My wife (41F) and I (45M) are getting a divorce (in the US, Nebraska). Trying to figure out the best way to take care of some stock investments through a brokerage account that I personally manage. It's done very well.
The account is joint. I can't change it to a solo account without making a new one and transferring assets... which means capital gains will hit us. And we don't have enough losses to offset those gains.
So I'm considering 3 options. And I don't even know if 2 of these are something the lawyers would agree to. Just wanted the community's opinions first.
Option 1: We sell it all and close the account. We split the money and pay the taxes.
Option 2: I leave the account alone. We'll continue to maintain it as a joint account, but I'll be the account manager (as I have been for 15 years). I'll provide her with updates or liquidation as needed. She will be entitled to half of whatever the account balance happens to be whenever liquidation occurs.
Option 3: I buy out her half of the account but I leave it as joint, with the written and notarized stipulation that she will not claim any of the account value or have any say in how the account is managed.