Newlywed Financial Boot Camp

Congratulations on your recent nuptials and welcome to The Motley Fool's Newlywed Financial Boot Camp! As part of our celebration of wedding season, we want to help you make your marriage successful and happy.

That's about all the time we have for niceties; now it's time to set some financial fitness goals, trim the fat from your budget, and whip your mutual assets into shape. By the end of boot camp, you can expect to:

1. Learn strategies for talking about money with your spouse.

2. Establish goals for your family's financial future.

3. Understand the importance of establishing an emergency fund.

4. Know ways you can best protect your assets.

5. Begin to plan for your retirement.

Just as you can't hope that much will change from one session with a personal trainer, you can't expect to transform your family's financial outlook with a few short activities. Use all of these "workouts" as a way to jump-start your lifelong financial fitness routine, but don't stop there. The Motley Fool Green Light newsletter is chock-full of helpful information geared toward folks at all levels of financial savvy, with special articles aimed at helping couples and families with their unique concerns. For just $49 a year, you'll get straightforward, uncomplicated money tips that can boost your savings, shave your expenses, and build your wealth. Try it free for 30 days.

Ready to take the first step toward controlling your finances as a couple (rather than letting them control you)? Lace up your running shoes, bring along water and a good sense of humor, and get ready to kick some financial booty.

• Warm-Up: Stress Test for Couples
• Workout No. 1: Setting Financial Fitness Goals
• Workout No. 2: Coping With Cash Crunches
• Workout No. 3: Protect Your Assets
• Workout No. 4: Build Up Your Retirement Booty
• Cool-Down: How to Stay in Financial Shape

Fool contributor Elizabeth Brokamp is a licensed professional counselor who regularly talks money with her honey, Robert Brokamp, editor of The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement newsletter. The Fool has a disclosure policy.