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

Paths Through Divorce: Divorce Myths and Financial Guidance

Financial advisor and CDFA Kathy Costas of EP Wealth Advisors explains why Googling divorce and relying on friends’ advice often leads to misinformation, requiring “myth busting” in initial client meetings. She challenges the idea that you need a “bulldog” attorney, arguing divorce is largely settlement negotiation and you need a strategic advocate and skilled negotiator. She says there is no single “best” divorce attorney; the right choice depends on your needs and the lawyer’s specialty and communication style. In California, she clarifies that marriages over 10 years may have no set end to spousal support, but support can stop or be modified if the paying spouse’s circumstances change. She disputes the belief that post-divorce life must match the marital standard of living, noting income must support two households and overspending can backfire; the marital standard can also cap support increases. Finally, she stresses attorneys are not therapists or financial planners and recommends professionals for emotional and financial guidance.

00:00 Divorce Google Trap

00:37 Bulldog Lawyer Myth

01:36 Finding Your Best Attorney

02:30 Spousal Support Forever

03:35 Marital Lifestyle Reality

04:23 Spending to Boost Support

05:13 Attorney Not Therapist

06:18 Get Pro Help Closing

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: Survivor-Style Divorce Financial Guidance

Kathy Costas compares divorce to the TV show Survivor: sudden disorientation, shifting rules and alliances, and difficulty knowing whom to trust, but with higher stakes because the opponent knows your weaknesses and the “prize” is your financial future and time with your children. As a financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), she positions herself as a dedicated guide and advocate who educates clients, explains what happens in court, anticipates next steps, and focuses on the financial side of divorce. Working alongside attorneys, she helps build strategies and settlement proposals, evaluates assets with tax implications, and performs cashflow analysis to show what clients will have monthly and how assets may perform over time. She also helps address post-divorce financial tasks like account division, refinancing, insurance, and updating trusts and estate plans.

00:00 Divorce as Survivor

00:44 High Stakes Opponent

01:23 Meet the CDFA Guide

01:39 Why You Need a CDFA

02:04 Financial Strategy Team

02:28 Cashflow and Future Value

02:56 Beyond Lawyers and Accountants

03:27 Post Divorce Loose Ends

03:51 Getting Through It

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: Money Talks For Married Couples

Financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst Kathy Costas explains that many married couples rarely discuss their “money story,” even though each partner brings a preexisting relationship with money shaped by upbringing, scarcity or abundance, spending habits, debt, and past financial setbacks. She says these differences often surface at inflection points like paying for children’s college, deciding when and how to retire, managing the shift from saving to spending, or handling an inheritance and related estate planning. Costas notes financial stress is a major cause of divorce and argues couples should have these conversations early with a trusted advisor to find common ground, align risk attitudes, and then address practical planning items such as Social Security, estate plan updates, and long-term care. She also emphasizes educating the less financially involved spouse to prepare for potential widowhood and future decision-making.

00:00 Money Story Kickoff

00:51 Your Money Upbringing

01:42 Inflection Points Trigger Talks

01:51 College Funding Clash

03:05 Retirement Anxiety

04:05 Inheritance And Estate Plans

04:33 Finding Common Ground

04:57 Plan Nuts And Bolts

05:12 Shared Financial Literacy

05:42 Why It Matters

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: Mediation, Collaboration, Litigation

Financial advisor and CDFA Kathy Costas of EP Wealth Advisors explains that divorces can follow different processes and choosing the right one depends on a couple’s dynamics and financial transparency. She outlines three main approaches: mediation, where a neutral third party facilitates discussions without advising either spouse and can work best when both parties get along and understand the finances; collaborative law, which uses two teams of experts (including financial professionals, a divorce coach, and a financial neutral) but requires starting over with a new team if the process fails; and litigation, where each spouse hires an attorney to negotiate a settlement, with most cases not ending in court. She notes litigation can be appropriate for financial knowledge imbalances, difficult custody issues, or domestic violence, and advises interviewing multiple attorneys to find the best fit.

00:00 Divorce Options Overview

00:26 Mediation Basics

00:59 Collaborative Divorce Teams

01:30 Collaborative Risks

01:53 Litigation Explained

02:39 When Attorneys Help Most

02:54 Choosing the Right Lawyer

03:52 Marathon Mindset Wrap Up

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