Category: Financial Planning
Increasing Financial Resources in Divorce
I recently attended the annual conference of the Association of Divorce Financial Planners. A presentation from my colleague Nancy Hetrick of Arizona highlighted something I’ve been able to achieve in my own practice – increasing the amount of money available to be divided in divorce without borrowing money. There is often a better way than … Continue reading Increasing Financial Resources in Divorce
Financial Life after Divorce – Armageddon or Nirvana
You signed the settlement agreement but you’re not settled yet. There’s still lots to do! You need to divide accounts, change insurance or beneficiaries, get a new estate plan and for some of you, move out of the house! Many people get hung up at this point, pondering “What will my life be like now?” … Continue reading Financial Life after Divorce – Armageddon or Nirvana
Taxes and Divorce: It’s NOT “All About that Bass”. It’s All About that BASIS – that Cost Basis
Although often ignored, the cost basis in taxable accounts and for property is critical to a long term efficient asset division in divorce. What is cost basis? Cost basis, sometimes referred to as just ‘basis’ or ‘tax basis’, is generally the original cost (purchase price) of a stock, bond, mutual fund, other financial security or … Continue reading Taxes and Divorce: It’s NOT “All About that Bass”. It’s All About that BASIS – that Cost Basis
How Should Retirement Assets be Valued in Divorce?
Many a highly trained family law attorney will “tax affect” retirement accounts by using the after tax value of a retirement account on a couple’s inventory of assets. As a divorcing man or woman you need to know that this method of valuation is more of a negotiation tactic then economics. Left unchecked, the spouse receiving more of the … Continue reading How Should Retirement Assets be Valued in Divorce?
Marriage, Financial Planning, and Your 401(k) Rollover
My Today’s Alerts series highlights ideas generated in my divorce financial advisory practice. Kate* called to let me know that she’d decided to leave her company, AFD, Inc., to pay attention to her start-up business full time. She wanted to make a clean break so she planned to add the 401(k) to her existing IRA right … Continue reading Marriage, Financial Planning, and Your 401(k) Rollover