Whether you are single, married, going through a divorce, or are widowed, financial planning and investment management should be on the top of the list of things that you need to get involved with. This will not only empower your today, but will also help you secure your financial future. Here are a few things to start with:

• Gain an understanding of your household’s overall finances
• Set a realistic budget
• Maximize your savings
• Understand and manage debt
• Take advantage of employer sponsored plans or start your own retirement account if appropriate
• Explore the use of spousal IRA’s when you are out of the workforce raising your children
• Establish your long-term goals (future income needs, time horizon, etc.)
• Determine a target investment asset amount
• Identify an appropriate investment policy
• Invest soundly and monitor your progress on a regular basis
• Update your portfolio as your life changes or as you approach retirement

As a woman owned and operated financial planning and investment management firm, we understand the challenges women face firsthand. Our goal is to help you overcome these challenges and meet your financial goals. Here’s what you can expect from us:

Honesty

You can trust that we will guide you and empower you through difficult financial and sometimes uncomfortable conversations.

Transparency

We will spend the time to explain the strategy and investments that will help you achieve your goals.

Equal Partner

We will take the time to listen and work with you alone or with your spouse throughout the financial planning process. We will never simply dictate what we think is right for you.

The latest research suggests that divorce rates in the U.S. have been falling in recent decades. Still, many people face the difficult crossroads that comes when their marriage ends. Getting a divorce is a painful, emotional process. Don’t be in such a hurry to reach a settlement that you make poor decisions that can have life-long consequences. If divorce is a possibility, here are a few financial ideas that may help you prepare.

The most important task you can do is getting your finances organized. Identify all your assets and make copies of important financial papers, such as deeds, tax returns, and investment records. When it comes to dividing up your assets, consider mediation as a low-cost alternative to litigation. Most states have equitable-distribution laws that require shared assets to be divided 50/50 anyway. When a divorce becomes contentious, attorney’s fees can accumulate.

From a financial perspective, divorce means taking all the income previously used to run one household and stretching it out over two residences, two utility bills, two grocery lists, etc. There are other hidden costs as well, such as counseling for you or your children. Divorces also may require incurring one-time fees, such as a security deposit on a rental property, moving costs, or increased child-care.

Dividing assets may sound simple but it can be quite complex. The forced sale of a home or investment portfolio may have tax consequences. Potential tax liability also can make two seemingly equal assets have varying net values. Additionally, when pulling apart a portfolio, it makes sense to consider how each asset will suit the prospective recipient in terms of risk tolerance and liquidity.

During a divorce, many factors are competing for attention. By understanding a few key concepts, you may be able to avoid making costly financial mistakes.  A financial advisor can help you think through your lifestyle to gain a better understanding of your expenses both before and after a divorce. This is especially important for women who haven’t been involved in paying the bills, managing investments, buying insurance, or budgeting.

Financial stability is a top concern among women who divorce. Yet a new study finds that over 95% of women do not use a financial advisor when going through a divorce or following a divorce despite having financial goals they want to achieve. Going through a divorce has serious financial consequences with long lasting implications. 

Some considerations during and post divorce:

• Impact on portfolio and retirement accounts
• Tax consequences
  
• Understanding the time value of money (alimony, buyouts, delayed payments, etc)
• Income generation
• Health care or insurance 
• Estate planning

The first year after a death or divorce can be very rough. It is wise not to make any major changes, such as selling a house, right away. However, it is imperative to not delay the planning process.

Have you found yourself suddenly single? Here are 3 steps to take right now.  

For more on budgeting after divorce, click here.

At the heart of financial planning is understanding your goals and creating a road map to achieve them. A key part of the process is reconciling your income and savings with your spending. Further, we want to learn more about your personal situation, identify your dreams and goals, and understand your tolerance for risk. Long-term relationships that encourage open and honest communication have been the cornerstone of our firm's foundation of success. 

As you Advisor, will take our time time building a solid foundation rather than rush and create a plan that is unrealistic. You want to start the planning process as soon as you can, but you may not have all the answers right away, and that's to be expected. Let us help you navigate this process.