William from Dallas had a problem most people would love to have. He's sitting on about $10 million in net worth and trying to figure out how to handle a prenup before marrying someone who isn't quite as financially loaded. So he did what anyone would do: he called "The Ramsey Show" for advice.

Dave Ramsey heard him run through the numbers and responded with what might be the best compliment in personal finance: "You're a good freak." Not exactly poetry, but when you're dealing with that kind of wealth gap before marriage, you need clear thinking more than romance.

When The Numbers Don't Match

William's situation is pretty straightforward on paper. He owns properties worth roughly $1.4 million with $230,000 in debt. He's holding about $750,000 in cash. And then there's the business, valued at $7 million. His fiancée doesn't bring the same financial firepower to the table, which is creating some tension.

Ramsey said prenups usually aren't necessary, but this is different. When one person walks into a marriage with substantially more assets, protecting what's already been built starts to make sense. The twist? According to Ramsey, the real trouble usually doesn't come from the couple themselves.

"Some family members come out of the woodwork and screw up everything," he said. Extended relatives start asking questions about motives or expecting financial help, and suddenly a relationship issue becomes a family circus. The prenup creates boundaries that protect both partners when outsiders get involved.

William mentioned his fiancée initially worried the prenup meant he cared more about money than their relationship. He also raised concerns about Texas community property laws and how those rules could affect asset division if things go sideways.

Structure Matters More Than Sentiment

Ramsey had specific advice about how to write the agreement. Don't tie any payout to years married, he said, because that creates weird incentives during the rough patches every couple faces. Instead, the prenup should protect ownership of assets that already exist, especially the business.

Co-host Jade Warshaw asked whether the agreement should only cover the current value of the business. Ramsey was clear: it should "cover the ownership of the business, period," regardless of how much it grows in the future.

William asked a smart follow-up question. What happens if his fiancée contributes to the business after they're married and it expands because of her work? Ramsey said she'd still benefit through income, shared decisions, and the lifestyle the business provides. If her involvement genuinely drives growth, they can revisit the agreement with an attorney and modify or remove sections as needed.

Here's the thing, though: Ramsey said the prenup only matters if the marriage falls apart. Until that happens, the household should function as a partnership where major decisions are made together.

Legal Protection Doesn't Mean Financial Isolation

Ramsey emphasized that having legal protection shouldn't change how a couple operates day to day. He told William he's built more wealth by listening to his wife and treating their financial life as a team effort. Warshaw agreed, saying including a spouse in decisions creates balance and builds trust.

The prenup, Ramsey said, is just setting boundaries for rare worst-case scenarios. Income and daily financial choices should remain shared unless the relationship ends. Think of it as insurance you hope never to use, but you're glad it's there if everything goes wrong.

For William, the path forward seems clear: protect what he's already built, marry the person he loves, and run the household like partners. And maybe keep the extended family at a comfortable distance when money conversations start happening.