Chapter 8 - FAMILY EQUALIZATION
The spreadsheet was called:
FAMILY EQUALIZATION MODEL.
Columns:
CLAIRE BRANCH.
KEVIN BRANCH.
Assets.
Income.
Housing.
Retirement.
Child opportunities.
Debt.
Under Claire:
Morgan Trust balance.
Home equity.
Salary.
Aaron life insurance — $620,000.
Noah college funding.
Under Kevin:
Trust balance.
Mortgage.
Business losses.
Divorce costs.
Madison school.
Madison tennis.
Then a column:
ADJUSTED FAMILY CAPACITY.
Mine:
SURPLUS.
Kevin:
DEFICIT.
I stared until the words blurred.
“Who created this?”
Dad.
“Did Grandmother Evelyn authorize this system?”
“No.”
“Does the trust require equalization?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because one branch was thriving and one was under pressure.”
“That happens.”
Dad looked angry.
“You can afford compassion.”
I almost laughed.
“Compassion with my signature?”
“That’s not what I—”
“You built a spreadsheet where my dead husband’s insurance is a reason Kevin gets access to my family branch.”
He looked down.
May you like
Yes.
That was exactly what he had done.
