Brides are saying, “I do...

...want a prenup."

The Female Quotient
January 27, 2026 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes

WHAT’S ON DECK

Tell Me More: First comes love, then comes…the prenup
Top 5 Learnings: Jamie Dimon in The Female Quotient Lounge at Davos
Inside Track: Leaders on the move
Dear FQ: How do I stop a colleague from constantly interrupting me without being rude?
Poll the Pack: What would you do with an extra 60 minutes at work?

TELL ME MORE

Terms of engagement

Engagements tend to follow a familiar script: say “yes,” share the news, post the ring pic, choose the bridal party, scroll Pinterest for venue inspo, etc. But there’s one thing that doesn’t always make the list and should: a prenup.

Yes we know, not exactly romantic. But that narrative is outdated. A prenup isn’t about mistrust or planning for failure; it’s about building a fair, transparent financial foundation for the life you’re creating together. Marriage is a partnership. Why wouldn’t it have a shared strategy?

Think of a prenup as the business plan for your life together. It forces honest conversations every couple should be having before walking down the aisle about values, money, goals, responsibilities, and what happens if life throws a curveball.

According to a HelloPrenup survey, 83% of individuals who signed a prenuptial agreement found it beneficial for their relationship. Why? Because transparency builds trust. Clarity reduces conflict. And shared decisions create shared power. As divorce attorney Kelly Chang Rickert puts it: “Marriage is hard, but divorce is harder. Choose your hard.”

The trend is clear: prenups are becoming the norm, especially among younger generations. A 2019 study by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers found that 62% of family attorneys saw an increase in prenup requests, and 51% of those attorneys attributed the rise to Millennials. It makes sense. We’re in the midst of the largest generational wealth transfer in history: over $84 trillion will be passed from Baby Boomers to Millennials and Gen Z. That’s a lot to protect. And increasingly, women are leading the charge.

We’re in a new financial reality. Women are marrying later, earning more, and entering relationships with their own assets, homes, businesses, and debt.

Women now earn as much or more than their spouses in nearly 50% of American households.
Single women own 2.7 million more homes than single men.
Over the last 50 years, the share of women who out-earn their husbands has tripled.
More women are giving birth after age 35, accruing more financial and professional experience before marriage.

But despite all that progress, the economic impact of divorce still hits women harder. Much harder. After a split, women see an average income drop of 41%. For men, it’s just 23%. Why? Because women often shoulder unpaid labor, including childcare, eldercare, emotional labor, and household management, that’s invisible on a paycheck but essential to a family’s well-being. Prenups can account for that. They help ensure that the contributions women make, both financial and otherwise, are recognized and protected.

And no, it’s not just for the wealthy. Here’s what a prenup can include:

Decisions around premarital assets, like retirement accounts and real estate
Division of property acquired during the marriage
Protection for inheritance, heirlooms, and gifts
Business ownership, even for future companies that don’t yet exist
Plans for alimony or spousal support, especially if one partner leaves the workforce
Debt responsibility; think credit cards, medical bills, student loans (almost 43 million Americans have student loan debt)
Infidelity clauses, relevant considering 55% of divorces involve affairs

In other words, a prenup protects more than your bank account. It protects your future.

There’s a cultural shift happening right now, led by women who are reclaiming the prenup from outdated stereotypes and turning it into a tool of empowerment. Libby Lefler, founder of First, explains, “There’s a total pop culture depiction of what a prenup is and who gets it; that it’s meant for some person, probably a guy, to protect himself from a woman. But today, we don’t see that stigma at all. Half of the prenups that we do at First are initiated by women. We’re at the beginning of a generational shift of how people think about premarital agreements. It’s all about thinking about this collaboratively for your life together. It should be a joining point, not a breaking point.”

A prenup isn’t a red flag; it’s a green light for real partnership. It says: I trust you enough to talk about the hard stuff. I respect what we’re building enough to protect it. I value myself enough to not leave it to chance.

Love is powerful. But love with a plan? That’s unstoppable.

Top 5 Learnings from Jamie Dimon in The Female Quotient Lounge at Davos

1. Relentless discipline inside your business
“Have grit and drive. Ask questions. Push. Invest money. Use AI. Don’t stop. Any business better be disciplined about that.”

2. Businesses must engage in public policy for everyone
“Businesses should get more involved in public policy. How do you make countries grow? It shouldn’t always be selfish. Improved growth helps all citizens. If we don’t collaborate and come up with better ideas, we won’t fix world problems.”

