Financial Dangers of Living Separately (But Not Divorced)
It’s just a short hop from the holidays to what is known as “divorce season.” For the past 2 months, many people have been in holiday “limbo,” not making waves during this time of “goodwill.” I’ve counseled many women, often the lesser earners, who have remained in a...
Happy Holidays? Maybe and Maybe Not
I have a close friend whom I’ve known for many years. She is always busy, dressed to the nines. I’m most likely to see her pulling out of her driveway, on her way to another weekend getaway or special event with her handsome husband and a smile on her face. One year,...
Thinking of Hiding Assets? Don’t!
In 1996, wife Denise Rossi purposefully hid lottery winnings in the amount of $1.3 million from her husband of 25 years. When her ex-husband realized what she had done, he filed a motion to set aside the divorce agreement. Denise was found guilty of fraud and her ex...
4 Ways to Minimize the Cost of Divorce
Whether mediating or litigating your divorce, costs can escalate quickly, especially if you are facing a complicated settlement. There are some simple ways, however, to help keep the cost of your divorce down. Here are 4 of them: Limit Email Communications...
The Importance of Estate Planning During Divorce
At least once a year, I invite clients in to conduct portfolio and beneficiary reviews on all important documents. It’s a rare year where I don’t find at least one policy or investment where an ex-spouse is still named as the beneficiary of the policy proceeds. Since...
Divorce Planning Strategies: Early Access to Retirement Funds Without Penalties
It’s not unusual that a couple’s assets with the most equity are the marital residence and various retirement plans. So, what do you want your life to look like post divorce? Do you want to keep your marital home? Do you want the security of a funded retirement plan?...
How Much Do You Know About Your Marital Finances?
What if your spouse came home and announced he/she wanted a divorce? What would you do? Where would you start? The good news is, statistics show that the number of marriages that last to at least 15 years has been growing since the 1980s. That means the rate of...
How Will the “Bright Line” Ruling on California’s Date of Separation Affect You?
One of the most commonly litigated issues in divorce proceedings is California’s “date of separation.” This occurs because the date of Separation is so impactful to the most critical financial aspects of divorce, such as asset division and support issues. In the past,...
Life Is Short. Have an Affair.
Last week’s New York Times Technology headline, “The Ashley Madison Data Dump, Explained,” further delighted all who believe in the karma bus. The initial reports about the hack did not cover the moral aspect of cheating as much as the perils of being caught. Websites...
5 Simple Rules to Avoid Disaster When You Lose Your Cell Phone
It’s customary at our local Pilates studio to race in and place our keys, phones and shoes into tiny open cubbies. It’s a safe haven where we can separate ourselves from distractions, like the phone, for an hour. This time, when I finished my class and prepared to...