Well, I do not know if anyone is interested in a man's perspective but I will give my thoughts.

Since I have been on the site, I've met and talked with quite a few women. Most were polite and sensible and easy to talk to. We are all are curious, but it takes time to discover what is important about a person, and none of us are always patient. Actually, there are much more critical questions than money (although that is a good thing to know). What if the guy is rich, but he is nasty and rude to others? You know, the fortunes of a decent man can change for the better, but a harsh and difficult man with money is probably not going to get any nicer. There are reasons some men are unpleasant and money cannot fix that. By the way, does anyone know if my dear friend Tom is still on the site; is he in Italy or is he back in the Canary Islands! We still need to get together for pizza!

Some information is not critical to immediately know. For me, I would try to get know him through casual conversation. How much time should you spend? I do not know, it is different for everyone. If you discover you do not like him, his finances are irrelevant. If you do like each other, "What kind of work do you do?" is a normal question (and not perceived as greedy or materialistic); you are asking him about his life and what he enjoys. Most men are proud of our accomplishments and like to boast, especially about things we have built (like a business); if he has done well, he will let you know. If you get him bragging, he will tell you everything you wants to know!!! Listen to hear what he tells you, but also what he avoids telling you.  If he likes you and is honest, he will be glad to tell you not only about his life, but also what will make you feel more secure. He will realize what you need to know and find a way to tell you, you do not need to worry. Of course, we are talking about a decent man...

Smart women know what type of information a man is avoiding, but not always the reason why. I would not end a relationship based solely on his perceived financial status. He may not tell you everything for a reason. When I first came here, my finances were not the greatest, but I knew that would eventually change. I got busy looking for a girl and earning a living, believing that by the time I found the right one, my finances would be what they needed to be. At some point, the finances improved faster than finding the girl.

A man's financial situation can change for many reasons; that is not always predictable. He can receive a promotion at work, sell a piece of real estate, make a big profit in his business, cash in bonds, he can sell his favorite sports car or boat, his stock or investments can rise or he can win the lottery. (The lottery is not likely to happen.) My favorite is, he can receive an inheritance or cash in his retirement account. If you disqualify a man based on what you think he has, it could be a mistake. There is also something else to consider; if he loves you, perhaps he will move heaven and earth to get to you (he will sell that sports car he loves); he will arrange for the money to be available. When my young son met a girl he loved, I was shocked how quickly he arranged the money to go be with her. He arranged to attend school where she was and eventually married her, with little help from me. He now has a beautiful little baby girl; his picture is on my profile. Men can accomplish incredible things if they are motivated. One must also realize that a wealthy man can lose it all overnight.

Unfortunately, all relationships require a time investment and there is never guarantee of success; that is true for us men as well as the women. You ladies must believe we men must also sift a lot of chaff to find the prize! (Perhaps we should start a thread for everyone to tell odd and funny stories of their experiences here. That would be a long one!) When we find someone that looks good, it takes time to find out what she is like, and that can be a difficult process. With experience, I have discovered ways to "streamline" the process, to discard what is not good and move forward, but we can never get away from the element of time. Some good news, when you find that one, your basic concept of time changes very quickly; time becomes "relevant to the circumstance", but I caution everyone to guard your heart. Never, never allow yourself to fall in love until you know positively for sure... and, again, that takes time.

...of course, these are just my thoughts.   Oh! And one more thing! Do not believe everything you hear in the ladies forum! Xaxaxaxaxaxa!  

P.S. Hello, Tatiana (43 from Kharkiv), my dear, sweet and lovely friend! You look gorgeous today, as always, and you smell just wonderful!