Since the crash, the number of couples who say they ve divided some of their finances has grown almost 20 percent. But splitting the investing pie doesn t always pay off fiscally or emotionally. Here s a look at the pros and cons of going solo.

* Different Strokes Differences in spouses investing styles can widen in tough times. During the recent financial crisis, nearly three-quarters of husbands wanted to stay the course, compared with only 64 percent of wives, according to Fidelity Investments.

* Closing the Gap Women outlive men by five to 10 years, yet earn 23 percent less, which means lower Social Security benefits. Many women use separate accounts to close the retirement-income gap by investing more aggressively or saving more.

* Fun Money Partners often use their separate assets for personal indulgences, whether that means a new flat-screen TV or an extra vacation. This can be empowering in a marriage, says Elizabeth Cox, a financial adviser who invests independently from her husband: Both of the parties feel in control.

Against:

* Fleeced by Fees At full-service firms, spouses may face higher fees if they turn one large account into two small ones. Plus, there are investments you can t get into, says Keith Whitaker, managing director at Wells Fargo s Family Wealth group.

* Double Trouble Spouses with separate investing lives run the risk of trading the same equities. That means they could end up paying double the commission for the same stock and overexposing themselves to the same risks.

* Cutthroat Competition In a recent PayPal survey, more than 40 percent of couples reported squabbling due to the recession. Yet Doug Lockwood, a Manasquan, N.J., certified financial planner, says some spouses with split accounts are now competing with each other over returns and bickering just as much as before.