'Hard truth': A retired Navy vet thought he'd never work again, but now money is tight — and a $700,000 inheritance wasn't enough to save his marriage

They had substantial assets, but that didn’t mean they felt financially secure. Their numbers showed about $474,000 in assets, $257,000 in investments, $24,000 in savings and roughly $70,000 in debt. Their net worth was about $685,000, while fixed costs consumed 81% of their $17,000 monthly net income.

The $700,000 inheritance changed their life — but not their money habits

Lauren received $700,000 after her mother died in 2014 and her father died unexpectedly in 2016. She said the inheritance helped the couple build the life they have, including their home. But some of that money was also lost in a pool-related scam: a man connected to an excavation crew took about $40,000 after digging a hole for their backyard project and then disappearing.

The couple later faced other disagreements over major purchases, including a $150,000 pool and a $3,200 bounce house.

For Lauren, the problem wasn’t simply that Robert wasn’t earning as much as she was. The burden of too much financial responsibility, and the lack of communication, equality and contribution had built resentment: “I feel like I’ve been carrying the weight for a long time,” she explained.

Robert, meanwhile, initially saw retirement differently.

When retirement doesn’t work for a marriage

Robert had been a stay-at-home dad and believed he could remain retired after leaving the Navy — a view that would eventually change as the strain on their marriage became harder to ignore.

“It’s like I retired. I was like, ‘Okay, I can be retired and not have to work again.’ The hard truth was, I have to work,” he admitted.

He said he initially questioned whether working made sense because he expected to earn considerably less than Lauren. As a chef, he said he could make about $23 an hour, while her income was much higher.