--- title: Our Blog - AMF Divorce | Planning (3) description: Planning | From mortgage professionals to therapists to attorneys, the team at A.M. Financial works closely with these types of professionals. (3) --- ## A.M. Financial - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Service Plan](https://amf-divorce.com/service-plan) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://amf-divorce.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Service Plan](https://amf-divorce.com/service-plan) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://amf-divorce.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) [Book a Meeting](https://calendly.com/amymahlenmelander/consultdivorcefinancialplanning) Posts about # Planning (3) ## [Part 2: Top Spousal and Child Support Questions: An Interview with Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-2-top-spousal-and-child-support-questions-an-interview-with-rachel-anderson-family-law-attorney) April 16, 2023 In [part one of this post](https://mahlenfinancial.com/part-1-top-divorce-questions-aninterview-with-rachel-andersonfamily-law-attorney/), we introduced Rachel Anderson, [family attorney](https://mahlenfinancial.com/finding-the-right-divorce-attorney-6-questions-to-ask/) at [Anderson Allen, LLC](http://www.andersonallen.com/). Rachel works with divorcing couples in Colorado and has experience in all types of family law... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-2-top-spousal-and-child-support-questions-an-interview-with-rachel-anderson-family-law-attorney) ## [Part 1: Top Divorce Questions: An Interview with Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-1-top-divorce-questions-aninterview-with-rachel-andersonfamily-law-attorney) April 03, 2023 The most mutually satisfying divorces often involve a [variety of professionals](https://mahlenfinancial.com/divorce-professionals-mahlen-financial/) who serve the divorcing couple in advisory roles. From mortgage professionals to therapists to attorneys, the team at... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-1-top-divorce-questions-aninterview-with-rachel-andersonfamily-law-attorney) ## [Building Your Relationship With Money](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/building-your-relationship-with-money) March 07, 2023 You manage many relationships in your life with the things and people most important to you. Some of those relationships might be difficult, especially with family members or ex partners. Others... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/building-your-relationship-with-money) ## [Financial Resources for Women](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/financial-resources-women) March 01, 2023 There is no shortage of financial resources available online. With so many websites and events to sort through, it can be challenging to consult and trust the right resources. Educating yourself... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/financial-resources-women) ## [Divorce: A Catalyst for Change](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-a-catalyst-for-change) January 13, 2023 Any major life event, including divorce, can be a catalyst for overall life changes. By recognizing and accepting that any big life change will result in many other significant changes, you’ll... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-a-catalyst-for-change) ## [Divorce Season: Key Tasks for Success](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-season-key-tasks-for-success) January 04, 2023 Divorce season is upon us. January is the most common time for divorces throughout the year, for various reasons. Many couples are trying to get through the holidays for their families, or are... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-season-key-tasks-for-success) ## [Stay at Home Moms: Learning to Budget Post-Divorce](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/stay-at-home-moms-learning-to-budget-post-divorce) June 01, 2022 In my work supporting divorced individuals in the Colorado area along their financial journey, I see one particular group of clients who struggle more than others. Long-time stay-at-home mothers... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/stay-at-home-moms-learning-to-budget-post-divorce) ## [10 Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Finances In the Divorce Process](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/a-m-financial-protect-your-finances-in-the-divorce-process) June 01, 2022 January is often called “divorce month” because more people file for divorce in January than any other month of the year. Perhaps that is due to new year’s resolutions and couples finding the... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/a-m-financial-protect-your-finances-in-the-divorce-process) ## [Part 1: What is Discernment Counseling and is it Right for Me?](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/discernment-counseling-mahlen-financial) June 01, 2022 If you are considering a divorce, you have lots of options to confirm whether that is the right decision for you and your future. Some people choose to go on a retreat or even a trip with their... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/discernment-counseling-mahlen-financial) ## [Reentering the Workforce: 4 Post-Divorce Considerations](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/reentering-the-workforce-mahlen-financial) June 01, 2022 Depending on the financial dynamics of your divorce, you may consider whether or not to re-enter the workforce. Maybe you are still in prime working years and you are reentering after being a... [CONTINUE READING](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/reentering-the-workforce-mahlen-financial) - - [1](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/planning) - [2](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/planning/page/2) - [3](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/planning/page/3) - [4](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/tag/planning/page/4) - ##### About Amy With compassion and patience, Amy focuses on her client’s unique priorities to build a financial road map that provides clarity to make informed decisions today regarding the future. ##### Links - [Home](https://amf-divorce.com) - [Services](https://amf-divorce.com/divorce-transition-services) - [Our Blog](https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog) - [About Amy](https://amf-divorce.com/about-amy) - [Contact Us](https://amf-divorce.com/contact-us) - [Schedule a Meeting](https://calendly.com/amymahlenmelander) ©2026 Copyright. All rights reserved. A.M. Financial provides supporting financial information, evaluation and analysis to be utilized by the client and the client’s selected attorney if directed, during the process of their divorce. ervices provided in regards to this agreement are solely fee-only and do not involve investment or security advice or insurance transactions. All information is financial in nature and should not be construed or relied upon as legal or tax advice. A.M. Financial IS NOT AN ATTORNEY AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE. Individuals are encouraged to seek competent legal and tax advice from professionals who specialize in divorce and tax laws in their respective state. Amy Melander (CRD #4692263) is an Investment Adviser Representative of OneDigital Investment Advisors, LLC (ODIA). ODIA and A.M. Financial are independent and unaffiliated entities. ODIA does not offer or provide divorce financial planning services and any statements and/or opinions expressed by A.M. Financial do not represent the views and/or opinions of ODIA.   This website is a publication of A.M. Financial. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date, but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. Content should not be viewed as personalized investment advice or as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. A professional adviser should be consulted before implementing any of the strategies presented. