Mediation in Action — Brian & Nedra

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Brian has always been the entrepreneurial type. Just out of one business and on the verge of starting another, he needs to borrow money off his $1.2 million retirement account to go forward. His wife Nedra, increasingly wary of risk, wishes he would end this phase of his career and find something more stable. She is resisting this new venture, making Brian feel wounded and emotionally distant. They are talking about divorce.

At the start, the mediator makes sure not to advise. After some time listening, she believes she sees the makings of a compromise. The resulting agreement allows Brian access to retirement account funds, while transferring a larger percentage of their shared property, including their home and securities accounts, to Nedra. The mediation in this case was a mix of counseling, problem-solving, and sound financial planning.