"Protected" spouse fears for her future - wife excluded from family business

Nation's Business, July, 1991 by Donald J. Jonovic, Leslie Dashew Isaacs

Marcia Nesbitt is afraid. Her husband, Mike, and his two brothers own an industrial distribution company. Very successful, they have grown the business tenfold since they took over from their father 25 years ago.

Throughout the years, the Nesbitt brothers have maintained a strict policy: "No wives in the business." Marcia and her sisters-in-law have never liked the policy. Nevertheless, the brothers have kept their wives in ignorance about the business for a quarter of a century.

For the most part, Marcia was able to put the issue aside. She had children to raise. The business took most of Mike's time and energy. He and his brothers worked together well. There was always enough--even more than enough--money. To Marcia, issues outside the business seemed more important.

Now, however, everything has changed. The children are gone from the nest, and Marcia has a lot more time to consider her future. Some friction has developed between Mike and his brothers. Marcia has no idea what the problems are, but Mike's surliness when he comes home from the office is hard to ignore, as are the icy silences that have begun to punctuate family gatherings.

Worst of all, Mike is starting to talk about money problems and about cutting back on expenses. He hasn't actually said so, but Marcia believes the business is in trouble.

Mike is 65, and he'll be the first of the three brothers to retire. He and Marcia have never talked about that either. She has no idea how, or even if, he's going to get his money out of the business or what would happen to her if something happens to him.

Her questions are met with silence or are turned away with responses like, "Don't worry. You're going to be a rich widow." What can Marcia do?