Financially Ever After Widowhood

Tiffani Higgins is owner and CPA at Stay at Home Bookkeeper Academy, where she proves you can succeed being a stay-at-home parent and generate income to live your life to the fullest, without sacrificing family time. She is also the owner of Missouri Cannabis CPA, a firm specializing in government regulations for companies in the cannabis industry. Tiffani teaches listeners what their options are for elevating their career while being a stay-at-home parent. She shares the biggest business mistakes that hold back women from being successful, and the tools they need to overcome them. She also gives tips for starting your own business. One of the biggest challenges for listeners is juggling their desire for a career to provide for their family after a divorce, with the demands of corporate America, and their domestic responsibilities. Stay at Home Bookkeeper Academy essentially helps clients launch their own businesses. They assist with all aspects of business ownership, including how to market yourself in ways that are comfortable. Being an entrepreneur, consultant, or any type of worker that operates freelance, part-time or on contract falls under the ‘gig economy,’ which has seen astounding growth in recent times. As of 2021, roughly 1 in 10 people use online platforms for the gig economy. The great thing about having a bookkeeping business is that you can make it a side gig, or you can scale it up to your heart’s desire. This allows parents more flexibility for their working hours. Resources Tiffani Higgins on LinkedIn | Have Your Cake and Eat It Too | Facebook TiffaniHiggins.com The Stay At Home Bookkeeper Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Nathan Astle is founder of Relational Money, an organization that specializes in helping people deal with issues related to their emotional difficulties with money, as well as helping couples experiencing financial conflict. He is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a Certified Financial Therapist. Nathan is a member of the board of directors of the Financial Therapy Association, and has been featured on CNBC and USA Today. He explains the role of a Certified Financial Therapist, and educates listeners on how to regain power over their lives after a financially abusive relationship. He also shares a resource to help listeners regulate their emotions, particularly around money. Money has different meanings for different people: it can be a necessary evil that enables them to live the life they want, a representation of security and safety, and a way to assert dominance and influence over a person. The way you were raised has a significant impact on the way you experience money. How your parents treated wealth and wealthy people, the explicit messages you were taught about money, and what went unsaid, all played a part in shaping your perception of money. Emotional regulation becomes a challenge when people are going through traumatic experiences, because they often respond to situations in ways that best guarantee their survival. Focusing on your senses can help you control your emotions. When you feel yourself slipping, pay attention to the texture of something near you; it’s a helpful tool for recentering yourself in the moment. Resources Nathan Astle on LinkedIn Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

T.H. Irwin and Jessica Klingbaum were divorced at the same time and had only each other to rely on for support. Now, through exEXPERTS, they help other women at every stage in the divorce journey, whether they are only just considering it, and even after. They use their experience to teach women everything they wished they knew, and provide them with the assistance they need. T.H. and Jessica share insights about their community, and the important role money played in their divorces. After her divorce, T.H. ensured that her expenses could be covered by child support to create a financial cushion. In the case of any emergency or unexpected circumstance, she would then have the finances to take care of it. It is imperative that women develop financial skills to support themselves after divorce, because they typically cannot rebound as quickly as their ex-husbands can; especially if their ex-husbands were the primary breadwinners. Jessica needed to hire a forensic accountant to discover the money her husband was hiding. Many women are often victims of financial infidelity in their marriage, which occurs when their partners hide information about their finances. Self-love is all about moving forward. If you feel stuck you need to look within yourself for a way to help yourself; the power to change your circumstances lies in your decisions. Resources T.H. Irwin on LinkedIn Jessica Klingbaum on LinkedIn exEXPERTS.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Lisa Zeiderman is Managing Partner at Miller Zeiderman LLP, and an official member of Forbes Business Council. She specializes in complex financial and custody divorce matters for high-net-worth individuals. In 2020, Lisa was named a 10 Best Family Law Attorney for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. She is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, a Certified Financial Litigator, and teaches other matrimonial attorneys how to deal with complex assets in divorce. In this episode, she talks with Stacy Francis to give listeners a crash course about high net worth divorce. Before high net worth individuals start the divorce process, they must understand whether their income is coming into their household from employment or investments. Then, their monthly burn rate must be taken into account. A forensic accountant is sometimes brought in to appraise a business, if a party of a high net worth divorce is a business owner. They will examine the books, general ledgers, and expenses; they may also conduct income stream analysis. When looking for a matrimonial attorney for your high net worth divorce, you should ensure that the person you’re consulting with is going to be part of your case to minimize legal fees. Going into a high net worth divorce is like going for a heart surgery: you don’t have to know how to do the surgery, but you have to know a great heart surgeon. Ideally, your team should consist of a great matrimonial attorney and a great Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Resources Lisa Zeiderman on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] LisaZeiderman.com SavvyLadies.org Contemplating Divorce During Bonus, Equity Award Season Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

In this crossover episode, you'll get to hear Stacy Francis when joined the hosts at DIVORCE etc… to talk about the best ways to protect your wealth during divorce, how to decide who gets what, and what your biggest asset actually is. The biggest asset you have is your earning capability, which is even larger than the value of your home. Whether or not you have wealth to inherit does not impede your ability to earn ongoing income. Additionally, it’s the asset that women have most control over. Some things you can do to protect your nest egg are: ensure you have car insurance in your name, the right homeowner’s insurance, and insurance for your engagement ring if you decide to keep it. You can also sell your engagement ring and invest it, since the money it was bought with was premarital. It’s very rare that we have good financial surprises. An emergency fund is a powerful tool all women should have; it protects your overall financial stability because there will always be things you don’t plan for. Similar to a candle, you should never leave a credit card unmonitored. During a divorce, ensure that the credit card you use is in your name, and that you pay it off at the end of the month. Resources DIVORCE etc… Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Dr. Randy Heller is a marriage and family therapist, collaborative mental health professional, and Adjunct Professor at Nova Southeastern University. She founded The Family Network, Inc., a comprehensive counseling center providing individual, couple, family, and group services to children, adolescents, and adults. In this episode, she talks with Stacy Francis about navigating the demands of life and starting the new year in balance and shares an action plan to make 2022 your best year. Thanksgiving to Christmas is typically a period of fear and uncertainty for families going through divorce. Many women experience fear of the unknown; they wonder if they will be alone forever and whether they can manage being on their own. You need to give yourself permission to be the best you can, rather than being perfect. If you allow yourself a day or two where you don’t hold yourself to the ideal you, you can take that time to rest and recharge so you can resume meeting your personal expectations. When you find yourself in massive internal chaos, stop for a moment to just breathe. If you can breathe easily, then you can think about your next step. Like yoga, if you’re not focused on what you’re doing at the moment, you’re going to fall. Worrying about all the ‘shoulds’ will only prevent you from actually doing things. Instead, pay attention to the things you can manage today, and celebrate those accomplishments. The rest can be done tomorrow. Resources Dr. Randy Heller on LinkedIn FamilyNetworkFlorida.