Templates downloaded: official 529 distribution request; mortgage assumption denial letter; airline voluntary cancellation form. I printed each, filled in account numbers, signed with the same pen I used for his college applications, scanned and returned to Morgan for final sign‑off.
If being called pathetic was the price for years of backup, the price just expired.
I started the coffee maker, selected the darkest roast, and poured the first mug. Back at the desk, I cross‑referenced every transfer log. The 529 alone documented sixty monthly deposits of $580 each, plus lump sums from tax refunds. The condo mortgage showed on‑time payments for forty‑eight consecutive months—principal reduction of $42,000.
Clock read 1:30. Second mug down. I pulled comparable sales data from three real‑estate portals—nearby units closed between $375,000 and $390,000 in the last quarter. I added a column for projected net proceeds after commission and closing costs. Conservative estimate: $45,000 profit.