Chapter 13 - My father’s advice
My father, Thomas Hayes, was seventy.
Retired high-school chemistry teacher.
No financial sophistication beyond index funds and an allergy to debt.
When I told him the situation, he said:
“Do you need money?”
Not:
How much is Daniel worth?
Not:
Will you get the house?
“Do you need money?”
I started crying.
“No.”
“Do you have access to your own account?”
“Yes.”
“Your name?”
“Yes.”
“Enough for six months?”
I checked.
Not quite.
That frightened me.
For eleven years, Daniel managed most investment accounts.
I had my own salary from freelance design consulting but transferred much of it into joint savings.
My father said:
“Then solve that first.”
No revenge.
No forensic fantasy.
Cash flow.
My divorce lawyer later agreed.
I opened an individual account.
Redirected my income.
Documented every transfer.
Did not empty joint accounts.
Did not hide assets.
May you like
Boring decisions.
Good decisions.
