30 year career in management, very specialized. I have a MBA. My segment of the industry has been completely decimated and I’ve been unemployed for 7 months. I am still interviewing for jobs but they all want me to relocate and/or are with early stage companies.
I recently decided to get certified teaching high school math and business. The pay cut is enormous, but I live lean - and could retire in 15 years (I’m 55 now). I can’t take the risk anymore in this economy and I feel it’s going to get worse.
However, I still have 11 years of child support to pay and that is based on a 6 figure salary + bonus. I can teach both high school and at the local community college but it will be no where near my previous income.
I filed for a change in circumstances and, as I expected, the counter claim from my ex states I’m willfully underemployed. Has anyone else dealt with this before? My understanding is that I’m going to have to prove to a judge that I cannot earn at my previous level to get any sort of relief. What’s worse is that my ex only works part time so I’m basically subsidizing her as I burn through savings and retirement.
TIA
L