Marriage-Saving Secrets Divorce Experts Want You to Know — Before It’s Too Late

Why do marriages fail? Just ask the divorce attorneys, financial planners, and therapists who see it happen every day. These are the people untangling years of resentment, silence, and secrecy — after the damage is done. But what if couples could learn early in their relationship? My Next Chapter’s team of divorce experts share the relationship mistakes they see again and again — and the practical fixes they wish more people would embrace earlier. These aren’t romantic ideals seen through rose-colored glasses. They are strategies learned after legal filings, frozen bank accounts, and year-long custody negotiations.  Here are the five most powerful — and valuable — lessons:

1. Talk About Money Early — and Often 

One of the most common — and preventable — reasons behind divorce is financial secrecy. Jamie Lima, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, says he regularly meets people who have no idea how much their partner earns, spends, or owes. Over time, a financial knowledge gap — even an accidental one — can quietly tip the balance of control and trust between partners. But the fix isn’t complicated. Many marriages can be saved, or at least steadied, if couples normalize regular, judgment-free money check-ins. Lima says...