Recently, I had the opportunity to assist a client in a mediation session. This experience highlighted the importance of mediation in maintaining stability during a divorce and the critical role of financial analysis in achieving a fair and equitable settlement. I want to share this story with you to show how mediation can be a powerful tool for ensuring a smooth transition and a stable future.

Recently, I attended Bill Eddy's session on "Managing High Conflict Personalities," which I found extremely relevant not only for my clients, but also for myself. I've discussed a few contentious situations I've had with my ex in previous blog posts, and I wanted to share my key takeaways from Bill's session.

As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I serve as a financial advocate for my clients going through divorce. It's a perspective informed by my personal experience, leading me to advocate strongly for engaging a financial advisor who specializes in divorce before negotiations are settled. Here's why this proactive approach can make a significant difference.

A divorce can be a challenging time in your life, especially when it comes to financial matters like alimony. In the past, I've written about navigating through alimony and my unique perspective on how we as a society should change our approach to considering alimony as compensation for a spouse's contributions to the family's economic circumstances instead of compensation for their support. You can read that post here . I understand the nuances and emotional weight of negotiating alimony. It's not just about the numbers; it's about protecting your financial future and having financial stability. In this post, I'll guide you through understanding and negotiating alimony, offering insights from my professional experience to empower you during and after your divorce proceedings.

I know the divorce process can be daunting--filled with legal jargon and dates you need to keep track of. I remember how much time I spent researching the steps I should take and the questions I should be asking my attorney when I was first separated. I remember constantly feeling like there was something I should be doing, but I didn't know what it was. I remember bombarding my attorney with emails asking questions, and not hearing back because the questions weren't relevant to where we were in the actual process. This constant state of wondering increased my stress and anxiety, and amped up the sense of hostility in the whole process. Looking back, I realize how much easier it would have been if I'd had someone else besides my attorney who could answer my questions--most of which involved my financial situation.

In my last blog post I reviewed what disability insurance is and why it's so important to have. Disability insurance is the answer to when you suddenly find yourself as the primary breadwinner and others, such as your children, rely on your income for daily necessities. Now, I want to discuss further why having disability insurance in a separation agreement is essential in protecting your financial future.

In my previous blog post, I emphasized the significance of life insurance to cover child support obligations in the event of your passing. But what about the financial well-being of your ex-spouse, who becomes the sole provider for your children post-divorce? To ensure their stability and ease the financial burden on your ex-spouse, it's crucial to consider acquiring a term life insurance policy that covers the duration of alimony payments. In this blog post, I'll delve deeper into this topic, exploring how such a policy can serve as a safety net for your children and provide guidance on selecting the right coverage.

Going through a divorce is an emotionally charged and challenging journey, especially for the person who didn't initiate the separation. Amidst the turmoil of divorce proceedings, it's essential not to lose sight of your children's financial well-being. In this blog series, we'll explore the crucial role that life insurance plays in securing your children's stability and security after a divorce.

Research into how the legal obligation for alimony originated shows a historical basis of the concept dating back to the Egyptians, Greeks and Hebrews as a "practice to avoid feuds with the divorced wife's relatives." Funnily enough, a specific "price" was set--as if one could value one wife equal to another wife, similar to a Kelly Blue Book value setting the standard price for an automobile. Alimony is intended to provide "support for one spouse, not punishment for the other" according to my resource. I find this funny as well, since so often in my practice I hear, "he doesn't think I deserve alimony." Thankfully, the law protects dependent spouses in this circumstance, but they'll incur legal expenses to hire an attorney who can navigate the family court system on their behalf.