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "In part one of this post, we introduced Rachel Anderson, family attorney at Anderson Allen, LLC. Rachel works with divorcing couples in Colorado and has experience in all types of family law matters including high-conflict and complex cases, allocation of parental responsibilities, paternity, relocations, child support, spousal support, property division, modifications, and post-decree matters. In the second part of this interview, Rachel answers top questions about spousal and child support in Colorado. As you review these responses, note that the specifics of your divorce are unique. This post does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance, talk to an attorney directly by scheduling a free consultation. How do I know if my case could be subject to spousal support? Spousal support, also called maintenance, can be awarded in a divorce case if a party cannot independently provide for their own reasonable monthly needs, either through property allocated to them in the divorce or through appropriate employment. To avoid the need for spousal support, the Courts can decide to allocate more marital property to one party to allow them to support themselves. If that type of property award is not possible or appropriate, the Court will consider a number of factors, including each party’s financial resources, their income, their employability, and the length of the marriage. A statutory guideline formula provides the court with a starting point for determining a monthly payment to the lower-earning spouse. Generally speaking, the formula results in an amount of support equal to 40% percent of the parties’ combined monthly adjusted gross income minus the lower-income party’s monthly adjusted gross income. If the calculation results in a negative number, the amount of support is zero. I am not currently working, what does inputting an income mean in the context of the spousal support calculation? How do I know if I will be imputed income; are there any exceptions? When calculating spousal support, Colorado law allows the Court to impute income for a party who is determined to be voluntarily under-employed, or unemployed. The Court can use a party’s potential “imputed” income in the support calculation equal to the amount they could reasonably earn if employed to their fullest capacity, considering their education, training, and employment history. However, the law says the Court should not impute income to a party if they are engaged in good faith efforts to obtain work experience, education, or training that is reasonably intended to result in higher income in the foreseeable future. Lastly, a party cannot be imputed income if they are physically or mentally incapacitated or caring for a child of the relationship under the age of thirty months. What are the major factors that affect the child support calculation that I should be aware of? In applying the statutory child support guidelines, a court will consider: the party’s gross monthly incomes (which includes wages as well as other sources) any spousal support awarded the number of overnights awarded to each party in the parenting time schedule the child’s portion of health insurance premiums paid by each party any extraordinary expenses related to the child (including childcare or recurring out-of-pocket medical expenses) Can child or spousal support be modified? Yes. Circumstances can and often do change. Child support can be modified when there is a substantial and continuing change in circumstances that would result in a variance of at least 10% in the amount of monthly child support, according to the child support guidelines. Maintenance can be modified when there is a substantial and continuing change of circumstances that makes the original award unfair or inadequate. Modifications can only be made for support payments due after the filing a motion, except for changes to child support due to a mutually agreed upon change of physical custody of the child. In the latter case, the modification can be retroactive to that change. Even if child or spousal support can be modified, how often are orders actually modified? In my experience, Courts are more inclined to modify child support than they are maintenance. Maintenance modifications are typically applied conservatively, especially if the Court considered a disproportionate award of marital property at the time of the divorce. Therefore, when negotiating for or making a request at trial for a particular maintenance award, one should never assume the amount can be changed at a later date. I have heard that my spouse will be required to pay for my legal bills since I do not have an income. Is this true? Colorado law considers the expenses of the divorce process itself, including attorney fees, and marital expenses to be shared by the parties. Attorney fees are often decided last, after all other financial determinations have been made. If the Court decides that sufficient marital property and spousal support were awarded to the lower-earning spouse, they may simply decide that each party is responsible for their own attorney fees. However, the Court will consider the amount and reasonableness of fees charged by each party’s attorney when deciding how to fairly allocate those between parties. We know that, while these might be top questions on your mind, there are likely others that you have specific to your circumstances. In fact, sometimes getting answers to the big questions results in more small questions related to your specific settlement strategy. Connect with Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney or Amy Mahlen, Certified Financial Planner, and request a free consultation to support your divorce process.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "16/04/2023", "datePublished" : "16/04/2023", "headline" : "Part 2: Top Spousal and Child Support Questions: An Interview with Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-Gwj3aK.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-2-top-spousal-and-child-support-questions-an-interview-with-rachel-anderson-family-law-attorney", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "The most mutually satisfying divorces often involve a variety of professionals who serve the divorcing couple in advisory roles. From mortgage professionals to therapists to attorneys, the team at A.M. Financial works closely with these types of professionals, who offer their expertise on various aspects of divorce and guide the divorcing couple toward peaceful resolution. Rachel D. Anderson, Family Law Attorney at Anderson Allen, LLC, is one of these esteemed professionals. With a commitment to helping families through major and often unexpected transitions with dignity, fairness, and peace, Rachel assists families in problem-solving and collaborative outcomes. I recently met with Rachel to understand more about the top questions she fields from clients when it comes to advising on the legal aspects of a divorce. In part one of this series, we detail her answers to top divorce questions. As you review these responses, please keep in mind that the specifics of your divorce circumstances are unique and this post does not constitute legal advice. The responses are also unique to Colorado State Law. For specific guidance, talk to an attorney directly or meet with Rachel by scheduling a free consultation. Tune into part two of this post, where we’ll detail top questions related to spousal and child support. It’s clear that I am heading into a divorce; how do I protect myself financially? It is certainly normal and expected to experience uncertainty, and even fear, about the financial aspects of filing for divorce. The first, important thing to understand is that during a divorce, the Court will divide marital assets and debts between the parties, and can “look back” at the financial dealings of the parties prior to the filing of the case. The Court can consider whether either party committed “economic fault” in anticipation of the divorce, such as concealing or disposing of marital property or funds, which can impact how the Court decides to allocate the estate. Furthermore, throughout the divorce process, both parties owe each other, and the Court, full disclosure of all economic circumstances, including accounts, balances, assets, and more. While there is no way to prevent marital property from being awarded to another party during the divorce, the parties are permitted to make financial transactions prior to and during the divorce “in the normal course of business” or for the “necessities of life”. This category of spending includes rent, car payments, groceries, childcare, insurance payments, and more. In anticipation of filing for divorce, both parties are permitted to access and utilize income (earned by either party) or assets to pay for regular living expenses, including attorney fees. In most cases, it is permissible for a party to open a separate checking account and transfer a reasonable amount of marital funds to cover their necessary expenses during the divorce process. Currently, irresponsible spending is going on in my marriage. I am worried irresponsible spending will occur once I file for divorce; how do I protect myself financially? Consulting with an attorney on your specific circumstances, as soon as possible, can help you create a strategy for safeguarding your assets. The sooner a case is filed, the sooner you will be able to address your concerns with the Court as any extraordinary spending may be addressed as a violation of the automatic temporary injunction that goes into place immediately upon the filing of a petition. While you can’t control how your former spouse will behave, it’s important to keep good accounting and documentation of your expenditures to defend against allegations of improper spending and ensure you do not take any actions that might be used against you later. It is important to talk to an attorney about your specific circumstances and concerns prior to making any major changes to your spending. How is property divided in Colorado? I have heard that it might not be split equally. How often does that occur and under what typical circumstances? The law directs Courts to allocate marital property between the parties “equitably,” not equally. In doing so, the court will consider a variety of factors, including the contributions of