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Fair Split of Assets?

  • Missinglink
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12 Dec 20 #515090 by Missinglink
Topic started by Missinglink
Advice please on whether this is a fair split of assets:

My wife has moved out. 20+ years marriage. Ages 50 and 47. Salaries (£53k and £45k) House net equity after mortgage £220k (joint names), Investments/cash £125k (joint). My DC pension £200k. Wife NHS Final salary pension £410k. Total assets to split £955k. We have broadly agreed on the following, but just want to get opinions on whether it is fair. Trying to agree this amicably.

Proposal : I stay in the house (wife has already moved out) One child aged 12. We are co parenting 50/50, so no maintenance needed. Partner gets £100k to purchase a new house and pension of £410k = £510k. I stay in the house - £220k, remaining ISA/cash £25k and pension £200k = £445k.

Split 53/47%. Wife gets 53% because her pension is still some time away and there will be some discounting against equity. We are broadly in agreement re this split apart from partner's comment that I have immediate access to cash/equity so thinks she could probably get more cash/equity? Also our current house is bigger (but not massively so) than she could afford on her single salary plus £100k and mortgage. My argument is her final salary pension (and public sector employment) is MUCH more stable and secure than my private sector job and DC pension (especially in the current Covid environment) which is why I need the £25k as an emergency/rainy day fund. Plus by me remaining in the house I am providing some stability for our son. I have no plans to sell the house till our son turns 18, so can't really access the equity in the short term anyway.

As I said we are both fairly happy with the above split, but just want some views on whether this seems broadly fair?

  • hadenoughnow
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13 Dec 20 #515091 by hadenoughnow
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I think you should bear in mind that the NHS pension is far more valuable that a defined contribution one. A £ of NHS pension will provide a bigger income than a £ of defined contribution pension.

The first question would be whether splitting the equity and savings equally would be enough to house you both with a mortgage apiece.

Then the pension pot should be split to ensure equality of income in retirement.

Hadenoughnow

  • Rickoshea
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14 Dec 20 #515100 by Rickoshea
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You wouldn't normally reflect the split of liquid and illiquid assets as a single percentage as they can't be compared £ for £.

Equity looks to be split 64/36 in your favour whereas pensions are split 33/67 in her favour as it stands.

As there is a child I imagine will be the question about whether you are both able to be suitably housed with the arrangement if your wife has less equity and a lower salary.

Has a solicitor given a view based on their knowledge?

  • Missinglink
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14 Dec 20 - 14 Dec 20 #515101 by Missinglink
Reply from Missinglink
Thanks for replies. Yes we would both be suitably housed given the current proposal which is why we are broadly in agreement with it. I do get the point about liquid/non liquid assets, however I cannot move till my son turns 18 so my "liquid" assets are in effect not that liquid. Maybe we could insert a clause saying that if I were to sell before my son turns 18 then she would get a share of the equity which might be more fair re the "liquid" assets. Re the non liquid assets Hadenoughnow makes a good point that a £ of a DB pension is not the same as a £ of a DC pension, so in effect the pensions split is more in her favour than it currently is on a £ for £ basis. Hesitant to go for pension sharing as there is a significant cost for an actuarial valuation (especially with a DB pension involved) plus the actual cost of the NHS pension sharing order.
Last edit: 14 Dec 20 by Missinglink. Reason: correction

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