She Earns $170K At 27, He's A Teacher With A Trust — His 'Old Money' Millionaire Parents Say It's 'Emasculating' And Expect Her To Stay Home
- - She Earns $170K At 27, He's A Teacher With A Trust — His 'Old Money' Millionaire Parents Say It's 'Emasculating' And Expect Her To Stay Home
Casey B. RennerJanuary 12, 2026 at 4:01 AM
0
A 27-year-old woman said her fiancé's parents called her career "emasculating" and expected her to quit working after marriage.
In a post shared on the r/AITAH subreddit, the original poster wrote that she earns more than $170,000 a year, while her fiancé works as a teacher and earns significantly less. She added that he comes from an "old money" family and has a trust fund.
As the wedding approached, she wrote, his parents became increasingly uncomfortable with the income imbalance.
Don't Miss:
The ‘ChatGPT of Marketing' Just Opened a $0.85/Share Round — 10,000+ Investors Are Already In
Missed the AI Boom's Biggest IPOs? This Platform Lets Everyday Investors Access Private Tech Early
When Career Plans Collide With Family Expectations
The woman wrote that the issue came up during a conversation with her fiancé and his parents, when they told her they fully expected her to quit her job once they were married. At first, she laughed, thinking they were joking, but they were serious.
According to the post, the issue centered on the difference in their incomes. The OP wrote that while she expects to out-earn her fiancé over the course of her career, his trust fund is valued in the low seven figures and comes with strict limits on how the money can be used.
She wrote that his mother controls a separate trust with far more flexibility, including significant accumulated interest.
Trending: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth — Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro
A Financial Safeguard That Backfired
Given the expectation that she would give up a high-paying career, the OP wrote that she asked what financial protections would exist for her if she did so. She then proposed a solution she believed was reasonable: an irrevocable trust in her name.
Under her proposal, his parents would deposit the equivalent of her gross annual salary into the trust each year, with adjustments for raises and promotions, for the next 35 years. That arrangement, she wrote, would allow her to stay home with future children while ensuring she was financially protected if the marriage ended.
She wrote that the response was immediate and hostile.
See Also: 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets — Now You Can Own a Stake in the Platform Before the Raise Ends 1/19
No Trust, No Prenup, No Safety Net
According to the OP, her fiancé's parents accused her of being ridiculous for asking for money, even while insisting she stop earning her own. After that proposal was rejected, she suggested an alternative: a prenuptial agreement that would entitle her to half of her fiancé's trust fund if the marriage ended after she gave up her career.
That idea was also refused.
"I'm not quitting my career with zero safety net," the woman wrote, adding that the conversation left her questioning whether their expectations were reasonable at all.
Reddit Reacts
The post drew thousands of comments, many focused on financial independence and control.
"If they expect you to stop earning, then they're also responsible for protecting you financially," one commenter wrote. Others pointed to the imbalance in the expectations. "They want traditional roles, but only when it benefits them," another user added.
Read Next: $100k+ in investable assets? Match with a fiduciary advisor for free to learn how you can maximize your retirement and save on taxes – no cost, no obligation.
Image: Shutterstock
"ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now!
Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:
APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article She Earns $170K At 27, He's A Teacher With A Trust — His 'Old Money' Millionaire Parents Say It's 'Emasculating' And Expect Her To Stay Home originally appeared on Benzinga.com
© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Source: “AOL Money”