each spouse to the acquisition of property, which explicitly includes contributions as a homemaker, the value of marital property, and the economic circumstances of each spouse at the time of division. The Court can only divide “marital” property, which, with a few exceptions, are assets acquired or purchased during the marriage, as well as any increase in value to property a spouse may have owned prior to the marriage. The Court will also divide debts incurred during the marriage equitably considering similar factors. I have very little access to our finances. I need to move out of the home for my safety and hire an attorney. What do you suggest? In a challenging situation like this, safety should absolutely be your first priority. Meet with an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options, but note that courts will not typically punish a party for using or transferring a reasonable amount of marital funds for the necessities of life, including living expenses and attorney fees for proceeding with a divorce. To the extent possible, you can also use a credit card for such expenses. Be sure to keep good accounting and documentation of how the money was used. While this post might address your top divorce questions, we know that understanding the long-term support you’ll need is also likely top of mind. In part two of this post, we dive into top questions around spousal and child support with expert Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney. Many of these support questions align with organizing and understanding your finances, which is the expertise we provide at A.M. Financial. Contact us to learn more.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "03/04/2023", "datePublished" : "03/04/2023", "headline" : "Part 1: Top Divorce Questions: An Interview with Rachel Anderson, Family Law Attorney", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-BkkMZr.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/part-1-top-divorce-questions-aninterview-with-rachel-andersonfamily-law-attorney", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "You manage many relationships in your life with the things and people most important to you. Some of those relationships might be difficult, especially with family members or ex partners. Others may be relationships filled with joy and fulfillment. However, it’s possible you’ve never considered the “relationship” you have with money. Since money is essential to all aspects of your life, creating a healthy relationship with it is critical to your well-being. There is no better time to examine your relationship with money than during a divorce. This challenging life event can also be a great catalyst for change, and facilitate the right environment to understand, improve, and reimage your financial goals. In this post, we explore how to build a healthy relationship with money. We’ll outline considerations and steps you can take to build awareness around and improve your relationship with money. Understand your relationship with money Before you can improve your relationship with money, it’s important to understand why and how you currently relate to money. Your approach to money has likely been influenced by factors such as your family, culture, religion, location, gender, social status, and education. As you reflect on these aspects of your past, notice which ones may be most prevalent in your views of spending, saving, and budgeting. As you examine the factors that have influenced your perspective around money, notice what emotions come up when you think or talk about money. Do you feel excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, fear, or other feelings? Examine how these reactions might be tied back to your major influences around money. For example, if you grew up in a single-parent household where money was tight and in a social setting where money was important, you might never feel like you have enough money and experience feelings of anxiety and scarcity when you think about money, no matter how well you manage your finances. Lastly, relationship attachment styles can provide interesting insights into money management philosophies. You might find some similarities between the way you approach any relationship in your life and the way you manage your money. The three major types of attachment in relationships are anxious, avoidant, and secure. If you have an anxious attachment style, you may find yourself more reluctant to engage in your finances and hesitant to do things like create and manage a budget. If you are more anxious about money (and relationships), you may be hypervigilant about your spending and savings and over-engage in budgeting activities. In secure relationships with money, you likely spend an appropriate amount of time focused on money management, are saving appropriately, and have accepted that finances will fluctuate moderately. Take care of your foundational needs Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a great example of how to build your financial foundation. Just like this famous survival pyramid, you have to take care of and budget for your basic needs first before considering more complex spending and savings needs. For example, only after your prioirize your monthly mortgage, electric bill, cell phone payments, gas, insurance, and other necessary payments, can you consider how you might budget for an upcoming vacation. You can’t plan for higher-level needs and budget items that lead to higher-level happiness and fulfilment unless your basic needs are met. When you build your budget from your foundational needs, you have the opportunity to examine what brings you joy and fulfilment, which you can build into tier two of your budget. Spend time with your finances Just like good relationships are built on shared, quality time, it’s important to prioritize time with your finances to cultivate a healthier relationship with them. Start small with a few minutes a day in which you review your spending, categorize your spending, and understand key patterns in the way you save and spend money. Apps such as Mint and Google Sheets can help you organize your spending and your credit card company may even have these tools built into your spending summary. As you get more comfortable regularly reviewing your spending and identifying opportunities to improve, dedicate a longer stretch of time each weekend to your finances and spend time reviewing what is working and what needs improvement. These review periods are also a great time to check in with your emotions around money. When your spending is in alignment with your values, you’ll feel less anxious about money and more confident about your spending and saving patterns. Create healthy boundaries Like any relationship in life, you have to create boundaries to keep the dynamics of a relationship healthy. In the case of money, you must declare the boundaries you want to have with your money. This might look like setting limits to your spending and even defining consequences if you don’t adhere to these limits (such as cutting back your unnecessary spending in key areas). Similarly, you might reward yourself with a spa day or other memorable experience if you do manage to maintain healthy boundaries with money. Spend time reflecting on your current and desired boundaries regularly and adjust as your relationship with money evolves and progresses. In order to have a healthy relationship with money, you have to understand your origins and beliefs around money, focus on your financial foundation, spend time reviewing your day-to-day spending, and create boundaries to ensure your success. At A.M. Financial, we can assist you in this process by providing various services to support your financial journey. Learn more in a free consultation.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "07/03/2023", "datePublished" : "07/03/2023", "headline" : "Building Your Relationship With Money", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-uhWlNr.