By Justin Bachman, AP Business Writer

FISCAL COMPATIBILITY: Are we compatible?

Just as a sense of humor is almost an automatic mandatory as a must-have attribute for most of us, finances play a role. More than three-quarters in a telephone poll of 1,022 people said they'd advise a friend to learn if the object of their affection has a steady job, and 76 percent said they'd even counsel on learning about their credit history.

"How you handle your money sends strong signals to others, especially significant others," said Andy Jolls, vice president of myFICO, the online credit score service offered by Minneapolis-based credit rating company Fair Isaac Corp.

Women found credit history more crucial than men. Nearly 90 percent of women said a steady job was important, and 84 percent cited credit history as important qualities to consider before entering into a romantic relationship.

For men? Laughs and lips: 85 percent said a sense of humor was paramount and 42 percent rated kissing ability as keen to assessing a potential mate's long-term suitability.

"Opposites may attract, but I wouldn't put my money on a relationship of financial opposites," said Suze Orman, a personal finance writer and host of her own cable television program.