Prenups Aren’t Just for the Rich: 1 in 4 Prenup Drafters Make Less Than Their Partners

Your financial future is bigger than your salary. Prenups help couples plan for the full picture.

In New York, 25% of drafting parties make less than their partners. Given a prenup safeguards assets in the event of a divorce, one may expect that the drafting party - in other words, the party asking their partner for a prenup - would overwhelmingly be the one making more each year. The reality is that assets are about more than someone’s annual income, and couples are increasingly recognizing that fact.

Neptune Insight: In 2025, one in four prenups drafted in New York were initiated by the lower-earning partner.

Here’s why financial planning through prenups is more nuanced than income alone, and why more couples are turning to Neptune to make sure their agreement reflects their real financial lives.

Assets Aren’t Just About Your Paycheck

Income is only one measure of wealth. A partner may earn less today but hold significant wealth through investments, savings, inheritance, or long-term plans. The drafting party’s median income may be lower than the reviewing party’s, but their asset profile tells another story.

Think of someone with a strong portfolio of stocks, equity in a family business, or rental properties. Even if their salary is smaller, their net worth may outpace their partner’s. Prenups are designed to protect the whole picture, not just what hits your bank account every two weeks.

Prenups Protect Wealth You Have Yet to Accrue

Prenups also plan for assets that don’t exist yet—or haven’t fully matured. Consider:

• Inheritance: A lower-earning spouse may stand to inherit property, investments, or other assets in the future.
  
• Retirement Accounts: 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions are often worth far more over time than annual salaries suggest.‍
• Future Business Owners: One or both spouses may start a company down the road, and a prenup can clarify liabilities and ownership accordingly.

Without a prenup, these future assets can become sources of conflict or unintended division. A prenup provides clarity today about how they’ll be treated tomorrow.

Why Couples Align on Financial Plans with Prenups

For many couples, drafting a prenup is less about income gaps and more about alignment. It’s about answering questions like:

• How do we treat assets one partner brings into the marriage?
  

• What happens with wealth earned or inherited in the future?
  

• How do we protect each other while keeping things fair?
  

That’s why prenups are as much about partnership planning as they are about legal protection. They give couples a framework to talk openly about money, goals, and fairness - conversations that are often harder without the structure of a prenup.

Key Takeaway: Start Your Stress-Free Prenup Journey with Neptune

Whether you earn more, less, or the same as your partner, what really matters is clarity. Prenups create a shared plan for today and tomorrow, giving both partners peace of mind.

Neptune makes it simple, affordable, and supportive. With flat-fee pricing, free lawyer consultations, and guidance tailored to your financial life, we help couples focus on building their future together—not stressing about what-ifs.