3. Real progress comes from deeper, honest dialogue
“Billionaires talking to billionaires isn’t what matters; it’s understanding what everyone thinks. A lot of people waste a tremendous amount of time. But bringing people together on neutral ground matters. Unpeel the issues. Have the right people in the room. You’ll still make mistakes, but you’ll get to a better place.”

4. Inclusion requires intention
"I intentionally give people a job that is a stretch for them. I say, ‘Give someone new a chance,’ and they will step up. It has to be intentional. Over half of my direct reports are women.”

5. There are no shortcuts to a meaningful career
“Work hard. There are no shortcuts. Become very efficient. There are tricks. Learn analytics; most people aren’t good at it. Understand things in depth. Read customer complaints. Communicate well. Don’t waste people’s time. Be succinct. Most people think of IQ, but EQ is so important. Develop your EQ. Be open-minded about relationships, changing jobs, and trying something different. There will be a grunt part to every job; get over it. Have a purpose, that's what brings joy. Do the right thing. Do something meaningful.”

Watch the full conversation here.

INSIDE TRACK

Leaders on the move

Mina Alaghband has stepped into a new role as Chief Customer Officer at WRITER. This is an exciting moment for leadership in AI. Mina has spent her career helping organizations navigate change, leading through unprecedented digital transformation at McKinsey to building customer-first growth at Box and CrowdFlower. She knows that technology only works when people are at the center.
Claudine Cheever has been named Chief Marketing Officer at Pinterest. With a decade of global brand leadership at Amazon, she knows how to grow at a massive scale without losing sight of what actually matters to people. As Pinterest evolves into an AI-powered discovery platform, her vision promises to elevate the brand experience, creating a thoughtful and meaningful way for brands to connect with customers.
Andréa Mallard is now Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft AI. Previously at Pinterest, she built the global marketing org from the ground up, led the brand through its IPO and the pandemic, and positioned it as a platform for inspiration. This is a major moment, both for Andréa and for women leading at the forefront of tech and AI.
Latriece Watkins takes the helm as President and CEO of Sam’s Club U.S., making her one of the few Black women to lead a Fortune 500 company. After 32 years at Walmart, her rise is a powerful example of leadership and lasting impact from within. As the largest company on the Fortune 500 list, Walmart’s elevation of Latriece honors her deep commitment to culture and community-first leadership.

DEAR FQ

Your burning career questions answered

Lauren Ames of The Female Quotient weighs in:

It’s frustrating when you can’t finish a thought in a meeting and even harder when standing up for yourself feels risky. This "Interruptor" may get caught up in the excitement of what is being shared and not realize what they are doing. In fact, they might think that they are showing enthusiasm by being a Cooperative Overlapper; but to you, they’re an "Interruptor.”

Although this is increasingly annoying, try to keep in mind that you and your colleagues are all working towards a common goal. If the Interruptor cuts you off, you can try something like, “One second, I’m just going to finish my thought.” Be deliberate, intentional, and kind. Use assertive and polite phrases, maintain posture and eye contact, and use confident voice and body language. This will give them a moment to reflect and, hopefully, rectify their behavior.

You can’t always control others, but you can control how you respond. By staying poised, using clear and polite language, and turning on-the-spot moments into professional boundaries, you reclaim your space and help shift the culture. Keeping your cool will show that you are not a Rude-y Judy, but simply advocating for yourself and the ideas you are trying to express.

P.S. Got a burning career question? Serve it up here to Dear FQ to score advice from a powerhouse leader in our network.

POLL THE PACK

The power of one hour

For the largest share of employees (42%), that bonus hour isn’t for scrolling; it’s for leveling up. Learning something new isn’t just a power move, it’s a paycheck booster. Studies show that carving out time to build new skills leads to higher productivity, more career opportunities, and a serious confidence upgrade. In short? Growth looks good on you.

And 31%? They’re making room for an actual lunch break; no sad desk salads allowed. Because rest isn’t lazy; it’s strategic. Stepping away from your desk resets your brain, stabilizes energy, and reduces stress, boosting focus and creativity for the rest of the day. In other words, taking a proper break actually makes you better at your job. So if you need permission to take the long lunch, consider it granted.

What this tells us? When people get time back, they don’t waste it; they use it to grow or recharge. Whether it’s brain fuel or a breather, it’s all about investing in what keeps you sharp, steady, and ready to take on what’s next. One hour might not seem like much, but used with intention, it can change everything.

Falling in love is magic; planning for your future is power.

Xo,

The FQ

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