New research from CFP Board and Gallup shows how often money creates tension, which topics people avoid, and why future financial confidence remains fragile. Those findings offer a timely October reminder to face difficult financial questions before a divorce settlement makes them harder to change.
Money problems do not automatically cause divorce, and a national survey cannot identify the leading cause of divorce. Still, current research shows that financial tension and avoidance are common in close relationships. When a marriage ends, those unfinished conversations can become urgent questions about income, debt, property, spousal support, retirement, and finances after divorce.
CFP Board found widespread financial tension
In its 2026 Financial FOMO report, CFP Board found that 57% of respondents had experienced money-related tension with someone they knew well. Fifty-two percent reported financial tension with a spouse or significant other. CFP Board also found that 81% intentionally avoided at least one financial topic with family or friends. Income and bonuses were avoided by 41%, debt by 40%, day-to-day spending by 36%, and credit history by 33%.
Avoidance did not always protect the relationship. CFP Board reported that 15% said a money conversation revealed incompatible values, while 12% said the conversation made matters worse. At the same time, 30% said a financial conversation significantly strengthened the relationship. The lesson is not that every difficult conversation will go well. It is that unspoken assumptions about debt, spending, savings, and shared goals deserve attention before they become settlement disputes.
Gallup found low confidence about future finances
Research published by Gallup on September 15, 2026, adds a forward-looking concern. In the Edward Jones and Gallup Money and Meaning study, only 26% of U.S. Gen X adults expressed a great deal of confidence in their ability to manage future financial needs. Thirty-nine percent worried that their current and future retirement savings would not last. Among Gen X adults without a retirement plan, that concern rose to 59%, compared with 25% among those who had a plan.
Gallup's findings were based on interviews conducted in March and April 2026 with more than 5,000 U.S. adults and more than 2,000 Canadian adults age 21 and older. The research was not about divorce specifically. It is relevant because divorce can compress the time available to rebuild retirement savings, divide assets, adjust housing, and support two households. Those pressures are especially important in a divorce later in life.
Start with a complete financial picture
The first step is to replace assumptions with records. Before comparing settlement options, gather recent tax returns, bank and investment statements, retirement account statements, debt records, pay information, insurance documents, and a realistic list of household expenses. Business interests, stock compensation, trusts, pensions, or separate-property claims may require additional records and specialist advice.
A personal spending plan is equally important. Separate fixed costs from expenses that can change, and build estimates for the household you expect to maintain after divorce. Include irregular expenses such as home repairs, medical deductibles, school costs, vehicle replacement, and professional fees. A monthly total without those items can create false confidence.
Ask the questions that are easiest to avoid
What income, debt, accounts, insurance, and property does each spouse have, and which records verify the amounts?
Which expenses will change when one household becomes two, and which costs will continue for children or other dependents?
What retirement benefits exist, how are they titled, and what legal or tax steps would be required to divide them?
Is either person relying on alimony or spousal support, and how would different amounts or durations affect cash flow?
What does each proposed settlement leave available for emergencies, housing, taxes, and long-term saving?
Which questions require a family law attorney, tax professional, valuation specialist, therapist, or financial professional?
Compare outcomes rather than account balances
Two assets with the same statement value may produce different results. A retirement account may be taxable when funds are withdrawn. A home requires ongoing cash flow and may be costly to sell. A taxable investment account can include embedded gains or losses. Support payments can affect the timing and reliability of household cash flow, while the legal and tax treatment of alimony and spousal support depends on the agreement, the law, and the facts.
This is where a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst may help. If you are asking what is a CDFA, the short answer is that a CDFA® professional applies specialized financial analysis to divorce decisions. Depending on the engagement, that may include organizing financial data, comparing settlement scenarios, analyzing cash flow, and illustrating long-term tradeoffs. A CDFA does not replace an attorney. Legal questions about property division, a marriage contract or prenuptial agreement, spousal support, or no-fault divorce belong with qualified legal counsel.
Choose the right help for each question
A family law attorney advises on legal rights, procedure, negotiation, and documents. A tax professional addresses tax reporting and tax consequences. A therapist or counselor supports emotional health and family adjustment. A divorce financial advisor or CDFA® professional focuses on the financial information and projections within the scope of the engagement. Some cases also need appraisers, business valuation specialists, pension experts, or forensic accountants.
If you search for a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst near me or a CDFA near me, review more than proximity. Ask about experience with cases like yours, fees, conflicts of interest, professional boundaries, data security, deliverables, and how the professional coordinates with counsel. You can also use the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts directory to find a CDFA and then interview candidates.
October offers a natural reason to face financial fears, but the work should continue after the season passes. A complete financial picture, candid conversations, and coordinated professional advice can help people evaluate a settlement based on future needs rather than today's account balances alone.
Sources and Editorial Note
Primary source CFP Board Financial FOMO A Survey About Money and Relationships
Supporting source Gallup Confidence in Managing Financial Future Lacking at All Ages
CFP Board conducted its survey January 12 and 13, 2026, among 1,138 randomly selected US adults ages 25 to 64. Gallup's September 15, 2026 article reports findings from the Edward Jones and Gallup Money and Meaning study, which interviewed more than 5,000 US adults and more than 2,000 Canadian adults in March and April 2026. Neither study measures divorce outcomes or establishes causes of divorce. This article provides general educational information, not legal, tax, investment, or mental health advice.