial support after a breakup.”
The Catch: Prenups Aren’t Foolproof
Despite the sense of security they provide, prenuptial agreements are not always ironclad. Divorce attorney Patrick Baghdaserians of Baghdaserians Law Group warns that nearly every agreement is challenged in court, often leading to costly, bifurcated trials to determine enforceability.
The Bottom Line
The growing popularity of financial growth clauses reflects a new reality: modern couples are entering marriage with greater financial assets and a heightened awareness of the risks involved. While prenups aren’t a guaranteed solution, they force crucial conversations about money, which can improve communication and trust. However, it’s essential to recognize that these agreements can also be legally contested, making professional legal counsel crucial.
