One of the first questions I ask my clients when we start working together is “What do you actually want?” It’s a simple question, but it’s not easy to answer. At first, my clients might want to take something they know their spouse wants in the divorce to hurt them or feel in control of the situation, but my job as a CDFA® is to get to the bottom of the “why” behind that, so we can forget about revenge and focus on you and your future. In this episode, I share more about what that discovery process looks like, and how my clients have protected their financial security while getting what they truly want.
Some key takeaways from this episode include:
If your goal while dividing assets is to hurt the other person, instead of focusing on your future and what you need, you will not be happy with the end result. Don’t focus on the other person, focus on what you want for yourself.
There’s also a financial risk to not taking the time to think about what you really want. You might feel very emotionally attached to the family home and the memories it represents, but holding onto a home you can’t afford can have very difficult consequences on your financial future.
Don’t worry about what the other party will say in response to what you ask for in the divorce. It doesn’t matter what their reaction is. With a strong strategy, you can get most - if not all - of what you’re asking for, as long as it’s what you actually want.
Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm.
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