I had to break up my last post because it was too long.
In June 2002, while working for a company, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding a position at another company. in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was offered the position but was expected to move the family to Raleigh. During the summer of 2002, our entire family drove to Raleigh to check the area out and to get a feel of what life would be like there. At the time, STBX was VP Sales U.S. for an American company, which had the U.S. head office in Richmond, Virginia, approximately 1 hour away by car. After discussing the opportunity with Rosemary, we decided that I should take the position and work from home until we could all move down.
STBX would work from our home in Raleigh most days and commute to Richmond when needed for meetings. I started with the new company in January 2003, earning approximately $95,000 CAD per year. My offer also stated that my salary would increase to about $120,000 CAD once I moved to Raleigh. In August of 2003 STBX was let go from her job. We contacted a lawyer and started proceedings against the company. Rosemary was offered a position for $100,000/yr with a company in Mississauga in January 2004. As this was her only offer we decided that I would have to tell my company that I wouldn’t be able to move to Raleigh. Because of this, I was let go.
Later that year STBX received a settlement from her former company. We agreed that she would have them deposit approximately $40,000 into her RRSPs, so that she wouldn’t be taxed on the settlement.
From 1998 to 2004, all of my work experience was in the fields of electrical and mechanical engineering. During the 1990s, civil engineering positions were scarce, so much so that I was never able to get a co-op term position in the civil discipline, so I took jobs that were mechanical, electrical, and chemical in nature. Upon completing my degree in civil engineering, I had a very difficult time finding employment. I had spent my entire career in the electric vehicle controller and motor field, but I couldn’t find any positions in the industry to even apply for. I applied for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering positions, including sales, but my lack of a degree in mechanical and electrical engineering was a barrier for me, as was my lack of experience in civil engineering.
As a result, I remained unemployed until 2005, when I joined a start-up company founded by a previous colleague. As a start-up, there wasn’t any money available for salary, but both STBX and I agreed that it was a good time to take a chance on a start-up. I wasn’t leaving a job to do it, she was making enough to support the family, and we felt that there was a good chance that the start up could do very well. I worked with them for two years, until we decided that we would be unable to continue in business. During this time, I continued to look for mainstream employment, but was never hired, though I had many interviews and was ranked as the second candidate many times. I took a part-time position with an environmental firm, for only $16/hr. The owner wanted to spin off a new company from and I was suggested as the person who could perform the lab work to make the new business viable, engineer the packaging and delivery system, and run that portion of the business. Unfortunately, the company experienced a down-turn in revenue, so I ended up performing odd jobs, soil remediation, and limited testing on the new venture. In August 2008 I was hired by my present employer for a contract position. In November 2009 I was hired for another contract, expiring December 2010.
From 2004 until 2008 when I was hired for the contract position, I continually looked for full-time work. I also tried to get part-time work, which I did with the start-up and the environmental company, but STBX’s erratic travel schedule, coupled with child care costs, made it very difficult to find a part-time position that only had hours between 9 am and 4 pm.
Throughout our marriage, I supported STBX in her career. I have been the primary caregiver for our daughter until last month when we agreed to a week on/week off parenting split. Without my support, STBX wouldn’t have been able to travel as frequently, as long, or on such short notice (sometimes only a few hours). RSTBX has told me and others that she wouldn’t be able to do what she does if she didn’t have me at home. I provided STBS with guidance and advice when dealing with her superiors at work, co-workers, clients, as well as help with sales, literature, and presentations. I have many emails from her asking for my help.
In summary, she makes $over 170k and I make about $67k. Am I likely to get SS?
In June 2002, while working for a company, I was contacted by a recruiter regarding a position at another company. in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was offered the position but was expected to move the family to Raleigh. During the summer of 2002, our entire family drove to Raleigh to check the area out and to get a feel of what life would be like there. At the time, STBX was VP Sales U.S. for an American company, which had the U.S. head office in Richmond, Virginia, approximately 1 hour away by car. After discussing the opportunity with Rosemary, we decided that I should take the position and work from home until we could all move down.
STBX would work from our home in Raleigh most days and commute to Richmond when needed for meetings. I started with the new company in January 2003, earning approximately $95,000 CAD per year. My offer also stated that my salary would increase to about $120,000 CAD once I moved to Raleigh. In August of 2003 STBX was let go from her job. We contacted a lawyer and started proceedings against the company. Rosemary was offered a position for $100,000/yr with a company in Mississauga in January 2004. As this was her only offer we decided that I would have to tell my company that I wouldn’t be able to move to Raleigh. Because of this, I was let go.
Later that year STBX received a settlement from her former company. We agreed that she would have them deposit approximately $40,000 into her RRSPs, so that she wouldn’t be taxed on the settlement.
From 1998 to 2004, all of my work experience was in the fields of electrical and mechanical engineering. During the 1990s, civil engineering positions were scarce, so much so that I was never able to get a co-op term position in the civil discipline, so I took jobs that were mechanical, electrical, and chemical in nature. Upon completing my degree in civil engineering, I had a very difficult time finding employment. I had spent my entire career in the electric vehicle controller and motor field, but I couldn’t find any positions in the industry to even apply for. I applied for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering positions, including sales, but my lack of a degree in mechanical and electrical engineering was a barrier for me, as was my lack of experience in civil engineering.
As a result, I remained unemployed until 2005, when I joined a start-up company founded by a previous colleague. As a start-up, there wasn’t any money available for salary, but both STBX and I agreed that it was a good time to take a chance on a start-up. I wasn’t leaving a job to do it, she was making enough to support the family, and we felt that there was a good chance that the start up could do very well. I worked with them for two years, until we decided that we would be unable to continue in business. During this time, I continued to look for mainstream employment, but was never hired, though I had many interviews and was ranked as the second candidate many times. I took a part-time position with an environmental firm, for only $16/hr. The owner wanted to spin off a new company from and I was suggested as the person who could perform the lab work to make the new business viable, engineer the packaging and delivery system, and run that portion of the business. Unfortunately, the company experienced a down-turn in revenue, so I ended up performing odd jobs, soil remediation, and limited testing on the new venture. In August 2008 I was hired by my present employer for a contract position. In November 2009 I was hired for another contract, expiring December 2010.
From 2004 until 2008 when I was hired for the contract position, I continually looked for full-time work. I also tried to get part-time work, which I did with the start-up and the environmental company, but STBX’s erratic travel schedule, coupled with child care costs, made it very difficult to find a part-time position that only had hours between 9 am and 4 pm.
Throughout our marriage, I supported STBX in her career. I have been the primary caregiver for our daughter until last month when we agreed to a week on/week off parenting split. Without my support, STBX wouldn’t have been able to travel as frequently, as long, or on such short notice (sometimes only a few hours). RSTBX has told me and others that she wouldn’t be able to do what she does if she didn’t have me at home. I provided STBS with guidance and advice when dealing with her superiors at work, co-workers, clients, as well as help with sales, literature, and presentations. I have many emails from her asking for my help.
In summary, she makes $over 170k and I make about $67k. Am I likely to get SS?
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