FAQs

Divorce financial analysis focuses on the financial issues that need to be understood during the divorce process, including asset division, support, tax impact, liquidity, tracing, valuation, and settlement structure.

My divorce work is fee-for-service, analysis-based work. It is not investment management, product sales, or a way to gather assets after the divorce is complete.

Ongoing financial planning and investment management after divorce are separate services. When those services are needed, clients can transition to an appropriate financial adviser. My focus is on the financial decisions that need to be evaluated during divorce.

Most engagements range from $1,500 to $25,000, depending on the complexity of the financial issues, the volume of records, and the depth of analysis needed.

Some matters require straightforward financial organization or settlement review. Others involve detailed tracing, pension valuation, equity compensation analysis, lifestyle documentation, or long-term settlement evaluation.

Each engagement begins with a 30-minute introductory consultation to discuss the issues involved, the likely scope of work, and whether my services are a good fit. Fees are billed based on the work performed because the scope can change as records are reviewed and new questions arise.

No. The level of analysis should fit the financial issues involved.

Some matters need a targeted review of records, a specific calculation, or a straightforward comparison of settlement terms. Others require deeper analysis because the financial issues are more complex, disputed, or important to long-term outcomes.

The goal is to provide enough analysis to support informed decisions without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.

More detailed financial analysis is often helpful when the financial issues are difficult to value, trace, compare, or project over time.

That includes cases involving complex compensation, pensions, business interests, real estate, large or uneven asset division, long-term support, separate property claims, commingled accounts, disputed financial information, or proposed settlement structures that need to be evaluated for sustainability.

Some cases also benefit from deeper analysis when one spouse has had greater access to the financial records or a better understanding of the household finances.

That is common, especially when one spouse has handled the investments, taxes, accounts, business records, or retirement planning during the marriage.

I help organize the financial information, explain what the records show, and identify the questions that need to be answered before settlement decisions are made.

You do not need to match your spouse’s financial knowledge. You do need a clear, organized understanding of the financial issues that affect your settlement, support, cash flow, and long-term stability.

The goal is to help you make informed decisions with your attorney, rather than relying on assumptions, pressure, or someone else’s confidence.

I evaluate whether proposed settlement terms are likely to function in the financial life that follows the divorce, not only whether they appear balanced at the time of settlement.

This may include analysis of after-tax cash flow, support duration, asset liquidity, retirement timing, income variability, debt obligations, and the timing of major financial transitions such as career reentry or housing changes.

The goal is to help clients and attorneys understand whether the proposed structure is sustainable over time, where financial pressure points may arise, and whether different terms should be considered before the settlement is finalized.

Yes. The structure of a settlement can matter as much as the total dollar value.

Two proposals may look similar on paper but produce different results once taxes, liquidity, timing, support duration, investment risk, and access to cash are considered. Some differences affect long-term outcomes; others can appear within months, such as when an asset is difficult to sell, produces taxable income, requires ongoing costs, or cannot be used to meet immediate cash needs.

Financial analysis helps make those differences visible before settlement terms are finalized.

RSUs and stock options require review of grant dates, vesting schedules, employment purpose, tax treatment, and the timing of marriage, separation, and vesting.

I analyze equity compensation to help identify potential community and separate property components, evaluate tax and liquidity issues, and explain how different division methods may affect the overall settlement structure.

When needed, the analysis can be organized around the dates, documents, and characterization issues identified by counsel, so the financial information is easier to use in negotiation, mediation, or litigation preparation.

Pensions require careful analysis because value depends on plan rules, benefit formulas, retirement timing, survivor benefits, cost-of-living adjustments, and whether the benefit is divided or offset with other assets.

Depending on the case, pension analysis may include present value calculations, review of survivor benefit options, comparison of monthly benefit division versus asset offset, and evaluation of tax and long-term cash flow effects.

Yes. I review financial records to identify missing information, unexplained transfers, unusual account activity, or inconsistencies that need clarification.

This may include review of bank statements, credit card records, tax returns, brokerage statements, loan documents, business records, and financial declarations.

I do not assume assets are hidden. The goal is to create a clearer factual record, identify financial questions that need further review, and help clients and attorneys understand what the records do — and do not — show.

I am often retained by one spouse or by counsel for one spouse. I can also work in a neutral role when both sides agree that a defined financial issue would be more efficiently analyzed by one financial professional.

Neutral work may be appropriate for issues such as pension valuation, separate property tracing, equity compensation analysis, or other financial questions where the records, assumptions, and methodology can be identified and applied in an organized way.

Whether retained by one side or engaged in a neutral role, my work is grounded in organized records, stated assumptions, disciplined methodology, and structured financial analysis.

I provide divorce financial analysis, including tax-impact evaluation related to settlement structure, support, asset division, and long-term financial outcomes. I am not an attorney or CPA, do not prepare tax returns, and do not provide legal advice.

Clients should consult their attorneys and tax professionals for advice regarding their broader legal and tax circumstances.