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Karen’s former husband had been struggling with a gambling addiction for over 20 years. Lynn’s ex-husband’s gambling addiction pervaded the last seven years of their almost 20-year long marriage. Karen and Lynn share their stories of being married to people who developed gambling addictions, how that upended their finances and sense of self, and how they found help. They share insights about compulsive gambling and how to recognize it, what resources are available for assistance, and how to protect yourself and your family. According to national studies, as many as 10 million Americans struggle with compulsive gambling. Even more disturbing is the fact that older adults aren’t the only ones; in fact, one in 20 college students meet the criteria for compulsive gambling, which is double the rate of the overall adult population. Being divisive about shared resources actually helps partners of gambling addicts to financially isolate themselves from their partners’ gambling debts. Love and trust are two different things; you can love your partner and still not trust them with your finances. People often shy away from taking steps to protect themselves because they believe a lack of trust shows a lack of love. Symptoms of compulsive gambling include lying, manipulation, blaming, rationalization, and fantasizing. You cannot have a rational marital conversation about money with a compulsive gambler because they only care about getting money for the next bet. Resources GAM-ANON.ORG (international self-help group for friends and family members of compulsive gamblers. Lists of meetings, literature, etc.) GAMBLERSANONYMOUS.ORG (international self-help group for compulsive gamblers. Lists of meetings and information are at this website) GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS HOTLINE FOR New York: 855-2CALLGA (855-222-5542) The National Council on Problem Gambling HELPLINE 800-522-4700 Our local hotline for our Gam-Anon group 716-800-1426 Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Ian Steinberg is an Associate Attorney at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, LLP, where he focuses on the litigation, negotiation, and settlement of matrimonial and family law cases. Prior to his current role, he worked at a real estate firm representing building owners and courts throughout New York City. He shares important information on the division of equity in the marital home in divorce, what happens if there's separate property, and the issues that arise when one spouse buys out the other. Real estate is usually someone’s biggest asset, and it becomes a challenge to settle a divorce when it is involved. There’s something about real estate that makes it different from other assets. When doing the financial splitting during the divorce process, it’s important that you take a bird’s eye view and do a financial analysis instead of just saying you want to find a way for everyone to get an equal amount. With real estate involved in a divorce, you should have a team of experts weighing in to contribute from their respective lenses; with a combination of essential, different perspectives, you can arrive at the best possible solution. Approaching the issue of real estate from a completely objective standpoint makes the process run more smoothly. Rather than focusing on comfort, a practical mindset is necessary to make a decision that will best set you up for the future. Resources Ian Steinberhg on LinkedIn Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Christopher Melcher is Partner at Walzer Melcher LLP, where he specializes in Family Law and represents clients in complex, high-stakes family law disputes. He is also Adjunct Professor at Pepperdine Law. Christopher is frequently hired by other family lawyers as a consultant, expert, or co-counsel on significant divorce cases in California. He joins Stacy Francis to talk about the breadwinning woman, and the financial considerations she needs to think about if she’s considering divorce. In recent times, the number of women who are considered breadwinners has been the highest recorded number in history. More women than men are graduating college and, due to societal issues, are taking the lead in their families to earn more. The implications for how this affects marriage are such that marriages with female breadwinners are 50% more likely to end up in divorce. When it comes to alimony agreements, it’s better to accept them and move on than to try contesting them in court. What that does is increase the amount of money you spend on legal fees and decrease the amount of money you have readily available, ultimately leaving the attorneys as the real winners. Before pulling the plug on marriage, it’s important to seek advice from a good divorce lawyer and financial planner to prepare yourself for the economic changes that being single again will bring. Chris recommends having a friend help you put together a team of a divorce lawyer, financial planner, and counselor while you go through the divorce process. Resources Christopher Melcher on LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube WalzerMelcher.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Alla Roytberg is a Founding Partner at Roytberg Traum Law and Mediation P.C. She is also a collaborative attorney and mediator member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Alla has 25 years of experience in mediation and litigation, and specializes in legal and mediation services for families and small businesses, international and cross-cultural issues, divorce, residential real estate, wills and estate. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about finding the right divorce professional for you. Some of the better ways to find the right professional for you are to reach out to your local bar association, people you know who have gone through the divorce process, and trusted professionals in your life such as your psychotherapist. The recent rise of public interest in mediation can be credited to the current pandemic, due to courts being closed and access to the divorce process being obstructed. For many individuals, mediation was something that worked for them, especially since it doesn’t require the court system. For clients who live in different parts of the world, the divorce process can be difficult because of different laws and jurisdictions. It’s important to have somebody who can flag the issues and connect with the appropriate lawyers so that any agreement generated is actually enforceable and workable. Some questions you should ask when interviewing a divorce professional are: What is your experience? What is your background? How many cases have you worked on? How many cases have gone to court? Would you go to court if needed? If so, what would that look like? Resources Alla Roytberg on LinkedIn | Twitter Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Nesreed Ahmed is founder and CEO of Harbor Life Coaching, and is an ICF credentialed Professional Certified Life and Grief Coach. She is passionate about helping people find their North Star and transforming their grief into superpower. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss her role as a grief coach, and how listeners can convert their grief into resilience. Many people do not handle grief very well. Grief coaching helps you deal with all the emotions and upset that you are feeling in practical ways, which is more proactive and focused than counseling or therapy. We grieve in several different ways, and each experience that causes grief is going to be different. We must understand that grief is something that happens to us, as we cannot just choose when we’re going to fall apart, so we must allow ourselves to ride the wave. Part of the problem with divorces lies in self-flagellation. We doubt ourselves, asking questions like ‘How did I allow this to happen with this person? How did I not see it with this person?’ A survey of 150 divorced women revealed that the majority of them felt like they didn’t have enough support during their divorce, and only a minority worked with a coach or therapist to help them through the process. Resources Nesreen Ahmed on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Phone: (917)830-6863 Email: [email protected] HarborLightCoaching.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Chelsea Brennan is a contributing writer at Forbes, as well as the founder and host of Mamas Talk Money and Smart Money Mamas. Smart Money Mamas is a family finance website that helps mothers build wealth in alignment with their values and in ways that feel good to them. Chelsea's mission is to change the way that we talk about money so that women see it as a means of self-care, similar to going to the gym. She talks about financial concepts that seem overwhelming but are actually easy to do. Women are conditioned from a young age to have an uncomfortable relationship with money. The things women want are generally treated as frivolous purchases, and things that bring them joy are considered bad expenses. If you are dealing with deep-seated anxiety surrounding finances, you may want to see a professional called a money therapist. They have the specific training necessary to help you through emotional blocks caused by money. While it’s essential to have serious conversations about money with your children, it’s equally important that your daily financial operations, decisions, language and even body language align with those conversations. A family’s financial values are key to understanding what is most important to them, what their priorities and goals are, and what they want their money to do in the world. Resources Chelsea Brennan on LinkedIn SmartMoneyMamas.com Family Money Values Template Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Andrea Boulanger, a university administrator, is the breadwinner of her family and describes herself as ‘happily divorced.’ She joins Stacy Francis to discuss her journey, from her marriage to deciding to get divorced and life after divorce. She shares how she was able to move forward despite having so many responsibilities, including being the caretaker for her son with autism. Studies have shown that women who are breadwinners are often doing just as much work at home, and even sometimes more. The bigger the income disparity between her and her partner, the more she does. Mothers often decide not to leave or get divorced because they worry how it will affect their children; they don’t want their kids to have to go through the difficulties of seeing their parents separate and all the changes that come with it. Gathering all the information you can about the divorce process can help you build confidence in your decision and make you feel at ease. Too many unknowns can be overwhelming. When getting divorced, you should carefully consider if staying in your home is the right financial decision to make. Rather than clinging to the sentimental value, you must go over whether you can safely afford to keep your home or whether it would be wiser to move. Resources Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Karen McMahon is a certified relationship and divorce coach and the host of the Journey Beyond Divorce podcast, where she helps men and women navigate difficulties in the divorce process. In this special episode, she draws from her personal experience of a high-conflict divorce as well as a decade of helping her clients as she shares what we need to build muscles of acceptance for moving on. Karen gives details about her divorce. Rather than focusing on all the shortcomings of her then-husband, she paid attention to her part in the conflict and her responsibility in reconciliation. When she emerged from her divorce, she felt healed and refined. At the heart of resistance is the belief that the world should be operating and unfolding in accordance with your views. If we could expect and accept what we know to be true, our suffering would be reduced. Accepting your circumstances gives you choices that you would have otherwise missed. When you are in resistance, these choices are not visible because you don’t have the right perspective to see them. We must always remember to treat ourselves with deep compassion and gentle kindness whenever we are struggling with something. Adding self-condemnation on top of that struggle is only going to push you backward, not forward. Resources Karen McMahon on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook JBDDivorceSupport.com | Podcast Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Tanya-Marie Dubé is a master of transformation. She has lived through some very traumatic experiences: from being born into the foster care system, to being homeless from ages 12 to 18, to leaving her marriage of 18½ years without her home or any finances. Through each adversity, Tanya was able to change her perspective and come out a stronger, happier person. Now she teaches women around the world how to thrive after divorce. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about the five stages of transformation and things women need to know to create the best life possible for themselves and their families. Tanya says that her life has presented her with a series of transformational opportunities. She started to study psychology at age 17 and inadvertently started to coach others. She learned that the only way for her to grow was to help others achieve their goals. By the time Tanya left her marriage 3½ years ago, she had been out of the workforce for more than a decade. Information about how to survive through and after divorce was hard to find. This inspired her to put together her first online summit where she invited 21 experts to speak on every aspect of separation. Over 300,000 women have been impacted to date. There is a time and place for tears and anger when you’re experiencing a divorce. However, when you're rebuilding your life after divorce you need to remove the emotion out of it some of that time so you can focus on what’s working. Tanya shares why gratitude and meditation are vital, no matter what you’re going through. Stacy asks about the five stages of transformation after divorce. Tanya says that the five steps are building blocks and you’re going to be in and out of them, much like the grief cycle. She emphasizes that you need to work with someone because you need a new perspective and a mindset shift. The five stages of transformation are: Visionary: building a new foundation by working on your belief systems. This stage focuses on aligning who you think you are with who you want to become. Renewal: self-love and reconnection to spirituality. You learn how to overcome your addiction to people-pleasing and putting yourself last. You begin to take charge of your healing and personal development. Alignment: busting through your comfort zone. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you’re going to move forward. The confidence you gain by doing so will propel you into other areas of your life and open doors and opportunities you never dreamed of. Courage: finding your true purpose. Tanya shares the simple but powerful exercise she used to find her purpose. Powerful: creating incredible relationships. Now that I found my purpose, how am I going to achieve it? Who do I need to surround myself with? How can I become the best version of myself so that I’m showing up for everybody else the right way, but I'm also attracting people at this high energy level? Stacy talks about the importance of community when you’re going through a divorce. Tanya has created a membership site where these women can find the support they need through divorce and after, to launch them into the next phase of their lives. She shares how listeners can be part of that community, as well as the summits she produces. Resources: Tanya-Marie Dubé | Facebook Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Victoria McCooey was one of the many women who thought she had a husband who loved and idolized her but found herself married to an abusive man who kept her isolated and financially disempowered – questioning her own knowledge and pressuring her into taking on debt while controlling almost every aspect of her life. Victoria saved herself and her children from this situation and has gone on to help hundreds of other women take their power back from abusive, narcissistic partners. Victoria McCooey is a transformational divorce coach, speaker and inspirational thought leader committed to guiding smart but overwhelmed people out of a toxic marriage and into a life they can’t wait to live. In this episode of Financially Ever After, Victoria and Stacy talk about recognizing, understanding and escaping from abuse, and how to handle the aftermath, and how Victoria has dedicated her life to helping other women escape deadly situations. How Victoria came to the realization that her situation was not normal, not okay, and not going to end well [10.15] The myths too many people believe about abuse in marriage [14:00] The moment Victoria left the situation [23:15] What Victoria is doing now – and how she is turning her experience into programs and support for other women in similar situations. [28:45] Victoria’s advice to women who are currently in abusive situations. [35:15] Resources Domestic Violence Help: https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1542/domestic-violence-help-for-victims https://ncadv.org/resources Victoria McCooey Victoria McCooey | Email Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Karen McMahon is a certified relationship and divorce coach and the host of the Journey Beyond Divorce podcast, where she helps men and women navigate difficulties in the divorce process. In this special crossover episode, she invites Stacy Francis to talk about the complexities of executive compensation packages, understanding the worth of alternative investments, and the importance of assessing your business’ value if you or your spouse owns one. Stock options are the most common type of executive compensation package. They allow employees the opportunity to purchase a stock in the future at a certain price. Stock options are great wealth generators because the value of most stocks increases over time. Even the best matrimonial attorney can potentially put their clients at risk if they don’t have experience working with high net-worth. These divorce cases are best settled with seasoned experts. There is a lot of risk associated with cryptocurrency. The good thing about digital assets is that you are now required to report them on your tax returns, which makes it more difficult to hide money this way. Real estate is an asset that should be reviewed more often. Sometimes the sentimental value we place on our vacation homes can cloud our vision of what’s best for us financially. We should first consider whether we can afford to support the ongoing upkeep and costs before we get attached to the idea of keeping a house. Resources Karen McMahon on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook JBDDivorceSupport.com | Podcast The High Net Worth Divorce Playbook Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Paul Stagias is Senior Advisor at Francis Financial, where he provides comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, and divorce planning to help clients navigating a life transition organize, grow, and protect their assets. He is also a CFP®, CDFA®, and CPWA®. Paul is a matrimonial and divorce expert specializing in financially complex divorces. He joins Stacy Francis to share do’s and don’ts pre- and post-divorce. They discuss why it’s important for women to be financially intelligent, and how you can rebuild your life in the aftermath of divorce. Divorce causes disproportionately more financial harm to women. For most women, income drops significantly after they and their partner have completed the process. A cross-country survey of divorced women revealed that the majority of respondents felt like they had no support. 