I’m 78, have been married twice and have been corresponding with a 53-year-old woman in Shenzhen, China, who’s a store proprietor. She will get a authorities pension however doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of belongings. She is divorced (no less than as soon as), no kids. She just isn’t fluent in English. Our letters are translated.
I’ve invited her to go to me within the USA and to cowl all incurred prices. I’ve a sense after we meet we might fall in love. I wouldn’t marry with out a prenuptial settlement. I’d need the settlement to be additionally in Chinese language and have her seek the advice of a Chinese language-speaking legal professional.
I’ve two grown kids, ages 55 and 52. My daughter (52) is married and has a 12-year-old son. My son, 55, has by no means been married and has no kids. He’s in a 16-year dedicated relationship.
Each my kids are financially steady and comfy. I’ve a nest egg of about $13 million, invested primarily in index funds. I proceed to fund a 529 school plan for my grandson that has sizable belongings now. I nonetheless work half time. My questions concern two points.
- What could be a good settlement within the occasion we divorce? I envision one thing like a 10-year vesting interval. In different phrases, she would get half after 5 years, the total quantity after 10. I assumed a good settlement after 10 years could be $8,000 a month (she must pay taxes on that quantity). I need to be honest. Any phrases could be negotiable. She doesn’t find out about this and will counter with one thing fairly totally different after assembly with a lawyer.
- What about dying? Possibly, she would outlive me. I wish to go away $5 million to every of my two kids. My son is the present executor. Choices for my spouse embrace $8,000 per thirty days for all times or a lump sum. If the steadiness stayed the identical, she would get $3 million and my kids would get $5 million every. Given her age, I don’t suppose it’s cheap to ask her to work. What do you suppose is honest? I believe my son favors no lump sum, however I need to do the suitable factor and acknowledge my son’s considering could also be unreasonable.
-Final Time Round
Pricey Final Time,
You’ve by no means met this lady, but you’re already interested by present for her in divorce or dying. Your questions could be finest posed to an legal professional, in addition to your personal monetary planner, given your substantial belongings. However that’s past untimely at this level.
Have you ever ever had a face-to-face dialog along with your love curiosity by way of FaceTime or Zoom? I need to say this as gently as doable: Planning a future with somebody you haven’t even met is a trademark signal of a web-based romance rip-off.

Ask Pricey Penny!
Get sensible cash recommendation from Robin Hartill, the voice of Pricey Penny and a Licensed Monetary Planner.
DISCLAIMER: Questions will seem in The Nourishmoney’s “Pricey Penny” column. We’re unable to reply each letter. We reserve the suitable to edit and publish your questions. However don’t fear — your identification will stay nameless.
Anybody can declare to be another person utilizing doctored or stolen photographs. It’s additionally straightforward for scammers to assemble details about you thru Google and social media, then tailor their faux persona round what you need to hear.
A video chat is way more durable for scammers to faux their approach via in contrast with e-mail or textual content. Scammers will usually have countless excuses for why they will’t organize a video chat. Or they’ll agree, however the lighting and sound will likely be poor, or their picture will likely be frozen.
You would additionally strive operating her photos via Google’s reverse picture search. If you happen to discover the identical picture throughout a number of websites, you’re in all probability coping with a scammer. Googling the textual content of the messages you’ve exchanged can be revealing since scammers usually recycle the romantic traces time and again.
If you happen to’re nonetheless decided to fulfill after doing due diligence, ask the lady to ship you her passport and some other essential documentation. Then, you possibly can guide the airplane ticket. Don’t ship her cash or share monetary data, like your checking account quantity, beneath any circumstance. At worst, you’ll be out the price of a airplane ticket if she out of the blue cancels — by which case, it’s worthwhile to run.
You sound extraordinarily considerate, and also you’ve clearly had monetary success. Each of these issues will make you a fascinating associate. However I can’t assist however be skeptical about this relationship. Even when the lady is strictly who she claims to be, the space places unbelievable strain on you each to make issues work. Hardly ever do first dates finish in marriage.
Do you have to meet head to head, method issues with the wholesome skepticism it is best to carry to any new relationship. If issues don’t work out with this lady, strive pursuing potential companions who stay nearer to you. Much less distance means decrease stakes. If you happen to’re already drafting a prenup and revisions to your property plan for somebody you’ve by no means met, I’d say decreasing the stakes is a step in the suitable route.
Robin Hartill is an authorized monetary planner and a senior author at The Nourishmoney. Ship your difficult cash inquiries to [email protected].