By SJS Investment Services Associate Advisor Catherine Stanley.
You didn’t begin your married relationship thinking it will end in divorce. But life and people are imperfect, and if you find yourself facing a divorce, you know that significant changes are impending. Not the least of these changes is your financial situation. Fear of the unknown and uncertainty about outcomes can cause anxiety, and even take a physical toll.
During this emotional time, it is important for you to acknowledge the magnitude of this life transition, recognize that you don’t have to have all the answers now, and leave space to take care of yourself. Finding the support of qualified legal and financial advisors is an important step to take. At SJS, we are here to make this difficult time manageable for you and help you navigate to a life of new opportunity.
The divorce process requires couples to make decisions about dividing the property that was acquired during the marriage. State laws govern divorce, and each state has different laws that determine how property is divided. In addition, there may be consideration of whether one partner will provide child and / or spousal support, and how much. When dividing resources, it’s important to consider your full financial picture so you understand what is available to you. This includes a thoughtful consideration of the division of retirement assets, even if retirement seems a long way off. Tax implications and timing regarding division of the assets involved can have an important impact on your long-term financial health.
We understand this transition, and will support your well-being, financial and otherwise. Some topics you should consider include:
The most tax-efficient way to split assets, including a home, investments, and deferred compensation plans such as a pension, 401(k), or other type of retirement plan.
Consideration of all retirement plans from current and previous employment.
A possible new home purchase, and resources available to accomplish this.
Caring for children as a single parent, and resources available to accomplish this.
How and when to file taxes separately, and tax projections with a change in filing status.
Understanding spousal and child support, and any tax implications.
Eligibility for future Social Security spousal benefits, and how remarriage may impact eligibility.
Estate planning strategies so that transfer of assets remain with children, even in the event of remarriage.
Creating an appropriate asset allocation according to your personal risk tolerance, and designing a cost effective portfolio to support your goals.
Many of these considerations and decisions, if uninformed, can be costly and may not be reversible. We can help you understand the future impact of the financial decisions you are considering today so that you can make the best choices to support your new future.
Your direction and path of life has changed significantly. At SJS, we are here to be your trusted advisor and to accompany you as your personal and financial journey evolves.
For more information on how SJS Investment Services works with people going through divorce, please click on the below image.
Important Disclosure Information:
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
Hyperlinks to third-party information are provided as a convenience and we disclaim any responsibility for information, services or products found on websites or other information linked hereto.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. SJS Investment Services does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only.
Suggested Reading
SJS Investment Services has been recognized in CNBC’s 2024 FA 100 list, an annual ranking of registered investment advisory (RIA) firms within the USA.
SJS Investment Services has been recognized in the Forbes / SHOOK 2024 list of America’s Top RIA (Registered Investor Advisor) Firms.
Every four years, we get the same question (whether you have asked it, or you are thinking it) – how will the election affect my portfolio?
As we approach the end of the year, we want to highlight some important financial items to review before the new year.
This Outlook includes our discussion of election time, financial to-dos before the end of the year, new SJS Perrysburg office, SJS Team updates, and looking forward to Q4 2024.
SJS Investment Services has been recognized in Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2024 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Ranking, an annual ranking of independent investment advisory firms within the United States.
As I approach my 40th anniversary as a financial advisor, I can't help but look back on the road I've traveled.
While people commonly hold their cash within checking and savings accounts, we want to highlight three short-term, interest-bearing investments that can be held within your investment account.
This Outlook includes Founder & CEO Scott J. Savage’s gratitude for your 40 years of trust, how you can earn more interest on your cash, welcoming new SJS Team members, and looking forward to Q3 2024.
For five graduating high school Seniors who shadowed us recently, we asked each student to write a summary of what they learned during the week.
One of The Ability Center’s services is the Assistance Dog training program, which helps individuals with disabilities achieve greater independence.
When working with investment managers, we want them to share that same client-first philosophy and sit on the same side of the table with us.
We want to emphasize some best practices that can help us work together to ensure your information and assets remain safe.
The Outlook includes our evolving MarketPlus® Investing philosophy by standing on the shoulders of giants, and ways to help protect your personal information and financial assets. We also highlight The Ability Center and look forward to Q2 2024.
SRDAX is a shining example of the value alternatives can bring to traditional stock and bond strategies.
As we begin the new year, we have some ideas for concrete actions to start your new year on the right foot, financially.
Isn’t this picture magical? It's Main Street in Sylvania, Ohio, the small town where I founded SJS over 28 years ago!
The SJS Q4 2023 Outlook includes our insights on small town values, MarketPlus® Investing, and planning financially for the new year. We also highlight new SJS Team members and look forward to Q1 2024.
To help you financially plan for 2024, we provide this resource with important numbers for the upcoming year.
SJS Investment Services has been recognized in the Forbes / SHOOK 2023 list of America’s Top RIA (Registered Investor Advisor) Firms.
In addition to family gifting, many individuals support giving to organizations that aim to help their communities. We highlight some strategies to make the most of your giving dollars.
You can consider putting excess cash into a money market fund, short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, or a short-term bond mutual fund / ETF.
The future of the housing market is uncertain, and its resilience will be a crucial factor in the broader economic landscape.
The SJS Q3 2023 Outlook includes our insights on gifting and charitable contributions as well as U.S. real estate. We also look forward to Q4 2023.
SJS Investment Services has been recognized in CNBC’s 2023 FA 100 list, an annual ranking of registered investment advisory (RIA) firms within the United States.
International Samaritan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is working to break the chains of poverty and improving lives, particularly within garbage dump communities worldwide.
SJS has been recognized in Financial Advisor Magazine’s 2023 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Ranking, an annual ranking of independent investment advisory firms within the United States.
The SJS Mission is to empower you to build a better life. That extends to our teammates, clients, and community members.
The SJS Q2 2023 Outlook includes our insights on building up our local communities as well as market performance so far in 2023. We also share even more members of the SJS family and look forward to Q3 2023.
It’s important to recognize how difficult it is to predict what will happen in the short-term for investment markets, and how much margin for error there should be for any prediction.