60% said they wished they had some type of mental health professional or coach to help them through the process, and 64% regret not having a financial advisor. Sometimes after a divorce, one spouse is required to pay off the debts of the other spouse, despite not being the one to rack them up. It’s imperative that both parties make clear who will be responsible for paying off debts during the divorce process. Unfortunately in the case of credit card debt, divorce settlements have no bearing on the legalities; whoever’s name is on the card will have to pay it off. An important step to rebuilding your finances after divorce is to remove your name or your spouse’s name from any joint accounts that were created during your marriage. Resources Paul Stagias on LinkedIn FrancisFinancial.com Financial Do's & Don'ts Before, During & After Divorce Webinar Presentation Unveiling the Unspoken Truth: The Financial Challenges Women Face During and After Divorce Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today! Download our free divorce resource guide: Divorce Checklist Reach out to [email protected] to receive a copy of the template statement of net worth

Elise Pettus is the founder and Editorial Director of UNtied.net, an online community for NYC women navigating separation and divorce. UNtied hosts online panels each month featuring experts who provide assistance and resources to make the divorce process as smooth as possible and help members become their best selves. Elise joins Stacy Francis to talk about how women can relaunch their lives post-divorce and feel their best during the process. She shares her personal journey to find happiness and fun. When going through a divorce, it’s better to let the grief for your lost relationship run its course. You can’t skip it or run around it; trying to suppress or ignore your grief will only force it to become deeper and eventually so unmanageable that it will explode in your face. UNtied is a community of women who have experienced divorce. The purpose of the community is to provide a safe space for women to talk to other women who intimately understand their circumstances and can provide practical and emotional assistance. Having a community of people who accept, support, and encourage you is important, and even more so during a divorce. Separation is not easy, but it becomes easier to navigate when you have a team. Many women often forget that taking care of their mental health is critical and do not prioritize themselves. Self-care should be seen as a medical necessity; even something as simple as going for a massage is a good activity to indulge in. Resources Elise Pettus on LinkedIn UNtied.net Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Ivy Slater is the founder and CEO of Slater Success. She works with C-Suite executives and upper-level managers to create clear strategies that impact their business. She is a speaker, a bestselling author, and host of a podcast and LinkedIn Live show. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss succeeding through a divorce as a business owner and pulling your emotional and professional support teams together. Even when we are aware of an impending crisis, it still catches us off-guard, and we never truly understand the scope and impact of it until it happens. Crises are notorious for not allowing time for us to create strategies to combat them. When couples who are also business partners are going through a divorce, priorities can get mixed up. It is important to know who your support team is, and have professional counsel for your business that is separate from your matrimonial affairs. One of the most frustrating things about divorce is how much time it takes. Take a step back and delegate your responsibilities to people you trust while you are going through the divorce process. Sometimes we need someone to be our cheerleader, coach or consultant, especially when we fail or don’t do as well as we hope. We don’t have the same compassion for ourselves as they would have for us, so their support will help us succeed. Resources Ivy Slater on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook SlaterSuccess.com | Connect Connect with me on Clubhouse! Visionary Leader Roundtable Info Sheet National Association of Women Business Owners Women Presidents’ Organization The Alternative Board Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Evan Schein is a matrimonial attorney and head of the litigation department at Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein, LLP. He specializes in financially complex divorce litigation and is the host of the Schein On Podcast. He joins Stacy Francis to discuss how to identify if litigation is the right process for you and how you can use that process to come to the settlement table quickly. He shares tips for how you can build your circle of trust to help you come out of your divorce as healthily and financially secure as possible. Divorce cases often evolve into unnecessarily complex litigations. This happens because proper preparation and research are not done in the early stages of the case. For many people, mediation and collaborative law are not sufficient solutions to resolve their divorce. In these cases, litigation is selected because there is no alternative. The divorce litigation process provides structure, oversight, and clarity, as well as the benefit of having judges, court staff, and court attorneys. It helps move cases forward, but that doesn’t always mean things will be resolved quickly. You should choose the divorce process that works best for you and your circumstances. It should also protect you, because you’re making decisions that will impact you for the rest of your life. Being well informed is a good way to ensure this happens. Resources Evan Schein on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram Email: [email protected] ScheinOnDivorce.com BerkBot.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Dr. Elizabeth Cohen is a clinical psychologist, a specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), with over 15 years experience treating anxiety and depressive disorders. She is a columnist whose work has been featured on NBC News, Wall Street Journal, and Huffington Post. Elizabeth is the author of Light on the Other Side of Divorce: Discovering the New You. She is also the host of The Divorce Doctor podcast, where she applies her extensive knowledge about mental health to helping women heal, grow, and thrive post-divorce. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss the cognitive effects that divorce has on one’s life and shares exercises listeners can use to start deliberately designing the life they want for themselves. Divorce can be considered a kind of trauma, as trauma delivers a shock to your nervous system. When you are experiencing trauma, the amygdala, which is responsible for your emotions, overrides your frontal cortex, which is the more logical side of your brain. Zebras’ way of dealing with stress is episodic as opposed to humans’ chronic nature of worry and anxiety; zebras respond to physical stressors and immediately return to their daily activities when the stressor is gone. By adopting the zebra way of thinking, we can reduce the effects of stress on our minds and bodies. Many women who go through divorce are left without a sense of identity and an uncertainty of what they want to do. One exercise women can use to understand their wants is to write down their ideal weekend, hour-by-hour. Coaches can provide assistance with resources and exercises, psychologists can diagnose and psychiatrists can prescribe medication. Deciding what kind of support to get during and after divorce depends on your personal needs. Resources Elizabeth Cohen on LinkedIn | Facebook DrElizabethCohen.com - Free Course: “How to Not Screw Up Your Kids: 3 Secrets from A Psychologist” Email: [email protected] The Divorce Doctor Podcast Light on the Other Side of Divorce: Discovering the New You | Amazon | Bookshop | Barnes & Noble Free Course: “How to Not Screw Up Your Kids: 3 Secrets from A Psychologist” Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Michelle Sarao is the founder and Principal of Divorce Rx, a company that focuses on the needs of divorcing parents and families. Her background as an educator and professional organizer gives her the key techniques and experience to support clients going through the divorce process and provide them with the tools they need to move forward. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about how she facilitates amicable divisions of possessions and how newly divorced women can set up new homes for their families. Overwhelm or concern over how their shared possessions will be allocated is one of the most common obstacles that hold people back from deciding to move forward with a divorce or separation. Hiring a professional organizer as a neutral third party during a divorce can reduce friction and make the process of dividing belongings much smoother. Ensure that your children have the comforts of home in each parent’s house. This is essential to helping them adjust to a divorce. Let them choose how to decorate their rooms: this gives them some control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation. Reimagining your living space can assist with moving forward after a divorce. Instead of purchasing new things to replace what your spouse took with them, creatively fill the spaces by remodeling the layout of your home. Resources Michelle Sarao on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram Divorce-Rx.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 646-753-1401 Three Ways to Work with a Professional Organizer During Divorce Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Wendy Sterling is a parent coach at Circle4Parents, featured coaching expert at The Forem, and the founder, CEO and Divorce Recovery Specialist at The Divorce Rehab. She has helped hundreds of women overcome divorce and move to a place of empowerment, drawing strength and compassion from her own experience. She joins Stacy Francis to teach listeners about setting and communicating boundaries, as well as saying no and standing up for themselves without having to give explanations. A divorce can be the most empowering experience that anybody can go through to find their true voice and identity. It can help you start designing and creating a life you love from a place of confidence instead of feeling stuck wherever you are. Some common reasons people have for not setting boundaries are guilt, and fear of judgment, resentment, abandonment and rejection. It is very difficult for people pleasers to set boundaries because the hardest word for them to say is ‘no.’ Two go-to phrases that people who have challenges setting boundaries can use when they feel a boundary is being stepped on are: “Interesting,” and “We’re going to have to agree to disagree.” We often think that we have to be automatic in our responses to things. Time is a very valuable thing that people do not set boundaries around enough. Resources Wendy Sterling on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Podcast WendySterling.net | [email protected] | +1 (310) 283-5053 Free Divorce Recovery Support Call Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Nikki Bruno is the founder and CEO of The Epic Comeback™ and a technical recruiter at Rocket. She is an empowerment coach and a thought leader in high-conflict divorce, emotional abuse, and intuition. As a successful 20-year veteran of the publishing industry, she has been featured in Forbes, Reader’s Digest, and Cosmopolitan. Nikki joins Stacy Francis to teach divorced women how to start their epic comeback. She shares her testimony of her high-conflict divorce and how it inspired her to not only reclaim her power but help others to do the same as well. Having an epic comeback is a decision you must consciously make. Different things motivate different people, but something aligns within you when you reach the point of making that decision. An epic comeback is different for each person. In order to have one, you must first have an epic low. When you allow yourself to be open even in the midst of pain and challenges, you’ve reached the turning point that marks the earliest stage of your epic comeback. One of the best ways to disempower a woman post-divorce is to mess with her finances. Working with a professional like a coach, financial analyst or advisor accelerates the process of your epic comeback after your divorce. Resources Nikki Bruno on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-417-9242 Schedule a Free Consultation The Epic Comeback | Podcast GetRocket.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Robin Hauser is a director and producer at Finish Line Features and Managing Director at Unleashed Productions, Inc. Her most recent film, $avvy, is a documentary for women that emphasizes the importance of understanding and taking control of their finances. It investigates the historical, cultural, and societal norms surrounding women and money, and brings humor and honesty to why women take a backseat to managing their money. Robin joins Stacy Francis to discuss why it is critical for women to take the reins of their financial future. The pandemic has impacted women in negative ways. Statistics show that due to the current crisis, the rates of unemployed women have risen and the rates of women being promoted have declined. Additionally, a 2019 study showed that 54% of women abdicate major financial decisions to men in their lives, and 61% of millennials are doing the same. One way for married women to become more involved in their finances is by asking their spouse questions about how their money is being managed. It raises a red flag if their spouse becomes defensive and wants to withhold such information. Women spend more time out of the workplace to care for elderly parents and children, which makes them earn less money and less social security. Single women are impacted the most by this. The stock market is the number one generator of wealth in the US, but the aggressive, warlike attitudes and terminologies associated with it intimidate women and deter them from participating in it. Robin Hauser on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram FinishLineFeatures.com $avvy | Santa Barbara International Film Festival When She Makes More: 10 Rules for Breadwinning Women Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Mia Poppe is a matrimonial attorney and Managing Partner at Law Firm of Poppe & Associates, PLLC. She is an author and the host of a 6 part series called The Anatomy of Divorce, where she provides counsel for women by dissecting and navigating the divorce process. She joins Stacy Francis to share insights about her series and how to leverage your covered capital. Divorce psychosis is the temporary state of mind that people experience when they go through a divorce, where they typically feel like things are spiraling out of control. Women and men think, act, and respond differently; often during divorce, women will want to take the high road, which they perceive as a communal agreement. However, men typically view winning as taking the high road. During the divorce process, your mind is racing through all the what-ifs, and the outcomes that you fear the most seem to be real possibilities. Fear is insidious and paralyzes you, but you have to learn to sit through it and affirm in your mind that the fear is just false evidence appearing real. You can convert the intangible to tangible. The grit and passion we all have inside of us can be leveraged and turned into successful businesses and careers once we give ourselves permission to go for it. Mia Poppe on LinkedIn | Twitter MiaPoppe.com | nylawsa.com | YouTube The Anatomy of Divorce Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Kim Ciesinski is a matrimonial attorney, author, and founder of Kim M. Ciesinski, Esq., PLLC - ADR Law. She is also the co-founder of Empower Divorce Transitions, Inc., Adjunct Professor at Hofstra, and the podcast host of Happily Even After. Kim has been designated as a Super Lawyer for 11 years in a row and has received the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss women, money, and divorce, as well as financial abuse and how to come out of the divorce process as financially secure as you can be. Divorce is not just a slip of paper that legally recognizes you as single. It involves many other ancillary issues, topics, and changes that need to be addressed and made. Financial abuse occurs when a spouse is relegated to the position of a child and has no control, knowledge, or agency over their finances. This results in a paternalistic and punitive financial relationship. Often, the victim is given a paltry sum of money as an allowance that is altered if they upset their spouse. In every divorce case, there is a mandatory disclosure of all financial information. Therefore, if there is a case of financial abuse, attorneys can legally force uncooperative parties to share their financial information by serving them a subpoena. Divorce is often a form of rebirth for women; they can live entirely new lives and become new people when they find the courage to claim the happiness they are entitled to. Resources Kim Ciesinski on LinkedIn ADRLawNY.com Phone: 516-308-2922 Email: [email protected] Radio Station: Happily Even After Thursdays 5:00 pm EST- 6:00 pm EST 103.9 FM LI (Long Island) News Radio Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Priya Royal is the Managing Attorney at Royal Law Firm, PLLC. She specializes in taxation, trusts and estates, and business law. Priya was recently named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers and is considered the creme de la creme of trust and estate attorneys in the District of Columbia. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss narrowing the wealth gap, and shares the ins and outs that women with significant assets need to know to protect themselves in the event of divorce and/or remarriage. Estate planning is a necessary practice during or after a divorce. A trust ensures that the people and things that you consider most important are taken care of. Financial advisors and investment managers assist in protecting your assets in a trust. Designing a trust is the responsibility of your estate planning attorney, so it is imperative that you work with a reputable one who understands all your options and can lay them out for you. In order to build intergenerational wealth in marginalized communities, women need to support one another and share resources and expertise. Resources Priya Royal on LinkedIn | Twitter RoyalESQ.com | [email protected] | (877) 780-8955 Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Lisa Zeiderman is Managing Partner at Miller Zeiderman, one of the leading matrimonial firms in New York and the tri-state area. She is also a certified Divorce Financial Analyst and has been recognized by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys as one of the 10 Best Family Law Attorneys for Client Satisfaction. She joins Stacy Francis to share everything you need to know about divorcing a narcissist. Some traits that may indicate that your partner is a narcissist include: charm and charisma, proficiency in manipulating situations to suit their benefit, lying, and a lack of empathy. People married to narcissists usually have volatile relationships that are more prone to being emotionally abusive. Divorce is already a challenging process, and it is even more so when a divorcee is afraid of their partner. If you suspect your partner may be a narcissist, and you want to divorce them, you need to collect information and be as informed as possible. This will help you prepare for the process as much as you can. A strong attorney who will advocate for you is a key component to successfully divorcing a narcissist because oftentimes a narcissist will use mediation as a form of control. Resources Resources Lisa Zeiderman on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] Contact Lisa at +914-455-1000 LisaZeiderman.com Divorcing a Narcissist on Psychology Today https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/legal-matters/201906/divorcing-narcissist-be-prepared Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Elysa Greenblatt is the owner of Greenblatt Law, specializing in Matrimonial and Family Law, Litigation, and Collaborative Law. She represents and helps children get through the divorce process. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss what it means to be an attorney for children and the situations that warrant such legal assistance. Matrimonial attorneys must go through the necessary training and obtain the relevant certification to be permitted to represent children in family court. In addition, these attorneys are usually court-appointed. High-conflict court cases often rack up expensive bills in legal fees, especially if emotions are high and court appearances are frequent since attorneys have hourly rates. The courts typically decide which parent pays the fees. Court-appointed attorneys for children are not mandated reporters who are obligated to call in any suspected abuse or neglect, so dealing with situations where the child may be in danger with one parent may be tricky to work out. A common misconception about attorneys for children is that they are biased, which is untrue. Attorneys for children have a children-centered practice, therefore any decision they make or counsel they offer is always on behalf of the child, with their best interest at heart. Resources Elysa Greenblatt on LinkedIn GreenblattLawLLC.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Emma Johnson is the founder of Moms for Shared Parenting and WealthySingleMommy.com, the only site dedicated to helping professional single moms build amazing lives through career, money, dating, sex, and parenting. She is a business journalist, a speaker, and activist at the United Nations, and the author of The Kickass Single Mom: Be Financially Independent, Discover Your Sexiest Self, and Raise Fabulous, Happy Children. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about the top mistakes to avoid as divorced single mothers and what successful single mothers have in common. She also debunks a lie about alimony and child support that women have believed for years. The majority of families that are not two-parent cohabiting families have an arrangement in which the children stay with the mother, who is often financially dependent on the alimony and child support that the father is ordered to pay. The women that thrive after divorce or separation are the ones that understand that they have experienced a loss they need to grieve. Additionally, they do not attempt to replicate what they previously had and don’t feel entitled to the financial security they had before. Child support holds women back, as it is dependent on them earning less than their ex-husbands, who are then incentivized to earn as little as possible. Society will improve when women everywhere are making their own money and are financially independent. Resources Emma Johnson on LinkedIn | Twitter Wealthysinglemommy.com The Kickass Single Mom: Be Financially Independent, Discover Your Sexiest Self, and Raise Fabulous, Happy Children Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Do you hate your ex-spouse more than you love your child? For this holiday replay of a favorite episode from 2017, Stacy is joined by Shari Bornstein, a matrimonial and family law attorney at the Law Firm of John Yacos, P.C, to discuss how to put bitterness aside and prioritize your children when celebrating the holidays. Shari is dedicated to empowering clients with knowledge and strong legal advocacy through collaboration, mediation and litigation. In this episode, you will gain insight on: How to prevent and prepare for possible conflict during the upcoming holidays Finding middle ground when it comes to differing parenting styles Scheduling your holiday sharing plan Parenting techniques, such as the pizza delivery technique, and using buzzwords to avoid bitterness and conflict in front of the kids How parents can avoid being “naughty” by coordinating traditions and not “out-gifting” each other Tips on how to make the holidays less stressful for your children Resources Shari Bornstein on LinkedIn Call Shari at (212) 587-9560 Email: [email protected] www.yacoslaw.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Regina DeMeo is a top matrimonial attorney and mediator and has regularly appeared as a legal commentator on TV, radio, and print. For over 2 decades she has been helping families with a variety of legal issues. She joins Stacy Francis today to help listeners as she shares the secret ingredient to preserving family wealth, goodwill, and relationships. Regina has noticed throughout the years that clients who are stuck in the past with feelings of anger, guilt, or remorse have a harder time moving through the divorce process. People that use anger as a shield may feel that extending forgiveness will make them more susceptible to accepting a settlement that is less than what they deserve. Regina shares some insightful tips on this matter. When going through the divorce process, you have the choice of either remaining in a state of victimhood, or finding a way to become a survivor by ensuring that you have financial and emotional support. Regina shares her experience of how forgiveness played a huge role in her life. She talks about the journey of finding her father after he was absent for most of her life, and learning to forgive him. Resources Regina DeMeo on LinkedIn | Twitter ReginaDeMeo.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Carrie Casden is a business manager, Certified Money Coach, and the founder of Summit Financial Management. