Friday, May 28, 2010

Advice On Discussing A Prenup

I've noticed over the last couple of years that mainstream news websites like CNN.com and MSNBC.com have been running an increasing number of stories that are really more advice columns than news articles, like stories about re-investing in the stock market or about healthy eating.  I assume this trend is directly related to the major layoffs incurred by most major newsrooms over the last few years. Most of these articles seem like they could be written by someone simply sitting down at a computer, without having to go out and do any (expensive) reporting.


I've also noticed that many of these articles have suggestions that may seem sensible at first, but on reflection are actually wildly impractical.  The advice has the air of something that the author wrote because it sounded good, without ever having applied it in the real world.  A case in point is an article today on MSNBC that you can read HERE about the advisability of prenuptual agreements before marriage. It reads in part, "If one partner mentions a prenup, the other's reaction is inevitably 'You don't love me!', says Carol Ann Wilson, a financial adviser specializing in divorce in Longmont, Colorado.... To broach the subject in a nonconfrontational way, one partner might propose scheduling a financial discussion for, say, 7 to 9 p.m. one evening, followed by a romantic date afterward."


"A romantic date afterward." Really?  You suggest scheduling a contentious discussion about a prenup in advance? ("Hi Honey, can we pencil in a discussion about a prenup for next Thursday at 7 PM?  I know, I know.  But let's save the discussion for Thursday night.  Love you!  Bye...").  Then that's to followed immediately (spot on 9 PM) by a night of long-held gazes and passion?  Good luck with that.

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