A Widow Drains Her Daughter’s College Fund To Purchase a Beach House For Herself.
When a widow (OP) finds herself grappling with the unexpected realities of sudden wealth, she is forced to make tough financial decisions that jeopardize her daughter’s future. As her dream beachfront home threatens to slip away and her finances diminish, she drains her daughter’s college fund, leading to bitter confrontation and an uncertain future.
The Loss of a Love
The OP lost her beloved husband and, with him, the financial security he provided. She was left to navigate life as a single mother to their 16-year-old daughter.
A Generous Bequeath
The OP’s husband, a successful doctor, and investor, left his entire fortune to her, totaling over seven figures. “My late husband left me everything and told me to trust his lawyer,” she recollected.
The Decision to Move
Deciding to take a step forward, OP sold their old home and moved to Malibu, fulfilling a long-standing dream of living by the beach. But her late husband’s lawyer was vehemently against it, causing a rift in their relationship.
A New Home, A New Beginning
They found a beautiful seaside home, but OP was inexperienced in property dealings and didn’t expect the extra costs involved. The purchase strained her finances, but she proceeded for her and her daughter’s happiness.
Cutting Off the Counsel
With the lawyer’s fury at her decision, OP decided to stop taking his calls. She instead signed with a money manager who promised lucrative passive income – “passively earning 90 percent of what surgeons earned per year.”
The Fall of Finances
Despite the promises, the money manager squandered a significant portion of her wealth through poor investments. OP tried to salvage the situation by making her own investments, but this did not prove to be a successful strategy.
The Crumbling Reality
Now, with only $35k left and debts looming, the OP faced the harsh reality of her financial predicament. She could only afford one more month of mortgage payments before she would be left broke.
The Daughter’s Fund
However, there was one remaining asset – a significant fund her late husband had set up for their daughter. With this money, OP saw a chance to pay off their debts and keep their home.
The Difficult Decision
The OP made the difficult choice of liquidating her daughter’s college fund. She hoped to keep their financial situation afloat and to keep their dream home from slipping away.
The Harsh Confrontation
When she informed her daughter about the decision, the young girl was furious. “She cannot believe all her dad’s work is gone,” the OP remembered her words.
The Bitter Realization
OP realized that her decisions had not only resulted in financial ruin but also strained her relationship with her daughter. The girl also made it clear that she would not support OP in her retirement.
A Plea for Understanding
In the end, OP was left questioning her actions, seeking validation and understanding for her attempts to rectify her mistakes. “Am I an A** for trying to fix my mistakes and trying to keep our house?” she asked.
The Unforeseen Consequences
The story demonstrated that even with the best of intentions, unforeseen consequences could arise. OP had only wanted to maintain the lifestyle she and her daughter were accustomed to but ended up risking their financial future. With her finances dwindling and her daughter’s anger lingering, OP faced an uncertain future. The prospect of losing their home and her daughter’s respect weighed heavily on her.
Was The Woman’s Behavior Appropriate?
The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter. Here are some of their responses:
Forum Responded
One reader said, “You decided not to listen to the lawyer, you decided to move to an extremely expensive place, and you decided to trust someone’s shady advice.”
Another responder wrote: “You robbed your daughter of a chance to start her life off comfortably and took money that was never intended for you.”
A different person states, “I’m sure your husband is rolling in his grave about how much you have royally messed up. And then you go and mess with your daughter’s education fund?”
What Do You Think?
What are your thoughts on their actions?
What would you have done in this situation?
This story is inspired by this thread.
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Alexander Veros
Alex is a writer for Top Dollar Investor, focusing on lifestyle, travel, and business stories. Alex has started several online businesses and is a blogger who loves providing quality content to help others. He is passionate about affiliate marketing, finance, and cryptocurrency.
