Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® & Certified Financial Planner®
The Blog
The Importance of Estate Planning During Divorce
At least once a year, I invite clients in to conduct portfolio and beneficiary reviews on all important documents. It’s a rare year where I don’t find at least one policy or investment where an ex-spouse is still named as the beneficiary of the policy proceeds. Since IRAs, retirement plans, life insurance, and annuities are…
Divorce Planning Strategies: Early Access to Retirement Funds Without Penalties
It’s not unusual that a couple’s assets with the most equity are the marital residence and various retirement plans. So, what do you want your life to look like post divorce? Do you want to keep your marital home? Do you want the security of a funded retirement plan? It’s critical to understand your financial…
How Much Do You Know About Your Marital Finances?
What if your spouse came home and announced he/she wanted a divorce? What would you do? Where would you start? The good news is, statistics show that the number of marriages that last to at least 15 years has been growing since the 1980s. That means the rate of divorce has actually been dropping. Despite…
5 Simple Rules to Avoid Disaster When You Lose Your Cell Phone
It’s customary at our local Pilates studio to race in and place our keys, phones and shoes into tiny open cubbies. It’s a safe haven where we can separate ourselves from distractions, like the phone, for an hour. This time, when I finished my class and prepared to re-enter the world, I discovered my phone…
How Will the “Bright Line” Ruling on California’s Date of Separation Affect You?
One of the most commonly litigated issues in divorce proceedings is California’s “date of separation.” This occurs because the date of Separation is so impactful to the most critical financial aspects of divorce, such as asset division and support issues. In the past, to establish the date of separation, couples could lead separate lives under…
Life Is Short. Have an Affair.
Last week’s New York Times Technology headline, “The Ashley Madison Data Dump, Explained,” further delighted all who believe in the karma bus. The initial reports about the hack did not cover the moral aspect of cheating as much as the perils of being caught. Websites abound making the results easily available including names, as well…