Welcome back to another episode of “Finding the Guardian of Your Soul®”. I’m your host, Lisa Shield, and today we have a very special guest joining us. We are thrilled to have the distinguished family law expert, Aaron Thomas, on the show. Aaron is a three-time recipient of Atlanta’s Best Divorce Attorney Award and the founder of Aaron Thomas Law, one of Georgia’s fastest-growing family law firms. With a Harvard Law School background, Aaron has represented high-profile clients ranging from NBA legends to Grammy winners.
In today’s episode, we dive deep into the world of prenuptial agreements and unravel their significance in relationships. Aaron shares his expertise on the topic, emphasizing the importance of transparency when it comes to finances in a relationship. He enlightens us on the intricacies of prenups, from debunking common myths and misconceptions to navigating the legal requirements for their enforceability. Aaron provides insights into how couples can approach the conversation around prenups in a counterintuitive way, paving the way for happier and more equitable marriages.
We also explore the various aspects of financial planning within a relationship, discussing joint and separate accounts, retirement savings, and the division of assets before and after marriage. Aaron shares his personal experiences and offers valuable advice on setting boundaries, having regular financial checkpoints, and aligning intentions for a healthier financial future.
Whether you’re single and curious about prenups, engaged and contemplating one, or married and looking for strategies to improve your financial communication, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical tips. Join us as we embark on this journey with Aaron Thomas to unlock the secrets of finding the guardian of your soul.
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Email the podcast at: podcast@lisashield.com
What You’ll Hear In This Episode:
– About Aaron’s areas of expertise, including divorce, custody, child support, and pre- and postnuptial agreements
– The importance of setting clear financial terms during engagement reduces marital issues
– Fairer prenups lead to happier marriages
– Discussing what couples want to achieve with the agreement instead of using the term “prenup”
– Addressing the negative connotations and stereotypes associated with prenuptial agreements
– Meeting legal requirements such as signing the prenup at least a week ahead and having an opportunity to meet with an attorney
– Using prenuptial agreements to achieve transparency in relationships
— Negative consequences of financial surprises during a relationship, such as hidden debt
– Regular meetings to discuss finances, similar to shareholders’ meetings
– Communal assets and their potential complications in divorce, such as owning a house or making mortgage payments before marriage
– The potential loss of pre-marital assets in divorce settlements
– The benefits of having joint and separate accounts or an allowance system
– The tendency for people to be more comfortable being physically naked than financially open
– Lack of transparency in finances negatively affecting other areas of a relationship
– Being open about finances showing vulnerability and strengthening the overall relationship
– Not all family law attorneys are knowledgeable about prenuptial or postnuptial agreements
– The trade-offs involved in prenuptial agreements and the importance of making an intentional choice
Key quotes:
“My wife and I have regular checkpoints, whether it’s annually or quarterly or even monthly, for us to sit down and talk about the finances.” — Aaron Thomas
“A couple can be married for 10, 15, 20 years, and then a divorce happens and all of a sudden the wife is like, ‘What do you mean he wants half of the house that I paid for for 20 years? What do you mean he wants half of my retirement when he sat on the couch when I was out there busting my rear end to earn this money?’ She didn’t realize that when she got married, the default rule is that everything the couple earned over the course of the marriage is considered marital property.” — Aaron Thomas
“Setting clear financial terms during engagement reduces marital issues, and fair prenups lead to happier marriages.” — Lisa Shield
“Without a prenup, a lot of people lose what they built up even before the marriage.” — Aaron Thomas
“Most couples find it best to have, like I said, three buckets, a joint bucket and then two separate buckets so you still have autonomy over the money in your separate funds.” — Aaron Thomas
“It’s one of the biggest issues about relationships in general…people fall in love and they’re under the illusion that whatever they’re feeling in the initial stages is going to go on for the rest of the relationship.” — Lisa Shield
“People today…have an easier time getting physically naked than they do getting fiscally naked.” — Aaron Thomas
“What you are saying is that having a prenup isn’t just about preparing for what will happen in the case of a divorce. When you write a prenup, you’re also looking at how you’re going to handle your finances throughout the marriage. That’s a very important distinction that you’re making there.” — Lisa Shield
“And I would actually say that one of the sexiest things my husband ever did was on our fifth date, he sat down and he literally said, these are my finances. He told me. And for me, I felt so taken care of because he was being completely transparent. It spoke volumes about who he is, who he would be as a partner, and what our future would look like together. A lot of couples are afraid to talk about those things, but for me, it was sexy.” — Lisa Shield
Continue On Your Journey:
Lisa Shield | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Book a Call With Lisa
Email the podcast at: podcast@lisashield.com
