Going through a divorce can be extremely emotional, difficult and complex. Often stress stems from feelings of financial uncertainty. Will you be able to maintain your lifestyle through and after your divorce? Will your children be taken care of? Will you understand the financial pros and cons of a settlement proposal?
Cataloguing Financial Information
Gathering all your financial information can be overwhelming, but it is a critical step in understanding your overall financial situation. We work with you and your attorney to advise what documents are needed or will be needed in order to have a full and precise view of your financial situation.
Budget & Cash Flow Analysis
Income and expenses for all parties will invariably change after a divorce. We create a detailed cash flow analysis and project a future budget to help ensure that your monthly cash inflows cover your monthly expenses. This information is also important in influencing spousal maintenance and child support decisions.
Evaluating Tax Consequences
Different types of assets have different tax consequences. We help determine the after-tax value of all assets when analyzing the particulars of your financial situation. By determining the after-tax value, everything will be on an "apples to apples" basis for comparison purposes so that you can make the most informed decisions possible during your case.
Analysis of Settlement Options
Georgia and South Carolina law does not require assets be divided equally between spouses. Since assets vary, it is critical to consider all aspects of a proposed divorce settlement. We explore your options and help you understand the financial and tax implications of each proposal.
1. Initial Consultation
In this first meeting, we want to hear about your situation. We’ll answer any questions and clarify your desired outcome. Then, we’ll share more about what you can expect working with us, including deliverables and cost, and we’ll decide together if we’re a good fit.
2. Gather Necessary Data & Review it Together
If we choose to work together, we’ll provide you with a list of documents we’ll need to get started (don't worry, we can help you locate them or ask your attorney to subpoena them) and understand your complete financial picture (documents like tax returns and statements for investment accounts, bank accounts, debts, mortgages, etc. as well as information regarding your income and expenses.) Once we’ve collected all the data we need, we’ll have a meeting to review all your information to ensure accuracy and clarify any questions we may have.
3. Strategy Meeting
During this meeting, we’ll share our findings with you and your attorney, including how potential settlement options will impact your financial future, to assist with negotiating your settlement. These options are creatively tailored to your needs, not canned to only meet the letter of the law.
Then, we will explore your divorce options and ensure the right solution for your situation, review your finances and explore creative settlement ideas, map out a plan for transitioning to the next phase of your life, identify your biggest fears and decide the best way to address them, and connect you with any other resources you will need in your process.
4. Work with Your Attorney & Other Professionals and Assist with Mediation
We will ensure your attorney and/or your CPA are aware of your financial future and create a strategy with your team moving forward. We’ll also accompany you to mediation to show you how offers will impact your financial plan so you can make sound decisions and feel confident about your future. No one else in divorce shows you the impact of decisions during mediation but us!
5. Post-Divorce Transition Assistance
After your divorce, we can help provide post-divorce transition assistance. This is a critical phase to ensure nothing gets missed and no mistakes are made when complying with your marital agreement ordered by the court. We will be there every step of the way! Your accounts must be consolidated into your name, qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) completed, bank accounts closed, wills redone, etc. We have a proven process to reduce the overwhelm and ensure you don’t miss anything important after the divorce.
Allen is a seasoned financial professional with a diverse educational background, holding a B.B.A in Finance from Georgia State University and earning certifications as a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and in Collaborative Divorce and Long-Term Care. With over two decades of experience, Allen has been a trusted advisor, nationally assisting families with retirement and investment planning as well as divorce planning. As a key player in a team that champions an innovative wealth management system, he ensures that clients can focus on living their lives while the team takes care of the intricate planning details.
His dedication and competence have earned him several accolades, including being voted "Favorite Financial Planner" in Bluffton in 2015 and 2018 by Bluffton Monthly Magazine, as well as winning "Best of Bluffton" (B.O.B.) in 2019 by Bluffton Today. Notably, he has been featured in the book "Inside the Minds: Wealth Strategies for Doctors" and serves as a Financial Coach with Wings for Widows.
Allen finds joy in activities such as tennis, kayaking, fly fishing, and RV travel. Since 2013, he has been widowed, and his family includes a teenage son, a daughter in law school, and two married daughters. As a granddad, family remains a focal point in his life. Allen and his team approach financial planning and divorce planning with a belief that each individual and family is unique, emphasizing a process that begins with understanding family values and vision, ultimately connecting financial assets with what matters most to each client.
