Couples often ask me whether they should combine finances or not.

What I’ve found in my own marriage is that teamwork matters far more than where you keep your cash.

The perspective that worked for us was to put savings first, and then work backward.

We started with a number we needed to save annually to make retirement a reality: i.e. having choices when we are in our 50’s and 60’s (we used the T. Rowe Price Retirement Income Calculator).

We aimed to max out my husband’s 401k, my SEP IRA and both of our IRAs: ideally $16,500, $15,000, and $5,000 respectively.

On top of which, we wanted to contribute to our daughters’ 529 plans. And we still wanted to take the occasional family trip.

I know, that’s a tall order! For us, it has made the most sense to divide and conquer using our dual income streams. Translation: we allocated my husband’s salary for daily expenses—and my income goes toward savings and vacation.

Does our system always work? Some years, yes; others, not so much. But we are constantly communicating. It doesn’t matter if our accounts are joint or separate—as long as our goals are on the same page.

Open your heart. What money topic do you have trouble discussing with your mate?

Galia Gichon, MBA, is an independent personal finance expert, adviser, the founder of Down to Earth Finance, and the author of "My Money Matters."