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/building-your-relationship-with-money", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "There is no shortage of financial resources available online. With so many websites and events to sort through, it can be challenging to consult and trust the right resources. Educating yourself through the blogs, articles, books, events, tools, and even podcasts available is key to ensuring you are getting sound advice to meet your goals. In this post, we detail top resources you can consult to educate yourself about your finances and keep up on any market changes that might impact them. Incorporate these resources into your financial planning by committing to exploring one resource per week, or contact us to learn which resources best align with your needs and goals. Books Your Money or Your Life Your Money or Your Life details nine steps you can take to transform your relationship with money. The book details ways to achieve financial independence no matter your age. It covers topics like investing in index funds, managing side hustle revenue streams, getting out of debt, developing savings, using online finance tracking, and navigating difficult conversations about money. Prince Charming Isn’t Coming Prince Charming Isn’t Coming is a book geared toward women who want to get smart about their money and take control of their finances. The author uses real-life success stories and modern advice to inspire you to move from fearful to confident when it comes to managing your money. Money: A love story Money: A love story is about creating the financial life you want by understanding the dynamics of your relationship with money. Complete with a quiz and interactive exercises that help you understand your personal perceptions of money and wealth, you’ll be empowered to change them for the better. My Money My Way My Money My Way is about taking back control of your financial life. Through the author’s personal story about overcoming debt, she’ll remind you that money problems are often rooted in other dynamics, such as self-doubt, shame, guilt, and societal pressure. By reversing negative thinking patterns while aligning with goals, her lessons help you reimagine your life by channelling emotions into financial advantage. On My Own Two Feet On My Own Two Feet helps you understand basic principles of money management to free yourself from financial stress. A practical guide to everything from your daily budget to saving for big-ticket items, the concepts in this book have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and The Huffington Post. Workbooks The Financial Recover Workbook The Financial Recovery Workbook is a step-by-step guide for regaining control of your money, and your life, during and after a personal financial crisis. The guidance and reassurance in this workbook help you get a handle on your spending to get your finances back on track through understanding how to prioritize bills, use credit cards, and reallocate funds to change your relationship with money for good. The Financial Anxiety Solution The Financial Anxiety Solution is a step-by-step workbook to help you stop worrying about money and live a happier life. This interactive guide can help you overcome financial anxiety and achieve financial freedom. The tools help you understand money anxiety coping skills, address pain points of financial stress, and develop money-management techniques that can help you better understand and overcome financial anxiety. The Financial Planning Workbook The Financial Planning Workbook helps you build a successful financial plan with a wealth of resources to manage investments, plan your retirement, document your income, understand cash flow, choose insurance, complete dependent planning, and start estate planning. Through goal setting, analysis, defining strategies, and developing your unique plan, this workbook provides the tools to build a strong financial foundation. Podcasts Women and Money Women and Money helps you become the master of your own financial destiny to live a full and meaningful life. Through personal, entertaining stories and 35 years of experience teaching financial principles, the host answers top financial questions with actionable advice. Her Money Her Money recognizes how women are different when it comes to money. Covering topics from fighting fair with your partner when it comes to money, to career and tax advice, this podcast is a judgement-free zone focused on changing your relationship with money. So Money So Money shares inspiring money strategies and stories from today’s financial leaders, authors, and entrepreneurs. This podcast is dedicated to answering your pressing financial questions about saving, investing, and building wealth through a lens of equity, inclusivity and the changing world we live in. Clever Girls Know Clever Girls Know empowers women to ditch debt, save money, and build real wealth in order to live life fully. The podcast shares open and honest conversations with real women at different stages of their financial and life journeys to inspire and motivate other women on their own financial journeys. More Money More Money guides you on your personal finance journey through stories, expertise, and wisdom. With advice from top personal finance and business experts, celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, and influencers, this podcast helps simplify and demystify the “complex” world of money. Blogs Mixed Up Money Mixed Up Money is both a blog and community all about personal finance and money decisions, but without any of the complex jargon and numbers. This blog will remind you that having wealth isn’t about the money, but about the power of choice Women’s Institute for Financial Education Women’s Institute for Financial Education or WIFE is the oldest non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial education to women in their quest for financial independence. This blog will remind you that a man is not a financial plan and instead help you understand how to take control of your own financial future. Ms. Money Ms. Money is a blog dedicated to helping you spend, save, and invest your money aligned with your values and the global community. Featuring 20 women personal finance experts, this blog offers thousands of pages of premier educational content around women and money. A.M. Financial Bookmark our blog so you never miss an article. We publish articles a few times a month to help you better manage your finances during and after a divorce. From the impact of current events and market conditions, to how the dynamics of your divorce will impact your finances, our blog answers your top divorce questions. Budget Applications Google Google offers a number of free add-ons that allow you to use Google Sheets as a budgeting application. You can set up categories/subcategories for income and expenses, then enter your transactions daily or weekly. Analyze your expenses by category and compare them to your budget. The summary tab will give you the year in review to see how you are tracking against your overall annual budget. MINT Mint is a free money management app and financial tracker that brings together all of your finances. View paychecks, debts, transactions, and credit card payments automatically, when you sync your bank information. This application allows you to set budgets based on your spending and savings goals and track your progress toward those goals each month. If you are just starting to track your spending, begin by spending just five minutes each morning reviewing your spending, budget, and how you are tracking toward your goals. Denver Groups BLOOM BLOOM is a free monthly gathering of divorced women in south Denver. This group offers events that provide both education and discussion around your top financial questions. All events are free and led by Amy Mahlen, CFP®, CDFA® and independent wealth manager While resources can certainly steer you in the right direction when it comes to managing your finances, there is no substitute for highly cusotmized and personalized advice from a professional. At A.M. Financial, we provide guidance post-divorce and during all phases of your financial journey. Contact us to learn more about our services.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/03/2023", "datePublished" : "01/03/2023", "headline" : "Financial Resources for Women", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-bqch7i.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/financial-resources-women", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Any major life event, including divorce, can be a catalyst for overall life changes. By recognizing and accepting that any big life change will result in many other significant changes, you’ll likely find the transition easier. Knowing this, it’s possible to be intentional about the changes you want to see in your life during this crossroad. Those might include financial changes, a new work situation, changes in your family traditions, your schedule, dating, your living situation, and even your overall lifestyle. Change can be both overwhelming and exciting. In this post, we discuss how to own, plan, and design your post-divorce life by using divorce as a catalyst for positive change. Honor the Transition Divorce is undoubtedly stressful and the most challenging time of separation is often the time of indecision. During this time, it feels like you are trying to figure out what the future will look like without a true vision, blueprint, or roadmap to get you where you want to be. First off, recognize that the time of transition is often the hardest and that it won’t feel this way forever. At the same time, temporary arrangements made to parenting time, holiday time, or decision-making authority could change again as you negotiate the official decree. The more work you can do to create a plan for success, both financially and from a life design perspective, the sooner it will feel like a new normal rather than a time of uncertainty. Being intentional about what you want can help you settle into healthy and productive life patterns faster through adapting habits related to finances, a new job, a new parenting schedule, and decision-making. You can get clear about what’s possible and realize the future you desire through preparing, planning, budgeting, saving, projecting your retirement savings, and understanding any financial protections you may need (such as