‘Cinderella syndrome’: Dave Ramsey breaks his own rule to warn a woman who walked away from her marriage with $1 million

The caller explained that her relationship, which started after her divorce, was getting serious, but she wasn’t sure how to tell her new boyfriend about how well off she was as they started discussing marriage.

Telling your partner you have more money than them can be a thorny subject. Dave Ramsey picks up on an even greater challenge: making sure your partner’s kids don’t get left behind.

‘That’s gonna get weird, fast’: Living together with a partner who makes less doing more

The caller explains that her previous marriage ended about a year ago. Shortly after, she started a new relationship that seems to be headed in the right direction.

She explains that she has a large amount of money saved, saying, “I did get a significant amount in savings — cash up front from selling homes and whatnot.”

Additionally, she receives $10,000 a month from her ex because of money he owed her when they got divorced:

“He wanted the investment accounts, and he owed me cash.”

Ramsey tells her she should get a prenup. He admits it is outside of the usual advice he gives, saying, “we don’t recommend prenups most of the time.”

However, he tells her that she should be cautious about how she handles the next steps of the relationship for several reasons.

First, he points out that her new boyfriend makes significantly less money than she does while doing more work. He works two jobs and earns around $4,000 a month, a fraction of what she’s bringing in.

Ramsey points out that this imbalance could result in tension in the relationship, saying, “I think that’s gonna get weird, fast.”

Second, he says that before moving in together, the money conversation should happen with a marriage counselor in the room. If she’s not ready for that step, he says they shouldn’t live together yet.

“If you’re going to share your life with someone, before you agree to do that, they should know who you are,” he says.

Third, he cautions her to think carefully about how to make sure her boyfriend’s kids feel like equals with her kids. “Otherwise, you’re going to have the Cinderella syndrome going on,” he says.

Financial planners can help untangle complicated investments during a divorce

There’s another important question to be answered based on the caller’s situation: what to do with your investments when you’re getting divorced.