175: Not Married, Still Protected: Legal & Financial Security for Unmarried Couples

175: Not Married, Still Protected: Legal & Financial Security for Unmarried Couples

Author: Lindsay Bryan - Podvin November 3, 2025 Duration: 15:36

In this episode, financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin walks you through the essential legal and financial documents unmarried couples (and poly partners or cohabitating besties!) should consider, like cohabitation agreements, estate planning tools, and property titles. Whether you’re sharing a home, finances, or a life together, these protections can offer clarity and peace of mind, without a marriage certificate.

Planning while you're in love and of sound mind is one of the kindest things you can do for your future selves.

TL;DR: If you don’t make a plan, the state will make one for you.


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https://www.mindmoneybalance.com/blogandvideos/protecting-your-relationship-without-marriage


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Ever feel like your relationship with money is tangled up with stress, anxiety, or even shame? That’s the exact space where Mind Money Balance lives, exploring the deep and often overlooked connection between our financial habits and our mental well-being. Host Lindsay Bryan-Podvin brings a unique dual perspective as both a Licensed Master Social Worker and a Certified Financial Therapist, moving past simplistic budgeting advice to examine the broader societal and psychological forces that shape our financial lives. You won’t find a rigid "abundance mindset" doctrine here or judgment over small daily pleasures. Instead, each episode offers grounded, psychology-based conversations that provide actionable steps to untangle money stress and build a more peaceful financial existence. This podcast digs into the real stories and systemic factors behind our spending, saving, and earning, creating a compassionate resource for anyone ready to heal the divide between their wallet and their emotional world. Tune in for a refreshingly human take on finding clarity and confidence with money, one thoughtful conversation at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Mind Money Balance
Podcast Episodes
173: No One Can Afford A Home: Here’s Why (and What You Can Do) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:08
There is a real affordability crisis caused by decades of underbuilding, restrictive zoning, slow permitting, and rising costs. In this episode, Michigan's first financial therapist explains that housing is a social dete…
172: Microdosing Financial Habits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:29
You can start improving how you treat money in about 2 minutes. Overcomplicated spreadsheets and spending rules often leave people feeling like they’ve failed. That’s why I love what I call micro-dosing your financial ha…
171: What is Fun Money? How to Enjoy Guilt-Free Spending [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:59
If an emergency fund is for emergencies, a Fun Money Fund is for JOY! A Fun Money Fund is a type of savings or checking account that we can all use tp build in spontaneity, impulse spending, or saving for that not totall…
169: Boycott Guide: How to Boycott Without Burnout [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:30
Want to boycott but not sure how? You don’t have to go all-in to make a difference. This boycott guide covers what a boycott is, how to participate, ways to effect change beyond a full boycott, and how to protect yoursel…
168: 3 Financial Resolutions Without the Overwhelm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:27
What New Year resolutions did you set at the beginning of the year? If improving your financial health was on your list, you’re in good company. “Improving financial health” was the second most common resolution for 2024…
166: Avoid These Credit Card Traps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:02
Most Americans are carrying credit card debt, especially younger folks, like those in Gen Z, the Millennial Generation, and Gen X. In this episode, I’ll break down the three most common credit card traps and share action…
165: 4 Credit Card Myths You Need to Stop Believing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:32
There are four common credit card myths I need you to stop believing. If you believe these myths, you might negatively impact your credit score, pay unnecessary interest, or miss out on some of the perks (like travel hac…
164: Be (Financially) Selfish this Holiday Season [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:17
Feeling the pressure to overspend during the holidays? It's time to rethink the season with a focus on financial selfishness—putting your financial well-being first, guilt-free. In this episode, financial therapist Linds…