Married last June, Maria and Victor Martin* are bubbling with plans. Within the next five years, they want to have two kids and upgrade from their recently purchased two-bedroom condo in Chicago. And Maria, 33, an assistant psychology professor, and Victor, 37, who is finishing his doctorate in clinical psychology, are eager to add to the $60,000 they already have in retirement savings. "Marriage, babies, new home, new job—we're on the brink of a lot of beginnings," Maria told me. "I want to make sure we're prioritizing the way we should be."

I love that this couple is looking toward the future. And they have a lot going for them in the present: no credit card debt, both cars paid off, and enough income each month to cover their expenses. But when Maria and Victor contacted me to help plot their next steps, I warned them of some potential obstacles that could block their dreams—especially if the newlyweds don't plan carefully. Here's the strategy I laid out for Maria and Victor:

Take Guidance with a Grain of Salt

When I asked Maria and Victor why they'd bought a condo if they were intending to move within five years, and why Victor's IRA was invested in an account that charges 2.42 percent in fees (anything above 1 percent sets off my alarms), they both mentioned family advice as a big factor in their decision making. In fact, Maria's family helped with the down payment, and Victor's IRA is managed by his parents' financial adviser. (Note to Victor's parents: Get a new adviser!)

It's natural to rely on family for guidance—but sadly, they often know as little as you do when it comes to smart money management. It's time for Maria and Victor to educate themselves and take responsibility for the money they have—and the money they want to have.

Protect the Love of Your Life

Maria and Victor are focused on building a family—yet they're blind to taking care of each other. More than 80 percent of the couple's after-tax income of $5,100 each month comes from Maria's work. So when they applied for a mortgage, it was based only on her income, and she's listed alone on the mortgage. That's not uncommon. But what jumped out at me is that the title to the condo is also in Maria's name only. That has to change and change fast. If anything were to happen to Maria, Victor would find himself in a lengthy and costly legal tangle to keep the home, especially because they have no will or revocable living trust in place—another item that should be high on their to-do list.

The couple needs term life insurance as well—at a minimum a $250,000 level term policy, to cover the $244,000 they owe on their mortgage. But my advice was to aim for much larger death benefits. At their age, Maria and Victor should both be able to purchase $1 million policies for a combined premium around $150 a month. That's a lot of peace of mind for a low price, and as their family grows, such coverage will be crucial. I pointed them to online term insurance specialists selectquote.com and accuquote.com.

Get Real About Real Estate

A $30,000 gift from family and an $8,000 federal first-time homebuyer's tax credit (in place through spring 2010) were enough to coax Maria and Victor into purchasing a condo last year. But when I asked if they would have bought without the credit, there was a long pause. "That's a good question," said Victor. "I don't really know." His answer was a red flag that they shouldn't have bought (see more reasons in "House Rules," below). You should never base a financial decision on a tax break. But with that bad decision already behind them, I urged them to think of their condo as a longer-term home. The kids will be just fine sharing the second bedroom.

Tighten Your Belt Before the Baby

Maria and Victor have about three months' living expenses set aside. That's actually pretty good, considering that Victor's current take-home pay is $900 a month. But I urged them to do better, as they anticipate starting a family. Looking at their monthly expenses, we found a few pieces of low-hanging fruit: Two hundred dollars a month on clothes? I don't think so. Another $155 for hair and manicures? Denied. A combined $825 on food and dining? Not for long.

Fast-track Student Debt

When Victor graduates in 2013, he expects to make about $60,000, nearly quadrupling his monthly take-home pay to around $3,500. Yet he'll also have about $150,000 in student loans. Victor can consolidate these federal loans into one with a fixed interest rate that should be below 7.5 percent. (Learn more about federal loan consolidation at loanconsolidation.ed.gov.) The hard part will be choosing a payment plan. If he pays $1,100 a month, he'll be making payments for 30 years. I just don't think it's smart to be paying off your own loans when your kids are in college. If Maria and Victor commit to $1,800 a month—setting aside money from his new job and expenses they've trimmed—the loans will be paid off in ten years. Bonus: Less debt will mean better mortgage terms when they do eventually move to a bigger place.

When in Doubt, Roth IRA

Maria puts $250 a month into her employer's 403(b) plan, the nonprofit sector equivalent of a 401(k). Her employer will soon begin contributing an amount equal to 7 percent of Maria's annual salary, regardless of whether she puts in anything. I think Maria should stop contributing. Surprised? Here's the logic: She will still get the 7 percent, but a 403(b), like a 401(k), isn't easy to access. We shouldn't blithely take money out of our retirement accounts, of course, but newlyweds have to balance retirement needs against the reality of limited savings. If they had a serious emergency, a withdrawal from the 403(b) could be hit with income tax and a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. So I'd prefer that Maria (and Victor, when he settles into a full-time job) focus on Roth IRAs. I hope they don't need to touch that money until they retire. But if they do, only the earnings can be taxed and penalized—never the principal. I stressed that long-term, they'll want to fund work-based retirement plans and Roth IRAs. But first they need to focus on establishing a firm foundation for what is real right now.
Please note: This is general information and is not intended to be legal advice. You should consult with your own financial advisor before making any major financial decisions, including investments or changes to your portfolio, and a qualified legal professional before executing any legal documents or taking any legal action. Harpo Productions, Inc., OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Discovery Communications LLC and their affiliated companies and entities are not responsible for any losses, damages or claims that may result from your financial or legal decisions.

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