【Education and Marriage Protection Trust for Middle-Class Families: A Steady Financial “Firewall” for Ordinary Lives】

Mr. Li, a department manager at an internet company, and his wife, a high school teacher, have a daughter currently in her second year of high school. Their family assets include a self-owned residence valued at RMB 6 million, a smaller suburban apartment worth RMB 2 million, and financial assets of RMB 3 million. The household earns about RMB 400,000 per year.

Their core concerns are to ensure their daughter’s future education expenses—whether she studies abroad or attends a domestic university (estimated at RMB 1.5 million)—while avoiding premature use of the funds. At the same time, they are mindful of the uncertainties that may arise in their daughter’s future marriage, and they wish to reserve a portion of their wealth as “pre-marital protection,” in a way that does not disrupt family harmony but still safeguards their daughter’s basic rights in the event of a worst-case scenario.

Mr. Li places the suburban apartment (RMB 2 million) and RMB 2 million in financial assets into a trust, retaining the main residence and RMB 1 million in liquid funds. According to the trust terms, once the daughter turns 18, RMB 300,000 will be automatically disbursed annually to either an overseas account (if she studies abroad) or a domestic education account (if she studies locally), continuing until university graduation, with a cap of RMB 1.5 million.

Before turning 25, the daughter will receive a monthly allowance of RMB 3,000 from the trust to support personal development and social needs. After marriage, 50% of the remaining trust principal (about RMB 1.5 million) will be converted into “marriage protection funds.” If the marriage lasts for more than 10 years without major disputes, she may withdraw the full amount. However, in the case of divorce, those funds will be prioritized for her essential needs such as housing and daily expenses, and will not be subject to division.

Upon the death of Mr. and Mrs. Li, all remaining assets in the trust will be passed on to their daughter.

Achieving Precise Wealth Planning for Middle-Class Families Through a Family Trust

Asset Independence:
The education fund and marriage protection assets are kept separate from day-to-day family expenses, preventing them from being misused due to impulsive investments or emergencies.

Phased Distribution According to Need:
Funds are released in stages corresponding to the daughter’s life phases—education, personal development, and marriage—ensuring financial support tailored to each period.

Soft Risk Isolation:
The marriage protection clause strikes a balance between protecting the daughter and maintaining harmony in her future family. It avoids emotional conflicts often caused by “pre-marital assets,” and brings both compassion and reason to wealth inheritance planning.