Understanding Your Financial Future After Divorce

The scariest part of divorce is often not the paperwork, it’s the moment you realize you don’t actually know what your life costs or what you can afford on one income. We sit down with Raquel Kalsrood, a senior wealth advisor and Certified Financial Planner who also holds the Divorce Financial Analyst designation, to bring calm and structure to divorce finances without judgment and without vague “just budget better” advice. We start where real divorce financial planning should start: clarity and protection. Raquel walks us through the basics that change everything, knowing what you own, knowing what you owe, and understanding your options before you agree to anything. Then we get practical about building a post-divorce budget, including a simple 30-day notes app tracking method that reveals the hidden spending categories people miss, especially when they’re overwhelmed. Next, we tackle the emotionally loaded decision to keep the house after divorce. We talk about stability for kids, but also the true cost of homeownership: taxes, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and the big future repairs like roofs and HVAC. We also dig into cash flow vs a bigger-looking settlement, how spousal maintenance can act as a bridge while someone retrains or rebuilds income, and why account type matters when you’re counting on investment income (including what happens with IRAs before age 59½). If you’re facing divorce, separation, or a major life transition, this conversation will help you feel less alone and more prepared. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the money question you want us to answer next.