Paths Through Divorce: Post-Divorce Financial Roadmap

With the divorce final, Kathy Costas, a financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), explains that many people feel grief and fear about next steps, especially how to avoid running out of money. She describes how post-divorce finances differ from married life, particularly for those relying on support payments, requiring buffers and backup plans, and often a lower risk tolerance in investments. She emphasizes starting with budgeting to align spending with a now single-household reality, then reviewing assets, tax implications, and potential capital gains from liquidation. Costas outlines creating a reliable, tax-efficient income strategy with appropriate risk, updating estate plans (trust and will), reviewing insurance, and tracking loose ends such as QDRO follow-through, future bonuses, and vesting restricted stock units by creating a timeline map for key financial decisions.

00:00 Divorce Is Final

00:31 Meet Your Financial Guide

00:57 Why Money Changes Now

01:34 Start With A Budget

02:06 Build A Reliable Income

02:54 Update Legal And Insurance

03:17 Track Loose Ends

03:39 Your Next Chapter

EP WEALTH ADVISORS:

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC ("EP Wealth") is a leading independent registered investment adviser ("RIA") on a mission to provide clients with honest and objective advice through personalized financial planning, customized investment portfolios, and integrated tax and estate planning. Visit ⁠epwealth.com⁠ (http://epwealth.com/) to find out more.

🎙️ Podcast Production by Spoken Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://spokenpodcasts.com

Paths Through Divorce: Gray Divorce

Financial advisor and CDFA Kathy Costas of EP Wealth Advisors explains that “gray divorce” has surged in the past 5–10 years, with divorces among people 55+ growing fastest, driven by strong housing and financial markets, greater financial independence and inheritance for women, and longer, higher-quality life expectancy leading older couples to leave unhappy marriages. Kathy describes unique challenges for older or retired clients, including dividing fixed retirement income, handling the home as a major asset amid capital gains taxes and mortgage qualification limits, and considering options like 55+ communities or reverse mortgages. She also highlights health insurance strategies such as legal separation to keep employer coverage until Medicare, Social Security claiming rules for divorced spouses, required minimum distributions and tax/Medicare impacts, and preserving life and long-term care insurance. She emphasizes navigating divorce less destructively to maintain family relationships for later-life milestones.

00:00 Gray Divorce Explained

00:17 Why It’s Rising

01:11 Meet the Expert

01:32 Splitting Retirement Income

02:02 Home and Housing Options

02:48 Health Insurance Strategies

03:24 Social Security and Taxes

04:21 Insurance and Long Term Care

05:17 Divorce Without Destroying Family

EP WEALTH ADVISORS:

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC ("EP Wealth") is a leading independent registered investment adviser ("RIA") on a mission to provide clients with honest and objective advice through personalized financial planning, customized investment portfolios, and integrated tax and estate planning. Visit ⁠epwealth.com⁠ (http://epwealth.com/) to find out more.

🎙️ Podcast Production by Spoken Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://spokenpodcasts.com⁠

Paths Through Divorce: Navigating Divorce

Kathy Costas, a financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) at EP Wealth Advisors, explains first steps for people facing divorce. She advises learning the “rules of the game” in your state, since state law largely determines property division and support: community property states like California generally split marital property 50/50, while equitable division states leave distribution to a judge. She outlines spousal support (alimony/maintenance), noting California’s approach differs by marriage length, and describes child support as mostly formula-driven with some state variations. Costas recommends assembling a team (mediation, collaborative, or litigation) that includes legal and financial professionals, then “hunt and gather” all financial information—assets, debts, credit reports, income, and monthly spending—using tools like annualcreditreport.com and bank apps to build knowledge and reduce overwhelm.

00:00 Facing Divorce Overwhelm

00:35 Know State Divorce Laws

00:59 Property Division Basics

01:38 Spousal Support Rules

02:32 Child Support Overview

03:01 Build Your Divorce Team

03:47 Gather Financial Documents

04:26 Track Debts And Budget

05:14 Next Steps And Encouragement

EP WEALTH ADVISORS:

EP Wealth Advisors, LLC ("EP Wealth") is a leading independent registered investment adviser ("RIA") on a mission to provide clients with honest and objective advice through personalized financial planning, customized investment portfolios, and integrated tax and estate planning. Visit ⁠epwealth.com⁠ (http://epwealth.com/) to find out more.

🎙️ Podcast Production by Spoken Podcasts:⁠ ⁠⁠https://spokenpodcasts.com⁠