Opinion ID: 1922192
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ms. Lake's expected investment income.

Text: Ms. Lake further contends that the trial court abused its discretion in considering her potential, rather than her actual, investment income in determining the appropriate alimony award. Although Ms. Lake recognizes that one of the factors which the trier of fact must consider in determining the appropriate amount of maintenance is a party's financial resources, including expected investment income, see Skiff v. Skiff, 277 A.2d 284, 286 (D.C.1971), she argues that the court's determination of her future investment income was unsupported by the evidence. After considering Ms. Lake's monthly expenses and income based on her earning capacity as a real estate agent or court reporter, the court determined that Ms. Lake was left with a negative monthly balance of $1,400, and awarded alimony in the amount of $1,000, leaving a $400 monthly shortfall (or $4,800 annually). See supra note 8. The court noted, however, that Ms. Lake's net worth was substantial and that proper management of her assets should reduce her financial needs significantly. Ms. Lake does not contest the alimony court's determination that her total net worth was $919,426. [16] Instead, she contends that it was inappropriate for the court to speculate about her anticipated earnings from these assets and to expect Ms. Lake to employ her net assets  either by invasion of principal or need for increased future earnings  for daily support. Although there was no direct testimony regarding Ms. Lake's investment income, her counsel represented to the court that she had at least $250,000 in liquid assets currently available, of which a conservative five percent could reasonably be imputed as annual investment income. Therefore, the alimony court's conclusion that Ms. Lake would be able to cover the $4,800 annual shortfall with the conceded $12,500 investment income from her liquid assets is supported in the record. Moreover, contrary to Ms. Lake's claim, the $12,500 annual investment income would not require invasion into principal or increased future earnings. As Ms. Lake's counsel stated, [t]he stocks and the bank account are liquid and producing income. Cf. Skiff, 277 A.2d at 287 (holding that requesting spouse was not obliged to deplete inheritance for support where other spouse was able but refused to provide support). [17] Although the court noted generally that proper management of Ms. Lake's substantial net worth would reduce her overall financial need, there is no evidence that it improperly calculated Ms. Lake's alimony award based on a projected future return on assets greater than the actual return she was receiving at the time of the alimony trial. Cf. Joel v. Joel, 559 A.2d 769, 771-72 (D.C.1989) (remanding trial court's order reducing alimony based on assumptions about future events). Because the objective of alimony is to provide reasonable and necessary support to the requesting spouse, McEachnie, 216 A.2d at 170, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in considering Ms. Lake's reasonable prospective investment income in determining the appropriate amount of alimony.