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When dealing with divorce, it can be difficult to focus on your future finances. However, it is very important to confront them sooner rather than later.
“People often say ‘I just want to get out’, but the reality is going to hit you later,” said Niv Parswood, a certified financial planner, managing director of Transition Planning and Guidance in Atlanta and a certified divorce financial analyst.
Persoud sees that low-income spouses often wonder about the actual cost of living – and is surprised. For example, if they want to keep a home, they often ignore costs such as lawn care, roof replacement, and property taxes.
Persaud has created a 10-point list to make clients aware of what he calls “lifestyle costs”. (See list below.)
Another big misconception is that people think that they will have marital support for the rest of their lives, but that is not how the legal system works, according to Parsaud.
Furthermore, he said, “each state and each county has its own laws and a lot depends on the judges, so it’s important to use an attorney from your county.”
CFP Cristina Carraguelo, a BDF-certified divorce financial analyst and asset manager in Chicago, says even the average person does not understand that not all assets are created equal.
“For example, $ 10,000 in one [individual retirement account] Or brokerage accounts aren’t like $ 10,000 in cash because of their various tax effects, “he said.” IRAs and brokerage accounts can trigger taxable profits. “
The role of financial advisors
“Financial advisers need to be involved in the divorce process because there are so many financial decisions that can affect others. [clients’] “It’s a time in your life when you see the effects before you make a decision,” Carragiolo said.
Among other things, advisors can look at the asset classification of brokerage accounts to develop rate of return estimates, he added. “Alternatively, they may be more likely to be successful in covering different situations and the costs involved in your divorce.”
Claudia Mott, a CFP and certified divorce financial analyst who owns Basking Ridge Ipona Financial Solutions in New Jersey, says there is a lot to change.
“I call it the ‘year of fear,'” he said. Mott lists some important ways in which financial advisers can help divorced wives deal with financial problems, including:
- Education: Mott often answers initial questions about home equity, mortgage components and how insurance works.
- Account consolidation: Counselors handle post-divorce transfer documentation and properly set up accounts (e.g., retirement vs. non-retirement).
- Planning and investing before and after divorce: They work to meet your immediate and long-term goals.
Financial advisers can also be called as counselors in the divorce process. CFP and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst Michael Black, owner of Michael Phillips Black Wealth Management in Scottsdale, Arizona, provides lawyers with financial analysis to present in court for a decision.
Black described himself as a “litigant.” [certified divorce financial analyst] It requires input, he said, because “law enforcement lawyers are not trained to develop and present a case to a judge who is not trained to do so.” What does it mean? Financially to the client. “
“Their job is to present a lawsuit that meets local law and customs requirements,” Black said. “They don’t focus on the most convenient financial outcome for clients because it’s not their training, responsibility or interest.”
Therefore, Black attorneys perform financial modeling for the court to identify the client’s post-divorce financial needs and to set a financial road map. The most complex part, he said, is knowing which resources meet the needs of clients.
“If they don’t work with a financial advisor, it’s often up to the client to advise their attorney on what assets meet their needs,” Black said. “But often, clients don’t plan ahead for what they need; instead, they respond to what they get.”