insurance). For example, if you plan to take on a new house payment, have a new job, and have savings set aside, working on a budget to understand how much you’ll want in retirement savings in your divorce settlement to complement other financial assets is critical to realizing the financial freedom you want in the future. Own Your Decisions In addition to struggling with the transition of your divorce and all the associated change, you may notice that, possibly for the first time in your life, you’re making decisions on your own. If you find yourself struggling with these decisions, know that that is normal. You are no longer making major life choices about everything from your living situation to your career with the input of your partner, his/her expertise, and perspective. You may feel added pressure or uncertainty due to these new autonomous dynamics. Once again, your divorce can be a catalyst for you to get clear about what you want, based on your values and life vision, which might even be difficult to even articulate after sharing so much of your life and self with a spouse. For example, if you are moving into a new house post-divorce, this may be the first time you have made the decision about your living space and location on your own. In order to make a decision that aligns with your needs, reflect on what is truly important to you without the influence of your former spouse and his or her opinions about living arrangements and circumstances. You now have the opportunity to define new decision-making criteria, taking financial considerations into account. Along with this, you have a new responsibility to yourself and your own happiness by choosing a path that aligns with your wants and needs. Get Clear about What You Want Divorce is an opportunity for re-evaluation, planning, and preparing for the life you want. It’s an exciting time for you to build your future! Recognize that the decisions you make as you negotiate various aspects of your divorce decree can have a ripple effect. As you consider all the options available in your future, notice how one change or decision can impact others and/or limit what’s possible for you from a work and earning perspective. For example, the parenting time agreement will influence what’s possible with your career as well as child support and/or maintenance. This will impact your finances as well. In another example, quitting or changing your job won’t necessarily impact your financial obligations or what you receive from your spouse for support, since imputed income and historical income will be taken into consideration in these circumstances. Instead of looking for ways to minimize what you might owe your spouse or extract as much value from your spouse, do what is best for your future long-term. Don’t get wrapped up in short-term wins. For example, sometimes going back to work immediately can ‘hurt’ your short-term situation and the support you receive, but not always. Other times, getting back to work immediately can help you from a resume-building and independence perspective, which can be rewarding psychologically, especially long-term. Your attorney can advise you based on your unique situation. Lastly, recognize when you are just trying to “win” in your divorce versus setting yourself up for the best financial future. Be willing to surrender and compromise for the best long-term situation, even if it means “losing” some aspects of the divorce battle. A major transition in life, such as divorce, can be a catalyst for positive change and you have an abundance of choices to make that can facilitate a secure and rewarding future. It’s possible to improve your finances and your relationship with your children, friends, family, and self during this time. By focusing on your values and investing in your financial future, you can reclaim the life balance you want. At A.M. Financial, we are here to help you budget and plan for the future with the resources you need. We can support your decision-making process by providing financial insights when it comes to planning the next phase of your life. Contact us to share more about your specific situation and learn about how we can help.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "13/01/2023", "datePublished" : "13/01/2023", "headline" : "Divorce: A Catalyst for Change", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-YOt7Qk.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-a-catalyst-for-change", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Divorce season is upon us. January is the most common time for divorces throughout the year, for various reasons. Many couples are trying to get through the holidays for their families, or are taking time during the holiday season to reflect on their relationship happiness and make a decision in the new year. More logistically, other couples might be discussing divorce for awhile and choose to file at this time of year due to the financial clarity of filing at the beginning of the year from a tax and income perspective. Even if divorce has been on your mind for some time, don’t underestimate the changes that will occur during and after your divorce. Recognize how difficult this time may be for you, your family, your spouse, and your finances. Not to mention, the decision to get a divorce is not always black and white. If you still aren’t convinced that divorce is the right next step, explore Discernment Counseling with your spouse to get a more definitive conclusion about whether divorce is what you want. This method of therapy helps indecisive couples reach a stay or go decision about their marriage. Once you know that divorce is imminent, you’ll have to navigate two key tasks that are important in the early phases of your divorce: sorting through the finances and choosing a divorce method. In this post, we help you understand more about making decisions around these early tasks in your divorce. Prepare Financially Even before you officially file for divorce, it’s critical to get your finances in order. In fact, one of the first mandatory documents required by the court is a Sworn Financial Statement, which is a summary of your income, assets, debts, and expenses. As you complete this document, you’ll also want to verify account access and make sure your name is clearly on any assets that you own or co-own with your spouse. Is a Divorce in Your Future? Get Prepared with These Essential Tips. In addition to documenting various aspects of your finances, start thinking about your budget and your current or necessary spending. Instead of making any significant purchases right now, start putting aside money for future needs such as divorce expenses, possible moving expenses, new furniture, and even a deposit on a new place to live. If possible, pay off as much debt as you can before filing to reduce the complexity of your settlement. Lastly, begin to interview financial advisors that can help you plan for your financial future alongside your divorce (no matter which divorce method you choose). Choose a Divorce Method If you aren’t familiar with divorce, you may assume it will look like it does in the movies with courtrooms and high-powered attorneys presenting their side of your case to a judge. That isn’t the way more divorces unfold in the real world. In fact, there are four common divorce paradigms with pros and cons to each approach. Choosing the right method for your situation will impact your finances, timeline, relationship with your former spouse, settlement, and other aspects of your life. The divorce method you choose largely depends on how much you can spend on your divorce, your desired timeline, and how amicable the situation with your ex is. The four common types of divorces are: 1. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Divorce This is a good choice if you have minimal conflict with your ex. It’s also favorable if you have fewer or less complex assets, similar income, and/or no children. Of course, one of the top benefits is saving money, yet sometimes this type of divorce can get drawn out if there is confusion about what to file, or if one party is dragging their feet. Without experts guiding the process, there may be more misunderstandings or confusion, especially about long-term needs or agreements. It’s critical to work closely with a financial advisor who specializes in divorce if you choose a DIY divorce so that you make informed decisions about your finances. A divorce coach can also be helpful in a DIY divorce, providing guidance, non-legal expertise, and support during this time. Divorce coaches are especially helpful if you expect a significant life change following your divorce, such as a new job or relocation, or endured an abusive relationship with your ex. 2. Mediator-Led Divorce A neutral third party can often help guide you if you and your spouse are mostly on the same page about their divorce, and mediator-led divorces can cost far less than hiring attorneys. This method of divorce often reduces conflict and speeds resolution on key disagreements around parenting time or how assets will be split. Both parties often feel heard and don’t experience the emotional toll of going to court or battling toward desired outcomes through their attorneys. However, the quality of the assigned mediator can have an effect on the outcomes and occasionally, limited time means that important topics are overlooked. 