Money is power. In personal relationships, it throws the relationship out of balance when one partner has significantly more money than the other, especially when the wealthier one is a woman and the less wealthy partner is a man.

When I meet a potential partner, I always reveal my wealth status early on, but not directly. I embed it in conversation. For example, I recently started dating a guy. We were talking about our kids and I mentioned that I've told my kids that they don't need to worry about their retirement funds. Another time, I said that my son was pushing me to not be so tight about money, saying, "You're the only one I know who has millions of dollars . . ."

Anyone you're dating has a right to know. If I had a ten-year-old at home I would let my date know, because my being a parent would influence what our relationship could be. If I had been diagnosed with cancer three months earlier or if I were diabetic I would reveal the potential for a shortened lifespan very early in a relationship. People have a right to know and judge what they're getting themselves into. I don't want to be rejected later when my heart has opened. It's better to reveal financial information before I've gotten too involved.

- anonymous author