New Delhi, Jan. 19 -- Curated playlists, shared humour, or a stroke of serendipity among mutual friends may spark modern romance. But increasingly, what sustains it is far less poetic: money.

As marriages evolve into partnerships between two financially independent individuals-each with distinct spending habits, risk appetites, and financial histories-the once-awkward "money talk" has become unavoidable. Financial compatibility is no longer a side conversation; it is central to relationship longevity. Even movies such as Materialists reflect a growing truth: financial alignment often sits at the heart of romantic choices.

According to a study by 1 Finance, a personal finance advisory firm, financial friction is no longer just a "hiccup"...