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#**11944** (**permalink**) 22-07-2020, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I have been happily married for over 30 years. Our two kids have graduated and are now working.

My wife and I stayed in the same halls at NUS. When we first started work 35 years ago, our salary were about the same and for some a few years, our salaries grew almost in tandem. When I went overseas to get a Masters degree, she quit her job to follow me and look after our children who were just 4 and 1 yo.

Because of that sacrifice, when we returned and my wife re-joined the workforce, her salary growth trajectory was affected. While my salary growth trajectory was quite steep (accompanying a few promotions along the way) her salary increment each year was very modest. A few years later, she went for her Masters degree and earned a promotion as well.
Our combined earned income is currently $500k pa and another $200k pa of passive income.

So is it good to marry a capable wife? Answer is a resounding yes. A capable wife :
1 keeps you on your toes,
2 challenges you to constantly improve yourself,
3. can hold meaningful debates on current affairs and other important matters
4. helps you cover "blind spots" in decision making whether in investment, career moves etc..
5. can help home tutuor your children all the way to uni. Both our kids dont have external tuition.
6. accelerates your wealth build up (my wife played a big part in our $200k pa passive income)
7 have a good network of equally capable friends that together can enhance your knowledge as well as in important contacts
8. removes the stress of being the sole bread winner in the family
9. brings with her, her own rich experience of work and life to enhance yours
10 can help contibute significantly in big investments like property purchases, stocks and others.

I count my blessings daily for a full and happy life, and my capable wife plays a huge part in it.

An important caveat here. If you are not able to match up to your wife's intellect, work ethic, capability and ambition, you will be very miserable. For example if you are a laid back bum with little ambition, you should know what kind of women to avoid in marriage.

I second this.

When I first knew my wife, she was already pursuing her masters and I was just an O levels holder. After NS, I continued with the uniform group for a good 7 years as I was obviously a lost soul who didnt know what to do in life. But I knew that I got to get my education, so I did my diploma in accounting but couldn't see myself doing accounting in the future. Wasted 2 years. Thereafter I did my diploma and degree focusing on IT, as it was a hot role. She supported me throughout, not financially but morale support and that was what kept me going. She would take the train to MDIS during my break at night, to have dinner together and asked about my lesson. Though I was 100% sure she know nuts about the technical terms I explained to her. Honestly I would I dropped out and wasted 20k if not for her.

After uniform group and my degree, I got to join one of the big 4s as a consultant, and now I'm in one of US MNC. Both of us are still young, in our mid 30s now and we are doing a combined of 280k/annum, with one infant child.

I am still considering pursing my masters or PhD after my boy has grows slightly older, but yes, I am able to hold meaningful debate with her especially when her background is on psychology. I always let her win in the debate due to her good command of the English language, but I'm living a very happy life. Hopefully we can move onto a private property, either condo or landed, after our 4 room HDB has reach MOP in a year's time.

My wife has always been my pillar of support and I 120% agree with the statement, behind every successful man is a strong woman.