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss the eight money archetypes and how to identify them, becoming the driver on the road to financial security, and how to spend wisely. Your money archetype is the facet of your personality that involves your relationship with money. The money archetypes are: the innocent; the victim; the martyr; the warrior; the fool; the artist; the tyrant; and the magician. Carrie has observed that the divorce process often triggers a breakdown in women’s lives. She recommends employing a financial coach as well as an attorney so you can make informed decisions about your financial future and feel more in control. Parents should not try to buy their children’s affection during divorce. “Children need love,” Carrie says. “The majority of what they need is free and our guilt does them a disservice. When we get divorced and feel guilty, they need more love, not more stuff.” Parents should be open and honest with their children about money and their needs, but not burden them with the details of potential financial distress. Resources Carrie Casden on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] SummitLA.com Book: Money Magic: Unleashing Your True Potential for Prosperity and Fulfillment Money Personality Quiz Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Danielle Kunkle Roberts is a health insurance and Medicare expert and a MarketingInsiders.com contributor. She is the co-owner of Boomer Benefits, an insurance agency that helps individuals navigate Medicare in 48 states. She joins Stacy Francis to share information about Medicare that will allow divorcees to make better decisions about health insurance. If you are in the divorce process and your health insurance is covered in your spouse’s name, and you also have your own coverage through your job, there is a special election period to enroll in your own group coverage. COBRA is an act that allows employees to keep group health insurance for up to 18 months if they experience a loss of group health insurance coverage due to various reasons, divorce being one of them. Aged, divorced women who have not attained the 10 year working experience can still qualify for free Medicare part A under their ex-husband’s work history if they had been married for at least 10 years. Corporations often have open enrollment for health insurance in the fall because they set their benefits up to run from January through December. Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. Resources Danielle Kunkle Roberts on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook BoomerBenefits.com Medicare.gov Healthcare.gov 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Nancy founded Smarter Divorce Solutions in 2011 after going through her own less-than-optimal divorce process. She has over 20 years of experience in both investment management and financial planning and is the founder and a Senior Advisor with Smarter Financial Solutions. In 2016, Nancy founded the Divorce Financial Planner Training Center to offer continuing education to CDFA holders everywhere. The term “executive compensation” is a misnomer, as it is given to a lot more people than just executives. Executive compensation is tricky: while an employee’s spouse may be entitled to the value of half of the compensation, most times the executive compensation plan does not allow those holdings to be transferred to anyone other than the employee. Executive compensation, which is often paid out in the form of a bonus, is considered an asset. Nancy implores listeners to get another financial advisor if the one they have right now is not educating them. Resources Nancy Hetrick on LinkedIn | Twitter SmarterDivorceSolutions.com Divorce is Not for Dummies: How to Cover your Assets Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Nancy Burner is the Founder and Managing Partner of Burner Law Group, a professor at Hofstra University, and a Certified Elder Law Attorney. She has been named a Super Lawyer in the field of Elder Law for 11 consecutive years. She joins Stacy Francis today to discuss the important things you should know with regards to estate planning in the event of a Biden presidency. Estate and trust planning should always be done with a certified attorney, as it is very easy to make a mistake when you don’t know the tricks of the trade. If you give a gift in your lifetime and survive that by three years, it does not come off your estate tax under New York State law. The best way to leave assets for your children and their descendants is through a trust. A trustee is the manager of the trust assets. Beneficiaries are those who derive advantages from the trust assets. Resources Nancy Burner on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook Email: [email protected] Phone: (212) 867-3520 Website: BurnerLaw.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] Phone: (212) 374-9008 Website: FrancisFinancial.com

Katherine Miller is the Founder of Miller Law Group and Director in Training of the Center for Understanding and Conflict. She is the host of the radio show and podcast Divorce Dialogues, as well the author of The New Yorker's Guide to Collaborative Divorce and the co-author of the Amazon best-seller, A Cup of Coffee. She has been featured on CBS, NBC, The New York Times and Newsday Money Magazine. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss when to get a divorce and how to prepare for it. Katherine believes it's important to be able to work through a divorce from a place of acceptance and personal serenity, but not necessarily forgiveness. The way in which you perceive divorce may affect the way it affects you. One of the first things someone should do when they decide to divorce is to get their finances in order. Having emotional support is extremely helpful while going through a divorce. Resources Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. Katherine Miller on LinkedIn Call or text Katherine: (914) 738-7765 WestchesterFamilyLaw.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 FrancisFinancial.com

Crystal Levy is a Senior Associate at Lassar & Cowhey LLP and a manager at Marcum LLP. She focuses on making thoughtful estate plans for modern and emerging families as well as high net worth households. Janis Cowhey is a Trusts & Estates and Tax Partner at Marcum LLP, who specializes in estate, gift and income tax planning, as well as working with same-sex couples and unmarried families. They join Stacy Francis to give insights about the required tax considerations in estate planning that the modern family needs to know about, especially if they are considering divorce. They also share how you can make sure your children and stepchildren are financially protected during and after a divorce. The traditional family consists of a married man and woman with 2.5 kids. The modern family has morphed into everything except that. Some legal considerations for getting divorced are: getting a good matrimonial, having all your documents in place, identifying legal obligations, and ensuring that your beneficiary designations are in order. Most couples continue to file joint amended returns for quite some time until they are actually divorced. It’s never a bad idea to update your documents before a divorce is final. Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. Resources Crystal Levy on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] MarcumLLP.com Janis Cowhey on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] Call or text Janice: (212) 485-5660 MarcumLLP.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Renee Bauer is a podcast host, a Connecticut Divorce Attorney at Bauer Law Group and the CEO of Happy Even After, an organization dedicated to family and matrimonial law. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about how your thinking patterns can emotionally and financially affect you during and after your divorce, and shares tools to help you have the right mindset. The type of questions clients ask are good indicators of where their mindset is, Renee claims. Clients that ask questions like “How will I ____” are looking externally for the solutions, whereas clients that ask “What can I do to ____” are looking internally for solutions. There is no law stating that you can’t date during your divorce, but you need to be sure that you’re in the right mental space for it. Renee recommends therapy for people going through a divorce, at least for a short time; it’s a grieving process that you shouldn’t have to do alone, she says. Many women hesitate to get a divorce because they feel ashamed, Renee shares. Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. Resources Renee Bauer on LinkedIn FamilyLawyerCT.com MsReneeBauer.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Dawn Cardi is a founding partner at Cardi & Edgar LLP. She has considerable experience in corporate and securities law, and has spent dozens of years as a matrimonial attorney, representing individuals in divorce and custody proceedings. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about the financial advantages and disadvantages of both formal marriage and common law marriage. People are often shocked to learn that when they get married, everything they earn, except for certain exceptions, becomes marital property regardless of whose name it is in. Exceptions include inheritances and third party gifts that you don’t commingle into your joint bank account. The biggest issues for common law spouses, according to Dawn, are that they are not accumulating joint wealth that can be distributed during a divorce, they are not accumulating joint retirement monies, and they are not eligible for spousal support. Dawn recommends that couples sign postnuptial agreements if one spouse is going to be a stay-at-home parent, or if the couple is moving out of the country to a place where one spouse cannot get employment. Statistics show that divorced women over the age of 65 are the most likely women to live below or at the poverty line. Resources Dawn Cardi on LinkedIn CardiEdgarLaw.com Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com

