Some people think that money and sex have nothing in common. Actually, they have everything in common. The act of merging your assets with another person's can be an exhilarating process leading to the high of a lifetime, or it can be a devastating and emotionally crippling experience.

In a series of articles, I plan to lay out some examples that explain what sex and money have in common. Follow along, so that you can avoid the mistakes that are made by milions of people every single year.

Sex and Money Comparison Number 1: You could actually get the job done by yourself if you wanted to.

No one says that you have to merge your money or your body with another person's. There is a word we use to describe when someone takes care of his/her own physical needs, and I am not going to say it here. If you are not sure what the word is, then ask your mother, your boyfriend or your priest.

Just as you can take care of your physical needs yourself, the same is true of your financial needs. There's an old saying "I can be broke all by myself." Thus, the choice to merge finances with another human being is not a choice we have to make. Merging assets with another person is also not a decision that should be taken lightly. It's a decision you make only if you see potential benefits from the interaction.

The benefits of making financial love should come in the form of increased family wealth (financial and non-financial), primarily due to financial synergies. Financial synergies refer to the added value of coming together, as opposed to two individuals doing something separately. In other words, "two plus two equals five." An example might be two people getting married, with each of them earning $50,000 per year. Their combined income is $100,000, but there are additional benefits. Not only has their income doubled, but because they are living together, their expenses have declined. Another example might be James and Tiffany, each of whom earns $50,000 per year. But instead of getting married and both working, they decide that Tiffany is going to work and James is going to stay home with the children. This saves money on daycare, and although average income has declined, there are still portfolio increasing benefits. First, the children are going to spend more time with their father. Secondly, Tiffany will be able to do a better job at work because she has someone handling the distractions at home. This may lead to additional career advancement opportunities. So, Financial Lovemaking synergies can add wealth, even if your income has actually declined.

Sex and Money Connection Number 2: It's only fun to do it with someone who is good at it.

A lot of people think that financial management is about expertise. They think that if a person has a high academic and financial IQ, he is going to be a good money manager. This is FALSE. Saving is like dieting: if you really want to do it, you don't have to be a nutritionist; you just have eat less junk food and take your fat butt to the gym. Similarly, in order to save, you have to make the decision to put money aside and reduce your spending. It's really that simple.

Making financial love with someone who is not good at it can be a horrible experience. Imagine having sex with someone who has no idea what he's doing. He could be selfish, prudish, abusive or manipulative. This individual is not someone you would ever sleep with again, and certainly not someone with whom you would want to share your life. Well making financial love with someone who doesn't know how to engage in the give and take of the financial lovemaking process can be equally horrific: that person may be greedy, wasteful, selfish or deceitful. This is not a person with whom you want to share your most precious financial and emotional assets.

Before you share yourself with another person, make sure it's a good investment. The clock of life can't be turned backward, so this may be one of the most important choices you ever make.

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Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of 'Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.' To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered directly to your email, please click here.