I asked my husband to pay into my pension when we had a child - here's why

Molly and Taylor Haylett were a couple who hadn't anticipated the financial impact of having a child. Molly, a financial adviser, spent more time at home with their child while Taylor, a train driver, advanced in his career. This shift caused an imbalance in their financial contributions. To address this, they decided that Taylor would contribute to Molly's pension while Molly was on parental leave.

Molly believes this is a decision more couples should consider before having children. She shared this idea with a friend who initially struggled with the concept. Both Molly and Taylor have two children now, aged two and five, and have made financial planning a part of their routine. They set up pension accounts for their children from birth and use tools like Junior ISAs.

Taylor, who is the more hands-on with household budgeting, supports Molly's financial decisions and they openly discuss their finances. Katie Guild, co-founder of financial community Nugget Savings, highlights that many parents reduce or pause pension contributions during parental leave and many are unaware that partners can contribute on their behalf. Guild suggests discussing key financial questions before having a child to avoid a pension gap.