You’ve made it through the tears, the anger, the overwhelm of change that has occurred through the divorce process and come out the other side facing a new life you can’t even really envision yet. The divorce is final and it’s time to start moving forward. I see a lot of people get stuck here for a while but ultimately they start to heal and move forward. Some people build something positive and meaningful but others tend to revert back to the single days of youth with no responsibilities or boundaries and make some not-so-smart choices about their money, jobs, homes, etc. Don’t be them. It’s a waste of time and it’s guaranteed to bring regret.
Job number one to build a healthy new life is KNOW YOUR DIVORCE SETTLEMENT! I come across tons of people who aren’t really sure exactly what they’ve been awarded and don’t call their attorneys because they really just want to be DONE with attorney fees. Read through your final decree and MAKE SURE you understand everything in it. If you don’t, either suck it up and schedule another hour with your attorney or use a divorce specialist like me to help you. Part of the post-divorce transition assistance that my company and others like it offer includes reviewing your decree, setting up accounts and walking through the transfer of any assets that need to be transferred.
At this time, if you haven’t heard it before, you’ll like hear that dreaded term, QDRO. (Pronounced quadro.) This is ANOTHER legal document that you might need if you’re supposed to get part of a retirement account that wasn’t originally yours. I’ve had individuals come to me years after their divorce and can’t figure out why they never got the 401k they were supposed to. Because no one did a QDRO or told anyone they needed to! CRAZY! But it does happen and you don’t want it to happen to you.
Once you know WHAT you have, now you need to know HOW you have to manage it to make sure it lasts! Enter your trusted partner financial advisor. GET ONE!!! Don’t even question it. You NEED a professional. Here’s my best advice about finding one. The truth is they all have the same products and services at their disposal. Some only use one or two, some will try to dazzle you with 20. Some like complex and some like simple. Bottom line is you MUST know ALL expenses you are paying and here’s the biggest one – hire someone you like and trust! Even if it’s just a gut feeling. Trust it. Don’t be dazzled by sales tactics. Choose the person who felt like a friend. In the long run, you’ll be much happier.
Are you considering divorce? If so, please contact our team for a free consultation or download our complimentary Ebook: 5 Things to Do Before You Decide on Divorce to make sure you have all of your questions answered before you make your decision.
