Indian-origin millionaire says the hardest money talk with his wife was their prenup: 'I was very hurt'

Self-made millionaire, author, and TV host Ramit Sethi, known for his expertise in finance and wealth building, recently revealed that the most challenging money conversation he and his wife, Cassandra, ever had was negotiating their prenuptial agreement.

The Sethis, who have been married since 2018, frequently share aspects of their relationship and financial strategies on Ramit's Money for Couples podcast and in his published works. But, during a special podcast episode where they answered questions from a friend, Julie Nguyen, the couple candidly discussed the difficulties surrounding their prenup, CNBC Make It reported.

Both Sethi and Cassandra unequivocally agreed that the prenup discussions were their most difficult financial conversation as a couple. "I’m sweating thinking about it right now," Ramit admitted. He recounted his anxiety before initiating the talk, stating, "The first time I brought it up, I remember I had talked to so many people, gotten advice, planned what I was gonna say and I was very nervous about it."

When Sethi first introduced the idea to Cassandra, he had already established his business and written his initial book on money. Cassandra, while initially unfamiliar with prenups, was open to understanding them. Despite their mutual agreement to proceed with a prenup, things quickly went south, largely due to their different expectations and understanding of money.

Sethi approached the negotiations from a strictly financial perspective, believing the numbers alone should convey the terms. Cassandra, however, was more deeply attuned to the emotional considerations surrounding their joint future, aspects that Ramit had not fully contemplated.

"We started going back and forth and I was very confused, very hurt because I’m like, ‘I’m not trying to trick anybody here,’" Ramit said, describing his confusion and distress. Cassandra ultimately suggested that the couple seek guidance from a therapist whose pivotal question – asking how each of them viewed money – proved to be a breakthrough.

"That really opened up conversations that we hadn’t been able to have," Ramit explained. He revealed his answer was rooted in "growth, of course, look at the compounding," while Cassandra's response was centred on "safety."  Now, seven years into their marriage, the couple still considers their learnings from their prenup negotiations as the most important lessons they’ve learned from each other.