3. Litigation & Hiring an Attorney Some couples might try the first two methods before eventually hiring attorneys and preparing for court. This can sometimes be the only option if there is hostility, ongoing disagreement, safety concerns, abuse, addictions, or a reluctance to compromise. This method can be the most expensive and can have the longest timelines since the court is involved. You may feel less in control of the outcome of your divorce negotiations. On the plus side, having someone advocate for you can set you up for long-term success and stability. Recognize that hiring the right attorney by screening them in an interview is essential to getting the outcomes you want. Don’t overlook how important it is to choose an attorney with the experience and resolution style you need to settle your case, as well as one who is aligned with your values. Ensure that the attorney you choose is open to working with other experts in your divorce, whether you consult them for parenting time advice or financial guidance. 4. Collaborative In a collaborative divorce, a team of professionals help you settle out of court. The team can includes coaches, financial professionals, mental health experts, realtors, appraisers, mortgage professionals, child behavior specialists, and more. This is a great choice if you and your spouse’s goal is to retain the best post-divorce relationship, and are solution-oriented. In this type of divorce, you commit to reaching a mutually acceptable agreement. The professional team helps you reach resolution and creates a supportive environment of healing and recovery for your whole family. Learn more and find professionals on the Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals website. Consider what method might work best for you based on the relationship with your ex, the resources available to you, and the timelines you hope to achieve with your divorce. Begin interviewing the experts you need early in the process, so you are ready to meet timelines and stay informed about your options. If you need help organizing your finances and understanding your financial disclosure obligations in your divorce, contact us for professional financial support. If you would like to receive a list of the top divorce methods, along with their pros and cons, contact us for a copy of this important resource.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "04/01/2023", "datePublished" : "04/01/2023", "headline" : "Divorce Season: Key Tasks for Success", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-Ue7fIJ.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/divorce-season-key-tasks-for-success", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "In my work supporting divorced individuals in the Colorado area along their financial journey, I see one particular group of clients who struggle more than others. Long-time stay-at-home mothers who weren’t involved with managing the finances or individuals who may have fully handed off financial management to their former spouse tend to have significant struggles during and after a divorce. In this post, I highlight the two main insights I have about this group. If you identify with this group, I’ll share ways you can change your perception of money to better support your financial goals. Lastly, I’ll offer ideas and tips to make the transition to post-divorce budgeting easier. Money is a Limited Resource Many stay-at-home moms had access to what may have felt like unlimited funds in their marriage. Some may have had a credit card that their spouse paid off and managed and used it freely for groceries, gifts, items the kids needed, registration fees for sports, spa days, and the list goes on and on. After a divorce, individuals who weren’t involved in financial planning or didn’t directly generate income for the family go through a period of relearning budgeting as they now likely have a fixed income and must fit their spending needs into a monthly allocation of maintenance and/or child support (along with any other supplemental income they might have such as now working outside the home). It takes time to fully recognize that money is limited, especially if it didn’t feel that way in their marriage. Only when we learn that money is limited can we really understand the true ‘value of a dollar and money in general. If you previously were not involved in money management of the home, you may be pretty far removed from all the expenses required for day-to-day living. If your spouse was a single-member CFO in the relationship, you may not even see all the bills that were coming out of your account via direct deposit each month or you may not have a clear understanding of the cost of maintaining things like a home, car, and more. You may even be overwhelmed by setting all this up yourself and making sure you have enough money in the right accounts for regular bills, checks, and payments to clear. If you weren’t involved in the day-to-day finances and budgeting in your marriage, you were likely also not part of retirement planning. Therefore, you may have a significant blind spot around how to budget and invest for retirement, how these decisions impact your taxes and the importance of planning for the future. It’s critical to get the help and support you need from a financial professional to ensure you don’t end up with a surprise tax bill or worse, end up unprepared with the resources you need for retirement. Most stay-at-home moms I work with post-divorce go through a process that leads them to understand money’s value firsthand. This comes through having to make hard decisions about what’s most important on a monthly basis, and learning how to make decisions when you have competing financial demands by creating a budget that aligns with your values. Budgeting is Key to Success Budgeting and money management can be extremely difficult post-divorce. It requires discipline, prioritization, and sacrifice. In order to create a budget that truly works for you and your family, you must first spend time outlining your values and aligning your limited money with those values. This process of understanding your financial priorities leads to the most life satisfaction when finances are tight. For example, if experiences are important to your family, such as vacations, nights out, dinners, and events, then you’ll have to make sacrifices elsewhere to prioritize spending in this category. If you appreciate and want to prioritize a nice home that is fully decorated, professionally cleaned, and landscaped, and have friends over regularly to enjoy it, your social finances might be spent in this category instead. It’s important to get clear about where items like new clothes, organic food, and putting your child in competitive sports fall on the value spectrum for you so that you can align your budget accordingly. As you work through the process of developing a values-based and realistic budget, have grace and patience with yourself and your advisors. As you get closer to understanding your financial limitations, you may want to share those more broadly with your family. Depending on the age of your children, you may want to create transparency around financial priorities in your post-divorce life and even get them involved in the planning and balancing of your budget. Similarly, you can share the amount of money you have budgeted for the holidays with close family members in an effort to align gift-giving expectations with your finances. A financial advisor can help you create a budget that not only aligns with your values but also improves your financial confidence by setting spending boundaries for you and your family. Committing to an ongoing relationship with a trusted financial partner means you can revisit this budget often to understand whether you must supplement it with part-time or full-time work and to ensure you are saving enough for retirement and emergency expenses. Budgets must also evolve with your changing family. Your teen children won’t have the same financial needs as your toddlers did, and your values will continue to change over time as well.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "Stay at Home Moms: Learning to Budget Post-Divorce", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-87B5FB.