Paige Zandri is a Managing Partner and the Lead Mediator of Artese Zandri. She has significant expertise in helping couples create an amicable separation. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss social media, and its effects on divorce. One’s presence on social media can impact alimony, child support, custody, and can be used as evidence in court. Paige advises that parties in divorce act as if there is a judge looking over their shoulder. What a person posts on social media can be taken out of context in incriminating ways, creating a presumption that they must overcome. You shouldn’t post anything on social media after consuming alcohol, Paige warns. Paige suggests that listeners who are considering reconnection should solicit the help of a third party. Resources Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com Paige Zandri on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] ArteseZandri.com

Helene Bernstein is a Divorce Attorney and Mediator of her own firm and has been a family law attorney in Brooklyn, New York for the past 25 years. She sits on the board of Family Kind, a non-profit organization that offers reduced fee mediation services for couples going through divorce or separation. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Family Divorce Mediation Council and chairs their Continuing Education Committee. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about how COVID-19 is affecting the divorce process and ways to get to the best resolution. Children are experiencing difficult times with the existence of COVID-19 and their shift to long distance learning, but those whose parents are going through divorce or separation have an additional source of stress. Family Court is the emergency room of the American judiciary system Parties that live in New York City who want to get divorced quickly are encouraged to file their papers in upstate New York County. In any current divorce or separation agreement, there must be a COVID provision to deal with parenting. Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. Resources Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter FrancisFinancial.com Email: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 Helene Bernstein on LinkedIn | Twitter HBernsteinLawandMediation.com Email: [email protected]

David Perry is a licensed real estate broker and certified Divorce Real Estate Specialist at Brown Harris Stevens. He joins Stacy Francis to talk about how to navigate buying and/or selling one’s home during a divorce. According to David, accounting is the language of business, economics is how you run it, and real estate is the marriage of both. Having a real estate broker as a resource from the beginning is important, David says, even if couples aren’t sure whether they want to buy or sell. Pricing houses close to the market value is a safe decision; if priced too high, and the house remains on the market for a long period of time, the value will decrease as time progresses. There is a perception that one can buy a house at a better price if a couple is selling it because they are getting divorced. Resources Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] FrancisFinancial.com David Perry on LinkedIn | Twitter Email: [email protected] BHSUSA.com

Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is the CEO of The Flourishing Center, an organization dedicated to “training the change agents of the world” by using science to help people lead more fulfilling lives. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss how to navigate your emotions during divorce and to share three tips on how to change your habits. Self-awareness brings about self-compassion, which brings self-care, which enables more self-awareness. Human beings have been wired with a negativity bias, so we pay more attention to the negatives, regardless of the existence or abundance of positives. Many people assume that happiness is an event that takes place in the absence of difficulty. Positive psychology advocates approaching emotions as a science to identify what skills are necessary to build and maintain happiness and resilience. Changing your habits involves changing how you think, how you feel, and what you do. The main thing that distinguishes humans from animals is that we can actively choose our response to stimulus. Resources Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. FrancisFinancial.com Stacy Francis: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 Emiliya Zhivotovskaya on LinkedIn TheFlourishingCenter.com | Podcast

Linda Rosenthal is a matrimonial lawyer and partner at McLaughlin & Stern. She joins Stacy Francis to chat about prenups and postnuptial (postnups) agreements, and how the latter may prove beneficial. Here are a few highlights from their conversation: A prenup is a contract agreed upon by the involved parties before a marriage, in the event of separation, divorce, or death; a postnup is a contract agreed upon during a marriage. Postnups provide the advantage of making decisions during your marriage with more information about specific life events. You should discuss postnup agreements with your spouse before you make a big economic decision (like reducing your income, for example), in reliance on your spouse’s income. Linda believes that a marriage is an economic partnership and both parties should be aware of the rules that apply with regards to the law, so doing a prenup – or at least learning about the economic rules of marriage - should be mandatory before marriage. Resources Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. FrancisFinancial.com Stacy Francis: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 Linda Rosenthal on LinkedIn Email: [email protected] Call or text Linda at: 212-455-0358 McLaughlinStern.com

Sophie Jacobi-Parisi is a partner at Warshaw Burnstein, LLP and practices matrimonial and family law, representing people in matrimonial, custody and support matters. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss relocation issues and how you can resolve them. Relocation is not automatic; you do not have the right, just because you’re the mother, to take your children and move away from their other parent. Make your case for relocation as strong as possible: consider all the benefits that the relocation may provide for your children, such as a nicer home or better extra-curricular programs at a better school. If a parent takes a child on an international trip and doesn’t bring the child back, the other parent can file a Hague case in the child’s home state or country in order to bring jurisdiction back to their country. People need an education on what it truly means to get divorced, Sophie says. She believes that generally, marriages can survive relocation, and divorce may not always be the answer. Resources Sophie Jacobi-Parisi on LinkedIn Warshaw Burnstein, LLP Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. FrancisFinancial.com Stacy Francis: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008

Laurie Marchel is a business executive in the financial services industry and the author of The Stepmoms’ Club: How to Be a Stepmom Without Losing Your Money, Your Mind, and Your Marriage. She joins Stacy Francis to share tips for navigating a blended family. When making decisions regarding the safety of your children, their best interest should come first. According to statistics, 1300 stepfamilies are formed every day in the US. The four D’s of stepparenting are: Documents, which will give you, as a stepfamily, a glimpse into your future; Dollars, which involves understanding financial obligations and responsibilities; Delegation, which centers around seeking professional assistance; and Do stay true to yourself, which is a reminder to stepmothers to not lose sight of who they are in the wake of assuming their new responsibilities. Parents in blended families need to communicate about plans for Mother’s Day, as a lack of communication may result in plans that unintentionally slight stepparents. Resources Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. FrancisFinancial.com Stacy Francis: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 The Stepmoms’ Club on Facebook | Instagram TheStepmomsClub.com The Stepmoms’ Club: How to Be a Stepmom Without Losing Your Money, Your Mind, and Your Marriage

Rich Heller is a conflict coach and trained mediator, with a master’s degree in social work and a certificate in coaching, who works with couples struggling to manage conflict. Whether a couple has decided to separate or divorce, Rich’s goal is to help minimize the friction, so the couple can maximize the support they give to their children. Rich talks about how, during difficulties in your marriage, children are taking in everything you say about, and how you treat, your spouse – and that the children’s needs and feelings should come first. Rich and Stacy discuss how and when you can use the services of a mediator to help with challenges in your marriage, and how they can help you negotiate your options for moving forward together or separately, all while staying true to your principles and values. Rich expands on how you can “divorce-proof” your children - communicating with them honestly, helping them develop resilience and grit, and encouraging them to have good relationships with both of their parents, even when there is conflict and negativity. Resources Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation. FrancisFinancial.com Stacy Francis: [email protected] Phone: 212-374-9008 Rich Heller: RichInRelationship.com [email protected]