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Post-Divorce Financial Planning: Reevaluating Investments

July 15, 2023

Navigating through a divorce 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 investments, can often anchor us in these challenging times. It empowers you to set a firm foundation for your new life, one where you can rebuild, grow, and flourish.

In this blog post, we will walk through why reevaluating your investments is essential after a divorce, and the areas we need to focus on. We’ll delve into redefining your financial goals to suit your new life, understand the implications of dividing assets, explore how changes in tax status can impact your financial plan, adjust your retirement strategy to reflect your new reality, and finally, update your insurance policies and estate plans to ensure they are in tune with your unique needs.

To bring all these points to life, we’ll share Sarah’s (name changed for privacy) journey – her challenges, her triumphs, and how she found confidence in managing her finances post-divorce with our help.

1. Redefining Your Financial Goals

While married, you and your partner probably had a joint vision for your financial future. Whether it was purchasing your dream home, preparing for your children’s college tuition, or planning a vacation, these goals were crafted with shared dreams in mind. Post-divorce, however, your goals might have shifted. It’s completely normal for your financial targets to change, and your investment strategy should evolve to reflect your new aspirations.

2. Dealing with Divided Assets

A substantial part of divorce proceedings is the division of assets, which can significantly disrupt your investment portfolio. It’s not uncommon to end up with an assortment of investments that don’t align with your new financial goals or your risk tolerance. Reassessing your portfolio and making necessary adjustments can ensure your investments reflect your current circumstances and future goals.

3. Understanding Tax Implications

Another side-effect of divorce is the potential change in your tax bracket. Being a single taxpayer might affect how your investments are taxed, and adjusting your strategy to factor in these tax implications is important. This could mean prioritizing tax-efficient investments or rethinking tax-advantaged options to maximize your return.

4. Adjusting Your Retirement Strategy

When it comes to retirement savings, a divorce could significantly impact your nest egg. Perhaps your shared retirement assets were divided, leaving you with less than you had planned. This change might require you to increase your contributions or change the allocation of your investments to meet your new retirement objectives.

5. Updating Insurance Policies and Estate Plans

Divorce necessitates a thorough review of all your documents, including insurance policies and estate plans. It’s essential to check the beneficiaries listed on these policies and make changes as needed. You might also need to adjust coverage amounts to reflect your new life circumstances.

Finding Financial Confidence: Sarah’s Post-Divorce Journey

One of our clients, Sarah (name changed for privacy), shared how our work together has given her greater clarity, making financial decisions easier,

“My husband had a lot of different accounts. He would open new accounts all the time, and I never knew where anything was. With Leah’s help, I’ve been consolidating everything into one place. It’s just simpler for me to understand. She’s great about leading me through things and has helped me do transactions, and each time it gets a little less scary.”

Sarah’s story underscores the value of engaging a financial advisor who understands the complexities of post-divorce financial planning. They can provide empathetic, personalized advice based on your unique circumstances.

We Can Help

At our sister company, Great Lakes Investment Management, our compassionate team is prepared to help you navigate this difficult transition, wherever you are in the U.S. We invite you to learn more about the firm at www.greatlakesinvestment.com. While you’re there, schedule a no-pressure chat to explore how we can support you as you start this new chapter.

Remember, it’s okay for your financial plan to change as your life evolves. As you step into this new chapter, know that a secure financial future is absolutely achievable.