My name is Mark Goodfield. Welcome to The Blunt Bean Counter ™, a blog that shares my thoughts on income taxes, finance and the psychology of money. I am a Chartered Professional Accountant. This blog is meant for everyone, but in particular for high net worth individuals and owners of private corporations. My posts are blunt, opinionated and even have a twist of humour/sarcasm. You've been warned. Please note the blog posts are time sensitive and subject to changes in legislation or law.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Let Me Tell You! Marriage Tips From a 30 Year Expert

As I noted in October, I am planning to write occasional blog posts under the title “Let Me Tell You” that delve into topics that may a bit more philosophical or life lessons as opposed to the usual tax and financial fare. Today I share some great marriage tips from a friend.

This summer my buddies and I hosted a dinner at my house to celebrate the engagement of our friend's daughter. We had a great time and some of us gave toasts to the future couple. One of my friends, Monty Warsh, a well-known leasing lawyer for Aird & Berlis, came equipped with multiple que cards for his toast (hey he is a lawyer after-all).

Monty who has been married 31 years to his lovely bride, presented a David Letterman like top ten tips to keep your marriage strong. I was not expecting much (sorry Mont) but was so impressed with his list that I asked for a copy to post on my blog.

Top Ten Tips for a Successful Marriage


Without further ado, here are Monty's top ten tips for a happy and enduring marriage:

10) Maintain Your Independence - Don’t give up who you were and some of the activities and pursuits you had before marriage. Continue to pursue those hobbies and friendships that make you happy.

9) Compromise - You are not always right and neither is your spouse. Find a middle ground that both of you can live with.

 8) Do Not Cross Enemy Lines - Do not make a practice of confronting the in-laws with issues, but rather go through your spouse to communicate the message. Blood relatives are more easily forgiven.

7) The Unexpected Celebration - Celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and Valentines day is nice, but very commercial. Bring home flowers or gifts on non-holidays and for no special occasion.

6) Vacation - Put some money away for a holiday or there will always be somewhere else to deploy your money. It is important to get away and relax and re-energize.

5) Sense of Humor - Laughing releases the tension…..and we all like to be around happy positive people and laughing is contagious.


4) Don’t go to Bed Angry - Things can fester and blow out of proportion if you do.

3) Communication - No one is a mind reader….let your other half know what you are thinking. Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability if it means being transparent.

2) Date Night - Preserve the passion and avoid the trap of slipping into regular and sometimes boring routines.

1) Yes Dear - Guys, sometimes you just have to do it.

There you have it, 30 years of wisdom and common sense. As someone who just celebrated his 30th anniversary, I think Monty has provided some great advice and marriage tips.

This site provides general information on various tax issues and other matters. The information is not intended to constitute professional advice and may not be appropriate for a specific individual or fact situation. It is written by the author solely in their personal capacity and cannot be attributed to the accounting firm with which they are affiliated. It is not intended to constitute professional advice, and neither the author nor the firm with which the author is associated shall accept any liability in respect of any reliance on the information contained herein. Readers should always consult with their professional advisors in respect of their particular situation.

1 comment:

  1. Monty you make it sound so eeeezzeeeeeeee :)

    ReplyDelete