To all those who serve others in Marriage Preparation Programs:
I share with you in this mission of love.

Recognizing that money can be a major source of stress in relationships, and that financial problems are cited as the leading cause of divorce,
I am dedicated to making financial counseling an integral part of all marriage preparation programs.

In 1989 I asked my parish priest how I could best use my talent as a Certified Financial Planner to help others in our church community. In response, he told me that many young couples preparing for marriage had a great need for financial direction. He asked me to share with them the basics of financial planning based on spiritual values as part of their marriage preparation programs.

The mission of The Scully Files was born.

After the hour presentation with the couples I initially encountered, I always wished I had a resource they could take with them – a summary of our discussions and the forms they would need to organize and implement a financial plan based on their values and goals.

My book The Scully Files – A Young Couple’s Blueprint for Managing Money was published in 2000 to provide this resource.

Marriage & Money, published in the Fall of 2005, is an updated, revised edition, especially designed for Marriage Preparation Programs. It provides the same information as the above book in a condensed workbook format at a value price.

Marriage & Money, Build Your Own Financial Plan – 2nd Edition, is the newest publication released in 2010 as an ebook which includes an English as well as a Spanish translation. A six-minute high quality introductory video from the author is also available which can be played at Marriage Preparation programs as an introduction to a discussion of the importance of financial planning.

This ebook is used in marriage preparation programs throughout the country. One hour of their one-day program is devoted to understanding financial planning principles, communicating effectively, keeping money in perspective, and being good stewards of all we are given.

Whether it is me, personally, or a financial professional recruited through the local parish, having a financial professional available for an hour to share their expertise and answer questions has enabled couples to begin to openly discuss money concerns.

Providing the workbook as part of the program and as a resource to take home and work through, has provided these couples with a much-needed confidence and enthusiasm toward handling their money matters in a way that nurtures their relationship and honors God.

I am available to those who work in Marriage Preparation or Family Life Offices to explain how to use my book and presentation effectively and to train others to share these basic principles. Please feel free to contact me with your questions via:

Fax: 828-258-1004
Mail: The Scully Files
P.O. Box 18074
Asheville, NC 28814

Because of my belief in this mission I have made my books available at discounted prices for use in marriage preparation programs.

A Final Thought

Couples who are engaged to be married are so much in love and committed to each other that they choose to enter the sacrament of matrimony. When we help them begin their life together with a strong financial foundation, we are contributing to their successful marriage and helping them avoid problems down the road.

The enthusiasm of the couples and the marriage preparation teams I have worked with have inspired me and motivated me. I feel even more strongly now that financial counseling is essential in marriage preparation programs.

As a witness to the love and commitment – to the vow they make before God and the church – I pray this gift of guidance will support and strengthen their marriages. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have. Thank you for letting me share my mission with you, and may God bless you!