Case Study: Guiding the Financially Uncertain Partner Through Divorce
- Robert Mitton
- Jan 29
- 3 min read
One of the most common people we work with at Tidal Pointe Advisors is someone we refer to as the Financially Uncertain Partner.
They know their marriage is ending, or may be heading in that direction, but they have never managed the family’s finances. Perhaps they stepped away from the workforce to raise children. Perhaps their spouse handled the accounts, investments, and long term planning. Now, as divorce becomes real, they feel overwhelmed and unsure of what life might look like on the other side.
Their biggest question is often unspoken.
“Can I actually do this on my own?”
The Situation
In this case, our client came to us before she had made a final decision about divorce. No paperwork had been filed. Emotions were high, but clarity was low. She felt financially dependent and disconnected from the details of her own household finances.
She had questions she did not know how to answer:
How are assets divided in divorce?
Would she be entitled to spousal support, and for how long?
What would child support look like in practical terms?
What documents would be required, and where would she even start?
Without answers, every path forward felt risky.
Creating Clarity Before Decisions Were Made
Our role as Certified Divorce Financial Analysts is to help people understand their financial reality during divorce. This work is separate from investment management or ongoing financial advisory services. It is focused on education, analysis, and decision support during the divorce process.
Strong divorce analysis, depends on a solid foundation in financial planning. Understanding cash flow, future needs, trade offs, and long term sustainability is essential when evaluating divorce outcomes. This is true even when no investment advice is being provided.
We began by helping our client organize and understand the financial information required in divorce.
This included:
Preparing and reviewing financial affidavits and required disclosure documents
Identifying income sources, expenses, assets, and liabilities
Explaining how marital and separate property are typically evaluated
Once the information was organized, confusion began to ease.
Support and Settlement Analysis
Next, we turned our attention to support and settlement modeling.
We prepared child support and spousal support calculations as planning tools, not guarantees. These calculations helped her understand what support might reasonably look like under different scenarios.
From there, we built settlement models and long term projections. We tested different asset divisions, support structures, and housing options. Each scenario showed how cash flow and financial stability might change over time.
Seeing the numbers helped her understand how different options helped or hurt her. This gave her confidence and helped her calm her fears.
Collaboration With Professionals
As the divorce process moved forward, we worked closely with her attorney to prepare for mediation.
The work we did helped to support negotiations, clarified trade offs, and translated complex concepts into plain language. This mediation and attorney collaboration helped reduce friction and kept conversations focused on sustainable outcomes rather than rigid positions.
Our role was not to advocate for one side. It was to bring clarity to the financial implications of each option.
An agreement was reached, what comes next?
Retirement accounts were part of the settlement, so we assisted with writing the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). This is what is needed to separate retirement accounts like the 401k. This helped ensure the division was handled correctly and efficiently.
We also reviewed settlement terms from a financial perspective. This step helped confirm that nothing had been overlooked and that the agreement aligned with the projections we had modeled.
Why This Matters for the Financially Uncertain Partner
For someone who has never managed the finances, divorce can feel paralyzing. Unfamiliar language, required documents, and high stakes can amplify fear and increase the risk of poor decisions.
Our work helps replace that fear with understanding.
Our CDFA work is informed by decades of financial planning experience. That background allows us to analyze divorce decisions through a long term lens. We help clients understand not only what is happening today, but how their choices may affect stability years into the future.
Walking With Clients at Every Stage
Some clients come to us while still contemplating divorce. Some are in the middle of negotiations. Some need help implementing a settlement or understanding what comes next.
Wherever someone is in the process, our role remains the same. We provide clear analysis, steady guidance, and support grounded in experience.
For the Financially Uncertain Partner, that support can mean the difference between feeling powerless and feeling prepared.
Comments