The Marriage Dividend

You've heard of the so-called marriage penalty tax? Well, researchers supported by National Institutes of Health have identified what they believe is a health benefit of marriage: According to NIH grantee Dr. Linda Waite, people who marry live longer and are healthier than people who don't.

Additionally, the net worth of married people rises much faster than that of their single or divorced counterparts, according to a study published by Ohio State University researcher Jay Zagorsky. These health and financial benefits encompass what researchers termed, “the Marriage Dividend.”

However, with an estimated 40% of all first marriages and 60% of second unions ending in divorce there is clearly a large gap between the happily married and the miserably committed. Whether you are engaged or newly married, you can find out how to invest in your future and obtain the full advantage of your "Marriage Dividend."