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/stay-at-home-moms-learning-to-budget-post-divorce", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "January is often called “divorce month” because more people file for divorce in January than any other month of the year. Perhaps that is due to new year’s resolutions and couples finding the motivation to make a change during this transitional time of the year. Alternatively, many couples fail to get through the holidays in a peaceful way or just no longer see a viable path for their marriage, despite the ‘magic’ of the holidays. Other couples may choose to divorce this time of year due to a cleaner financial split where parties can use annual numbers to make financial decisions. Regardless of the reason, if you are contemplating a divorce during any time of the year, you should be thinking about financial protection. In this post, we outline ten steps you can take to financially prepare for a divorce. Identify all of your assets If you are contemplating divorce and getting close to making the decision to move forward, begin by taking inventory of all your assets, debts, and liabilities. Do this by gathering digital documents and noting credentials in a confidential place. If you have access, print hard copies of these assets, make photocopies of statements, or take images of anything you might need as your divorce progresses. Any financial document may be helpful to help put together a thorough and accurate picture of you and your spouse’s financial picture. Ensure you have account access In some cases, one party may open or solely own an account and you don’t have access. Now is the time to secure access by inquiring with your spouse about logins or getting your own credentials by contacting the relevant bank, investment firm, or other institution. As a reminder, it is very important not to hide assets or make them inaccessible to your partner during this time. You may have a head start on reviewing the finances if you are preparing or anticipating a divorce, but making it difficult for your partner to discover and access accounts will be frowned upon by judges and attorneys once the divorce process has started. Check that your name is on titles and co-owned assets Double-check any co-owned properties, vehicles, timeshares, and more to ensure you are listed on the title. This can save you time and headaches if you find out that you are not an official “co-owner” and have to get added to these documents during the divorce process. Being on title protects your wishes by requiring your authorization to initiate any changes. Run a credit report A free service can help you understand what your lending power will look like in the future and any changes you might need to make to improve your score. It will also help you understand what your options might look like to take out your own home and vehicle loans in the future. Running a credit report before and during the divorce process can also let you know if someone has taken out credit in your name (or jointly) without your authorization which can dramatically affect your ability to attain credit when needed at appropriate interest rates. Open new accounts in your name only Since you’ll no longer co-manage accounts with your spouse, it’s important to establish your own financial identity sooner than later. This means opening up new checking, savings, and credit card accounts. Be sure to choose new usernames and passwords to ensure your spouse can’t access these new accounts as you begin your transition to financial independence. Open a PO Box and new email account A private way to receive mail during your divorce process that you might not want your spouse to see, a PO box can serve as a confidential destination for sensitive mail and can give you added privacy during this time. Chances are, your spouse knows how to access your email after years of marriage, so opening up a new one is a smart move. Not to mention, having a new email address can feel like a fresh start. Hire a financial planner A Certified Financial Divorce Analyst (CFDA) is the most qualified specialist to help you sort through your finances during the divorce process. From outlining a current and future budget to helping guide you through tough financial decisions, a CFDA can educate you throughout the divorce process and help you achieve the financial outcomes you desire. Review spousal social security and health care requirements Depending on how long you were married, it is important to understand if you would qualify to receive social security benefits or if delaying the divorce may provide the qualifications required. Similarly, you may need to secure your own health insurance. Knowing what to expect before you file by reviewing and considering future health, social security, and life insurance needs will help you better prepare. For instance, you may be eligible for Cobra health insurance and life insurance may be easier to secure while married and ‘getting along’. By planning ahead and researching options, you can protect future support payments that may be hard to get with an ex-spouse if your situation becomes high conflict. Start thinking about the big decisions and document details From parenting plans, to what you want to do with the house, to spousal support needs, and how you’ll tell the kids, your families, and everyone else, there is no shortage of big decisions to contemplate during this time. Alongside weighing the pros and cons of the big choices, don’t miss the details. Write down any details you can during this, while your spouse is still communicating with you, especially prior to filing. A dedicated notebook with details about what your partner may have mentioned regarding an asset or comments he or she made that are notable could be helpful as you progress through the divorce process. Use this to make lists of to-dos and thoughts on important decisions so it’s easier to recall certain details that you may need in the future. On a related note, interviewing divorce coaches could be helpful during this time. Also, don’t feel like you need to make all of these decisions as the professionals you hire will help support you in making the best decisions for you and your family. Interview attorneys Now is the time to find an attorney who is a great fit for your needs and desired outcomes. Asking the right questions as you interview attorneys can make all the difference in your settlement. From inquiring about their experience to communication styles, most attorneys offer a free consultation where you can dive deeper into the details of your situation and find someone who you feel can truly help. At A.M. Financial, we provide expert guidance on the financial side of divorce and guide you through important steps to protect your finances. As a Certified Financial Divorce Analyst, we have a deep understanding of the financial decisions required in the divorce process and financial planning needed to reach long-term goals. Contact us for a free consultation.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "10 Steps You Can Take to Protect Your Finances In the Divorce Process", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-fMmFqc.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/a-m-financial-protect-your-finances-in-the-divorce-process", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "If you are considering a divorce, you have lots of options to confirm whether that is the right decision for you and your future. Some people choose to go on a retreat or even a trip with their spouse to talk through the right path and next steps. Other couples attempt marriage counseling for a length of time to try and validate their feelings and inclinations about the marriage. Other people might stay in limbo far too long, worried about how the decision to get divorced could impact their families, finances, friends, and future. One approach you can explore, if you aren’t 100% sure whether you want a divorce, is Discernment Counseling. In this post, we outline what Discernment Counseling is and who is a right fit for this methodology. What is Discernment Counseling? Discernment Counseling is a step between couples counseling and divorce with the goal of helping a couple or individual decide if they truly want to go through with a divorce, or take other steps to repair their marriage. Discernment counseling can be for a couple or an individual. Oftentimes, individuals who go through Discernment Counseling have struggled with the decision to get a divorce for a long time. They value getting insight from a professional who works with those contemplating divorce regularly, and someone who can provide additional context on the in and outs of the divorce process—as well as post-divorce life. The outcome of Discernment Counseling is a “go” or “no-go” decision about divorce. If a couple chooses not to move forward with the divorce, typically they commit to at least six months of counseling to address and overcome their unmet needs and communication challenges that are causing issues in the relationship. How Does it Differ From Traditional Counseling? Marriage counseling tends to get at the root of the issues in the relationship whereas Discernment Counseling helps a couple or individual make a decision to either move forward with a divorce or commit to further couples counseling. Usually, Discernment Counseling includes a counselor spending time with each party individually, as well as together, to understand whether: They want to be married in general They want to be married to their partner The why or why not of their decision Discernment counseling is typically 1-5 sessions that are 90-120-minutes in length. It is a relatively inexpensive way to validate whether you are making a really expensive mistake (both emotionally and financially) by divorcing if the relationship is repairable. The goal of the Discernment Counseling sessions is making a definitive decision about a relationship while marriage counseling’s goal is to improve the health of the