Calgary Divorce Mediators | Working with a Financial Planner During and After Divorce
Divorce is a difficult and emotional process that can have significant financial implications. Whether you’re just starting the divorce process or are navigating the aftermath, working with a financial planner can provide invaluable guidance and support. A financial planner can help you navigate the complex economic issues that arise during and after divorce, from evaluating settlement options to protecting your credit. This blog post will explore how a financial planner can help you during and after a divorce.
Understanding the role of a financial planner in divorce
One of the most important steps you can take during this process is to work with a financial planner specializing in divorce. Here are some ways a financial planner can help:
- Providing a Financial Roadmap: A financial planner can help you understand your current financial situation and develop a financial roadmap to guide you through the divorce process. It can include a budget, an analysis of your assets, and a strategy for managing finances during and after divorce.
- Evaluating Settlement Options: A financial planner can help you assess the financial implications of various settlement options. They can help you understand the long-term impact of decisions like dividing assets or paying spousal support.
- Ensuring Fair Asset Division: A financial planner can help ensure a fair distribution of assets during the divorce. They can help you understand the value of your assets, including property, investments, and retirement accounts.
- Planning for Retirement: Divorce can significantly impact your retirement planning. A financial planner can help you navigate the financial implications of divorce and develop a strategy for rebuilding your retirement savings.
- Providing Tax Planning: Divorce can also have significant tax implications. A financial planner can help you understand the tax implications of various divorce settlements and develop a tax-efficient strategy for managing your finances after the divorce.
- Protecting Your Credit: A financial planner can help you protect your credit during and after the divorce. They can help you develop a strategy for managing debt and ensure that your credit score is not negatively impacted.
The benefits of working with a financial planner during a divorce
Some of the key benefits of working with a financial planner during a divorce include the following:
- Being able to identify and understand your unique financial situation. This will help you develop a plan that is tailored specifically for you.
- Make sure all of your expenses are considered, including legal fees and other associated costs.
- Helping you create realistic budgeting goals and track progress regularly so you can make adjustments as needed.
- Providing support during the process, whether advising on tax or financial planning tools.
Financial planners can help you healthily navigate divorce by ensuring all your expenses are accounted for and helping to create realistic budgeting goals. In addition, they can provide support throughout the process, from guidance on financial planning tools to offering emotional support during tough times.
The importance of setting financial goals after divorce
It’s important to plan for post-divorce finances to ensure both of your best interests are protected. A financial planner can help you create realistic financial goals and provide resources should you encounter any unexpected challenges. One of the biggest financial concerns following divorce is maintaining as much of your pre-split wealth as possible. Suppose one spouse was significantly more financially successful than the other before the marriage. In that case, that person needs to ensure they maintain their equity in the family home and other assets. It’s also crucial to agree on a budget and stick to it, so both parties know where their money is going.
In addition, you’ll want to start planning for future income streams following divorce. This could include retirement savings or an additional source of income such as freelance work. It’s also important to get insurance coverage for yourself and your children in case of an accident or financial emergency. If you’re struggling to cope with the financial stress of divorce, speak with a financial planner who can help create a plan that meets your needs.
Creating a plan to manage debt and expenses after divorce
It’s important to take the time to adjust and plan for your future after divorce, especially if you anticipate difficulty managing finances independently. The following tips can help you set financial goals after divorce:
- Create a budget based on your income and expenses. This will give you a better understanding of how much money you’ll need each month to cover your bills and other necessities. Consider creating separate savings accounts for different areas of life (e.g., retirement, education, travel).
- Review your credit score and prepare an action plan to improve it. Having a good credit score can make obtaining loans and other forms of financial support easier. You may also want to consider getting Debt Consolidation advice if you have high-interest debt or cards with high APR rates.
3. Establish new retirement savings accounts if you don’t have any saved outside your divorce settlement agreement or spousal support package. This will help ensure that you’re adequately covered in future income changes or unexpected expenses (e.g., a health issue).
4. Create a budget for household expenses and ensure you include everything from groceries to furniture repairs—factor in any special needs of your children, such as expensive private school tuition.
5. Review your insurance policies and estate planning options if you have property or financial assets that may need to be distributed upon divorce. You may also want to consult with an attorney about creating a durable power of attorney for health care, which can give someone else the authority to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
6. Make a financial plan for your retirement and create a timeline of when you want to retire. Evaluate how much money you need to save each month from reaching your retirement goals. Consider taking steps such as increasing your employer-sponsored retirement account contribution or investing in home-based care services if you anticipate needing help during your retirement years.
- Conduct an inventory of all assets and liabilities, including any property that is jointly owned, mortgages, credit cards, car loans, etc., and make appropriate budget adjustments. This will give you a better understanding of how much money you need to save each month from maintaining your current standard of living after divorce.
- Review your child support and spousal support payments, as well as any alimony or child support obligations that may still be outstanding, and make necessary adjustments to ensure you’re receiving the appropriate amount of financial support.