Financial infidelity does not always look like a secret account or hidden debt. Most of the time, it looks like the purchase you do not mention. The conversation you keep finding reasons to postpone. Saying it was on sale when both of you know it was not.
This week we sat down with Dr. Megan McCoy, one of the leading researchers in financial therapy, to ask the real question underneath all of it: what are people actually protecting when they hide something financially?
What is financial therapy? Financial therapy is the integration of financial planning and therapeutic practice. It focuses on how people think, feel, and behave with money, not just what they do with it. As defined by the Financial Therapy Association: financial therapy is a process that helps people think, feel, communicate, and behave differently with money to improve overall wellbeing. It is where money stops being just numbers and starts being understood as a human system.
What is financial infidelity? Financial infidelity is the intentional hiding or withholding of financial information from a partner. It is not defined by the size of the behavior, but by the decision to conceal it. This can include secret accounts or hidden debt, undisclosed purchases, minimizing or lying about spending, and avoiding money conversations entirely. It often reflects something deeper: fear of conflict, shame, power dynamics, or a relationship where it does not feel safe to tell the truth about money.
We dive into both, how to move into deeper conversations with your partner, with a softer approach.
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This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not financial, legal, or clinical advice and does not replace working with a qualified financial professional or licensed therapist.
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