relationship over a longer time frame. Who is a Good Fit for Discernment Counseling? Discernment Counseling is a great fit for individuals or couples who are even slightly ambivalent about the right next steps in their marriage. If there is any desire or inclination to save the marriage, Discernment Counseling can help a couple choose the right path. Discernment Counseling is appropriate for individuals or couples that are: At a standstill in their relationship Unsure whether they can fix their problems On different pages about their marriage Are talking about divorce It’s important to take this step early if you want to save your marriage. Often couples use Discernment Counseling, marriage counseling, and therapy as a last resort and the hurt runs too deep to fix at that point, and there is often too little hope left. Addressing unmet needs and poor communication in a marriage when things are just starting to get off track helps save many marriages. Like a check engine light that comes on in your car, knowing the warning signs of unmet needs and not ignoring them prevents both cars and marriages from falling apart. By going through the process of Discernment Counseling, clients report feeling more sure of their decision to stay or go in their marriage, less guilt, and lower levels of remorse. Couples find that this type of counseling validates their decision and helps them feel more confident about their future. In Colorado, one of the most experienced discernment counseling professionals is Deb Daufeldt of New Chapter Solutions. Deb has used her expertise to help hundreds of clients transition to new chapters of their relationships and lives through her private online counseling practice. If you are ready to learn more about how Discernment Counseling can help you make a decision about your marriage, contact Deb Daufeldt of New Chapter Solutions to learn more about how her work can support your needs through a complementary 20-minute evaluation. Deb often works with the team at A.M. Financial to provide a comprehensive picture of what divorce will look like, from the emotional to the financial side of this life transition. Check out part two of this post where we explore the dynamics of finances in divorce and how they come up in Discernment Counseling sessions.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "Part 1: What is Discernment Counseling and is it Right for Me?", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-PgVmgw.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/discernment-counseling-mahlen-financial", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "articleBody" : "Depending on the financial dynamics of your divorce, you may consider whether or not to re-enter the workforce. Maybe you are still in prime working years and you are reentering after being a stay-at-home parent. Or, perhaps you are nearing retirement age but unsure if you will have enough money to retire comfortably and therefore are looking for a lower-commitment job to supplement other savings. Reentering the workforce post-divorce is not a decision to take lightly and there are often strong financial reasons to do so. In this post, we outline four considerations for reentering the workforce and discuss the financial implications of your decision. Identify your network Often, getting a job relies heavily on who you know. This may be even more true if you have been out of the workforce for some time. Identify where you might have colleagues that can support your career ambitions. If your professional network was closely tied to your ex, get involved in professional groups, events, and social media networks to rebuild connections with important professional influencers. As you consider this decision, research market conditions or network with others to understand how competitive the current job market is and whether that will be an added challenge if you have been out of the workforce for some time. In addition, research the state of your industry. Some industries change quickly and you may have to get up to speed through podcasts, events, certifications, or other opportunities. Decide if you are ready If you are in the middle of a difficult divorce with your ex, you may not have the mental capacity to take on a new job successfully. Be honest with yourself if you are in too much transition to take on a new job and choose to delay the decision. Putting together goals or a timeline can be helpful if it is something you think you want to tackle in the future. In other cases, a job may be a positive place to focus your energy and time. Working can provide a distraction or the feeling of moving forward and taking control of your life. In some cases, if there are enough financial resources where needs and obligations are being covered, holding off until support orders are established in your divorce also can help you understand how much money you’ll need to supplement support from your ex. In other circumstances, if support calculations include income for you that you do not yet have (referred to as imputed income), getting a job may not negatively affect your support numbers. In situations like this, the sooner you start making income, the more financial stress will decrease, resulting in more financial flexibility, financial freedom and can build a sense of independence. Always discuss the best approach with your attorney first. Consider roles that complement your lifestyle As a single parent or unmarried individual, you now have a new lifestyle and likely less support post-divorce. Take that into consideration when choosing a new job. For example, if you have part-time parenting duties, taking a job with overnight travel, nighttime hours, or a long commute might not be an option until you are settled into a more regular routine post-divorce. These considerations might change depending on the age of your children. If a new job requires learning a new skill, ask yourself if you have the time and mental bandwidth to do that post-divorce. In some cases, a work-from-home role might be ideal and in other cases, getting out of the house and around others might be a great step for you post-divorce. Evaluate your current skills and experience and consider how you can apply them to a role. You may surprise yourself! Being a full-time parent requires multi-tasking, scheduling, organization, decision-making, leadership, and so many other life skills that are applicable in the workforce. If you are considering going back to school, understand that it is an investment that may require budgeting and sacrifice. Reaching your goals and doing what you love for a living is important, but it is also wise to make sound financial decisions that will pay off in the future. Establish your salary expectations As you consider going back to work, understand what salary ranges you need to achieve the lifestyle you want. Drafting a post-divorce budget is a critical step to understanding your salary needs. In addition, work with your attorney and financial experts to understand how you should receive or pay support agreements and any lump sums you might receive or pay in your divorce. When you are evaluating salary, consider the total compensation package including employee benefits such as health insurance and employer retirement contributions. A position that offers health insurance can save you hundreds of dollars each month. Healing emotionally (and even physically) after divorce is your responsibility and having health insurance coverage will provide you the ability to move forward and heal. Employer retirement contributions are a considerable benefit as one of the most common financial challenges non-working post-divorcees have is the inability to save as finances have become so strained. Many employer retirement plans offer contributions to help you save in addition to your own savings. Understand additional expenses you may take on if you go back to work and add them to your budget. Examples of these include: Clothing Childcare Pet Care Parking Gas Most people decide to reenter the workforce out of financial obligation. Getting clear about whether you need to go back to work based on your divorce agreement and financial goals often takes the help of a financial expert. Have you created a budget to understand your post-divorce financial situation and even used that information to negotiate an ideal division of assets? Contact our team for a free consultation to learn how we can help you understand more about your financial situation and whether you need to reenter the workforce.", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Amy Mahlen", "sameAs" : "", "url" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/author/amy-mahlen" }, "dateModified" : "01/06/2022", "datePublished" : "01/06/2022", "headline" : "Reentering the Workforce: 4 Post-Divorce Considerations", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 400, "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/39875594/Imported_Blog_Media/qtq80-uCY19b.jpeg", "width" : 750 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/reentering-the-workforce-mahlen-financial", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "" }, "name" : "A.M. Financial", "url" : "amf-divorce.com" } } ```