Building a good relationship with newlywed clients can establish you as a trusted advisor for years to come.

“You’re helping them set that foundation for their whole financial future,” says Melanie Adams, a financial advisor with Sun Life Financial Distributors (Canada) Inc. in Barrie, Ont.

Follow these tips to get your relationship with newly married clients off on the right foot:

> Start the conversation
Your first step is to get your newlywed clients talking about their finances.

Even if one partner plans to manage the day-to-day banking, Adams says, it’s still important that both partners talk about how they will be spending and saving their money.

“They need to get that out on the table,” she says, “with an advisor who can help them talk about different plans and almost act as a mediator to make sure everybody’s voice is being heard.”

> Decide on a financial structure
Make sure both spouses are on the same page when it comes to the structure of their finances.

Ask clients how they plan to set up their various accounts, Adams says. Are they going to merge their finances fully through joint accounts or keep separate accounts? Or, will they have both a joint household account and separate personal accounts?

> Plan five years out
Many big changes happen in the first few years of marriage. So, talk to clients about the short term.

Find out what clients are hoping for in the next five years, says Adams, and help them plan accordingly. For example, they may be planning to buy a house or start a family. Or one spouse might be planning to go back to school.

> Look at the big picture
It’s never too early to start talking about retirement, says Adams. However, it’s best to keep the conversation general.

Young clients don’t need to decide whether they want to buy a retirement home in Florida right away, Adams says, or even a what age they plan to retire. Instead, get your newlywed clients talking about what they think their future together will look like.

“At least having that conversation,” she says. “They not waiting until their mid-40s or 50s to discover that one [spouse] hates the heat and wants to live in Alaska.”

> Stay up to date
Review your newlywed clients’ financial plan regularly.

Many changes can take place in a client’s life after marriage, Adams says. Their future could turn out to be quite different from what they had originally envisioned. Periodic plan reviews ensure you address their changing needs.

If you don’t, she says, clients may feel that you’re not staying current with them and use that as a reason to find a new advisor.