The Intentional Divorce Library
Divorce comes with more financial questions than anyone expects. This is where you'll find real answers on asset division, budgeting, retirement, and the mistakes that quietly cost women the most, written by a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who has helped clients navigate exactly what you're facing now.
No fluff, no fear tactics. Just the information you need to make clear-eyed decisions and protect the life you're building next.
Not sure where to start?
Every article here is written for a particular moment. Start with the stage that matches where you are, and you will find the handful of pieces that actually apply to you.
- I am considering divorce. Can I afford it, what happens to the house, what should I know before talking to an attorney.
- I am preparing for divorce. Documents, credit, insurance, retirement accounts, and choosing your professional team.
- I am going through divorce. The house, support, dividing retirement, QDROs, taxes, and evaluating a settlement.
- My divorce is final. Retitling assets, confirming the QDRO, beneficiaries, rebuilding cash flow and credit.
Browsing by topic instead? Every category is listed in the sidebar, from QDROs and the family home to co-parenting and life after divorce.
After more than 20 years of working with divorcing clients as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I have seen a lot. I have sat across the table from women who were sharp, capable, and completely blindsided by the financial consequences of decisions they made during their divorce. Not because the...
One of the most common questions I hear from women sitting across from me is some version of: "Can I actually afford to do this?"
They are not asking because they want to stay in a painful marriage. They are asking because they are terrified of the financial unknown. They have heard horror stories. ...
If you're going through divorce and feeling terrified about money, you're not alone. Financial fear during divorce is one of the most common concerns I hear from clients, and it's completely normal.
Even women with strong financial backgrounds, successful careers, or years of managing household fin...
Divorce is one of the most financially significant events of your life. Every decision from how you divide retirement accounts to whether you keep the house can shape your financial security for decades. One of the most common questions I hear from women going through this transition is: “Do I need ...
Divorce at any age is hard. But when you are over 50, the financial stakes are different.
You do not have 20 years to rebuild. The decisions you make about your retirement accounts, your home, your Social Security, and your settlement are decisions you will live with for the rest of your life. That
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Navigating the divorce process can often feel like a turbulent, confusing, and uncertain storm. Amid the whirlwind of emotions, it's easy to overlook a critical lifeline that can guide you towards calmer waters - financial stability. Financial stability, specifically taking control of your investmen...
Your divorce is final. You made it through.
Now comes the part nobody warned you about — the long list of practical things that need to happen before your new life actually starts. Accounts to close. Documents to update. Insurance to sort out. A budget that reflects your real life now, not the one y...
It may or may not come as a surprise to you that a pension is frequently the largest asset negotiated in a divorce. With that said, it's not a foregone conclusion that you'll have to give up a portion of your pension as part of your divorce settlement. I'm surprised by the number of cases I see in w...
A Roth Dollar and a Traditional Dollar Are Not the Same Dollar
If a Roth IRA sits on your marital balance sheet, look hard at it before you trade it away. A $100,000 Roth IRA and a $100,000 traditional 401(k) look identical on a spreadsheet. They are not worth the same money. The Roth has already be...
Let's start with the basics. When it comes to retirement accounts, there is a wide array of options available - from the popular IRAs, ROTH IRAs, and 401(K)s, to numerous other lesser-known plans. With so many choices, it can be overwhelming for individuals who are not dealing with them on a daily b...
Dividing assets during a divorce is rarely straightforward, especially when it comes to retirement accounts. From pensions and 401(k)s to IRAs and Roth accounts, each type of retirement asset comes with its own set of rules, tax implications, and liquidity concerns. Add in considerations like Qualif...
Divorce can be one of the most stressful transitions in life, especially when it comes to dividing assets. In many marriages, one spouse handles the finances, including investments, while the other may not be as involved. This can make dividing investment accounts in divorce particularly overwhelmin...
