Divorces are Pricey

Divorces ain’t cheap. They cost you in terms of cash and emotional currency (your’s and your kids’). Also, studies show that it has a long-term (negative) impact on your net worth.

If you must divorce, keep it civil. And be fair. The object here is to end it as quickly as possible. Don’t get your power struggle on. Its pointless. Your money pays for both attorneys…so, man up and move on!

Get Her a Decent Ring

Women like sparkly gems. Large ones. Unless you’re one of the founders of Google, you’ll need to make a tradeoff between size and quality when shopping for wedding rings. Shoot for a carat if you can afford it. And, prepare to maintain an insurance floater on it for the first few years. If she doesn’t lose it, cancel it after that time.

After the storytelling and excitement subside, set expectations about what will happen should the ring be lost. Will you buy a replacement? If it’s insured, will you use the reimbursement for a down payment on a house or fund an IRA? Rings are valuable, perhaps even your most significant asset when you first get hitched. Consider them part of your portfolio.