For most people, budgeting and investing feel like personal decisions. But for Joffre Enrico Dominguez, a Registered Financial Planner with over 30 years in finance, real financial planning starts with the people you love.
“We need to see our partner, our kids—what are their plans?” Dominguez told Financial Adviser PH. “Because financial decisions don’t happen in a vacuum. They ripple through your entire household.”
Whether you’re saving for a house, budgeting for tuition, or thinking about retirement, aligning those plans with your family’s needs isn’t optional—it’s essential.
The problem with going solo
Dominguez often meets individuals who make financial moves—buying insurance, investing in crypto, taking loans—without first talking it over with their spouse or kids.
“They’ll ask me, ‘Sir, okay ba ang crypto?’” he said. “And I’ll ask back, ‘Did you talk about this with your partner? Does this support your family’s goals?’”
Too often, the answer is no.
He explained to Financial Adviser PH that financial misalignment in families causes more stress than income gaps. When people don’t feel included in financial decisions, trust erodes—and resentment builds.
Planning with purpose means planning together
For Dominguez, family financial planning isn’t about rigid spreadsheets—it’s about shared vision and open dialogue.
“Your income might be enough,” he said. “But if one partner is saving and the other is spending, or if your kids have education goals you haven’t factored in, it creates tension.”
He encourages couples and families to schedule regular ‘money talks’—not just when problems arise, but as an ongoing conversation.
“Don’t wait for a financial emergency to start communicating. Start while things are calm. That’s when progress is made.”
3 questions to guide your next money talk
Dominguez shared with Financial Adviser PH the three conversation starters he uses in family planning workshops:
What are our short-term and long-term goals?
“You’d be surprised how many couples never talk about this.”
How do we define financial success—as individuals and as a family?
“This helps uncover differences in values that need alignment.”
What habits are helping us—and what habits are hurting us?
“It’s not just about income. It’s about behavior.”
“Money isn’t just math—it’s emotion, history, and dreams.”
According to Dominguez, most financial conflict isn’t about numbers. It’s about unspoken expectations, unshared goals, and unconscious habits.
“If you don’t talk about money with your family, you’re only solving half the problem.”
That’s why he advises clients to bring their partners and even older children into the discussion. “They don’t need to know everything, but they should understand the big picture,” he said.
Why alignment leads to financial peace
When families plan together, they budget better, save faster, and spend with intention. Dominguez has seen this transformation firsthand.
“In families that talk about money openly, there’s more unity, more progress,” he told Financial Adviser PH. “They’re not just chasing income—they’re building a future together.”
You can download apps, read books, or attend seminars—but if your financial plan doesn’t include your family, it’s incomplete. Start the conversation today. Because your financial future isn’t just yours—it’s theirs, too.
