The Role of a Financial Advisor in Divorce Proceedings

Divorce is like weathering a storm in a small boat—emotionally draining, legally complex, and financially stressful. For people with significant assets, the stakes are even higher. Qualified and experienced financial advisors remain committed to doing more than just provide assessment and financial information; their goal is to help bring clarity and stability to one of life’s most challenging transitions. You don’t have to make these decisions alone. The right financial advisor for divorce planning can help you navigate the more difficult days and tough financial decisions.

Why Is a Financial Advisor Essential During Divorce, and When Should I Involve One?

Dividing a life built together is never simple. When emotions run high, it’s easy to make financial decisions that may lead to long-term regrets. That’s where a financial advisor can help step in to offer objective, knowledgeable divorce guidance when it’s most needed.

Divorce involves a maze of financial matters from splitting investment portfolios to untangling retirement accounts and determining future income streams. Any decision made during this time can potentially impact your financial future for years, even decades.

A financial advisor remains committed to serving as a calm, rational partner who helps ensure each decision supports your long-term goals. It’s best to involve a financial advisor as early as possible in the process. From managing joint debts during divorce to outlining effective divorce asset division strategies, our goal is to help pave a clear path forward with a thoughtful, customized financial plan.

How Can a Financial Advisor Help During the Divorce Process?

Evaluating and dividing marital assets requires both strategy and precision. Often, reviewing a tax return helps identify assets subject to division. A financial advisor helps identify and value assets, including:

• Investment accounts.
• Business interests.
• Real estate holdings.
• Retirement plans and pensions.

At Savant Wealth Management, we specialize in handling complex asset divisions. Our advisors work closely with legal counsel to help ensure a fair and equitable divorce settlement. Our financial advisors have a robust network of other professionals—including valuation experts and real estate appraisers—to help you deal with jointly owned properties, joint accounts, or family businesses.

We offer clarity in an otherwise murky process to help you make informed financial decisions.

Depending on your situation, we might use retirement projections to evaluate different settlement offers. According to Savant advisor Allison Alexander, CFP®, CPA, CDFA®, “I like to get involved as early as possible in divorce proceedings. We can use our retirement software to model different settlement offers so people can help make informed decisions.”

What Are the Tax Implications of Divorce?

While the values aren’t always apparent, divorce often brings unexpected tax consequences. From the sale of a home to the division of retirement accounts, even well-intentioned financial decisions can carry heavy tax burdens. Alimony payments and child support also come with their own set of rules.

Savant advisors can help you anticipate and plan for these tax implications in divorce. We develop strategies that aim to help minimize income taxes during and after your divorce, preserving more of your wealth for your next chapter. We also determine which legal expenses might be tax deductible and how to structure settlements, including the use of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), to help avoid penalties when dividing retirement assets.

How Can a Financial Advisor Help in Financial and Retirement Planning Post-Divorce?

After divorce, it’s time to focus on building a new life—and a new financial plan. Creating a post-divorce budget, reassessing goals, and rebuilding savings are essential first steps.

Our team at Savant can help you develop a personalized financial strategy designed for stability and growth. From establishing an emergency fund to rebalancing investment portfolios, updating life insurance, and planning for future income taxes, we provide the tools and insight needed for setting financial foundations after divorce and regaining control over your financial life.

Additionally, your retirement planning strategy may need a significant overhaul. Assets that once supported one household now must stretch to support two. Savant advisors can help clients reassess their timelines, savings rates, and investment strategies to reflect their new reality.

We offer customized retirement planning that takes your new financial foundation into account. Whether you are years from retirement or already enjoying it, our goal is to help you protect and rebuild what matters most.

What Role Does a Financial Advisor Play in Managing Joint Debts with Divorce?

Debt is another key issue that can complicate divorce. Mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, and especially joint accounts—these liabilities often linger long after the relationship ends. Left unattended, they can damage your credit and financial security.

A financial advisor helps you understand your responsibilities and options. At Savant, we provide advice for managing joint debts during divorce, including how to restructure liabilities and allocate responsibility fairly—helping to ensure both parties can move forward with financial assurance.

What Do We Believe Sets Savant Wealth Management Apart in Divorce Financial Planning?

At Savant, we understand that divorce isn’t just a legal process—it’s a deeply personal journey. That’s why our focus goes beyond spreadsheets to address the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany major life changes. We hope to provide the following to you:

• Steady leadership.
• Source of support.
• Fresh start.
• Empowerment to manage and control your wealth. 

Through a balanced and thoughtful process, we provide financial advisor divorce guidance through our “Wise Counsel by Your Side”—combining financial guidance with clear, empathetic support. With a commitment to long-term stability, Savant can help guide you through each phase of transition with purpose and clarity—from divorce settlement to retirement planning, from dividing marital property to helping craft a new financial future.

Divorce may change your financial picture, but it doesn’t have to derail your future. Schedule a call with a Savant advisor to start building a personalized plan for your next chapter.

This is intended for informational purposes only. You should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this document serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Savant. Please consult your financial professional regarding your unique situation.