Posts Tagged ‘Financial Planning’
The Myth of Being Fair
Sometimes “even” isn’t really fair. I have a lovely client who came to me when her husband left the family home. After much delay, he finally served her with his self-prepared divorce documents. In learning about his personality and history, I believe he factored into his projection his wife’s innate sense of fairness and wanted…
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Know How to Protect Yourself Financially Within a Relationship?
When you enter into a new relationship, you display the best version of yourself—the rose-colored glasses are shiny and new. As the relationship progresses, perhaps you decide to move in together. It is at this point that a serious discussion needs to happen—one that people are afraid to have. What happens if and when those…
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That Son of a B*#!h Took My Dependent! What Do I Do?
I clicked the e-File button to submit a last-minute client’s tax return. Within minutes, the IRS pinged me in their cryptic code: “Another taxpayer has claimed this dependent in a tax return already filed.” When that happens, there can only be two scenarios: either somebody has stolen their child’s identity or their ex-spouse has beat…
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3 Details NOT to Be Put Off to Your “Post-Divorce” Checklist
Most people don’t realize there is anything left to do after the divorce agreement is finalized. Once they’ve hammered out the details of the divorce settlement, signed on the dotted line, and accepted their fate, many clients assume that their attorney is going to take care of all the transitional issues for every item. However,…
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Put Your Money to Work Toward Your Future
Perhaps you are newly divorced or are going to be filing your tax return without your spouse for the first time this year. Failure to plan ahead can result in an unexpected tax liability. However, with proper planning, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of receiving a refund. Here are some suggestions about…
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Since Lifetime Spousal Support Is Dying Away…
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, “marriage, motherhood and homemaking” was considered a practical answer to the dilemma of long-term financial security. Lots of things have changed for better or worse. In the plus column: higher education, greater job opportunities and more “you can have it all, baby.” On the minus…
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Good News / Bad News – Tax Facts About Spousal Support
Each tax season in my work as a CFP, I have the unpleasant task of informing a recent divorcee that they have an unexpected and substantial tax liability. It’s a curious phenomenon that during tax preparation, the spousal support payor rarely forgets the deduction and chimes in with, “Don’t forget to include my alimony –…
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The Hidden Benefits of “Tax Season”
In most marriages, it is not unusual for one spouse to have a more “hands-on” role or a better understanding of the marital finances. For a variety of reasons (fear, control, stereotypical gender roles), the spouse who is less focused on “how the money works” may not possess the information necessary to understand or accurately…
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Thinking of Hiding Assets? Don’t!
In 1996, wife Denise Rossi purposefully hid lottery winnings in the amount of $1.3 million from her husband of 25 years. When her ex-husband realized what she had done, he filed a motion to set aside the divorce agreement. Denise was found guilty of fraud and her ex was awarded all $1.3 million of the…
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4 Ways to Minimize the Cost of Divorce
Whether mediating or litigating your divorce, costs can escalate quickly, especially if you are facing a complicated settlement. There are some simple ways, however, to help keep the cost of your divorce down. Here are 4 of them: Limit Email Communications Communicating with any divorce professional by email can substantially increase the costs of your…
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