Financial implications of resigning and relocating

My husband wants me to resign and relocate so we can be together, but I'm not sure how I can retain the same security my employer provides. How can I began to assess this difficult decision?

There are certainly a lot of factors to consider in this situation. Here are my thoughts from the "financial front":

Does your employer provide the health insurance for the family?

If yes, you need to confirm that your husband can get coverage for you and any other family members at a reasonable cost or plan to arrange for COBRA coverage (which will likely cost more than what you are currently paying.)

Does your employer provide you with life insurance benefits?

You don't want to find yourself without life insurance because you have left your job. If you rely on employer-provided coverage, get a private policy instead. But apply now so you won't be without coverage for any period of time.

Does your employer provide you with disability insurance?

If you leave your job, you would lose this very important coverage and the odds of suffering a disability are much higher than most people think. Most people would never think about going without life insurance but disability insurance is actually more important because you are much more likely to be disabled than to die. In fact the average person has a one in five chance of being disabled for a period of time before age 65.

Does your employer offer a retirement plan with a company match or, even better, a pension?

If your employer offers a great retirement plan which would be difficult to find elsewhere, you might want to think hard about leaving this benefit behind.

Have you prepared a realistic budget?

This is essential. If you don't have a firm grasp on your expenses, how do you know that you can afford to live on just one income even for a couple of weeks? It could take several months for you to find a suitable job in your new location. Do you have a sufficient "supplemental income" fund available to tide you over?

Do you have an adequate emergency fund and income reserve?

Assuming that you don't have a job waiting for you somewhere else, do you have an emergency fund equal to three to six months of your typical expenses? If your finances are shaky now, leaving a job voluntarily is probably not a smart move.

How does your credit look?

If your credit isn't in the best of shape, it might be wise to postpone a move and work on improving your credit. A poor credit history can impact your ability to get a new job.

Obviously, money and finances shouldn't be the only factors considered, but they certainly are important. Good luck.