Nearly 35% of the public aren’t willing to discuss pension plans with their partners, research suggests.

A report from pensions advice firm Portafina found 92% would leave themselves financially exposed if their relationship was to end and another 57% said they didn’t openly discuss their finances with their partner in a long-term relationship.

Almost one in ten said they didn’t want their other half to know anything about their finances.

The reasons for secrecy in a relationship include having been hurt financially by a previous partner (11%), feeling uncomfortable because one partner has more or less money than the other (16%), and wanting to protect themselves financially in case of a relationship break up (8%).

Cities where couples are the most financially secretive were Birmingham (53%)
 and Liverpool (51%)
 whilst Leeds, Glasgow and London rounded out the top five.

Jamie Smith-Thompson, managing director at Portafina, said: “It’s not unusual for friends or colleagues to talk about money when things get tight before payday, but we wanted to know just how far these conversations go and how much we share.

“We were surprised to find that over half of those in relationships don’t discuss details such as salary, debts and savings with their partner, with debts being at the bottom of the sharing list.

“While some people see this as a way of protecting themselves in the future, the benefits of sharing important financial details and knowing about potential pressure points – such as debts or changes to retirement planning – should not be underestimated. More openness and communication in relationships can really help people create the future lifestyle they want.”