Aviva Pinto, CDFA®, CDS®

Divorce is a challenging and emotional process that can have significant financial implications. Proper financial planning and awareness of common pitfalls can help individuals navigate this difficult time more effectively. This article aims to provide a detailed guide on avoiding financial mistakes during a divorce.

You’re divorcing. You have a million things to think and worry about. Your divorce professional (whether a matrimonial attorney, mediator, or collaborative lawyer) is asking for all kinds of information and documentation. You’re worried about your kids and custody. You’re wondering whether you’ll stay in your home. You’re emotionally raw and trying to hold it all together. And the last thing you want to think about is your financial plan, but that’s one of the most important aspects of divorce.

I’ve been approached by many matrimonial attorneys, therapists, and divorce coaches who ask me to help their clients with their finances before, during, and after their divorces. Many people getting divorced, both men and women, may be smart, accomplished, or at their top of their professions, yet were not the ones handling the finances in their marriage. Many of these clients don’t know what they spend, how much their mortgage is, what assets they have. They’re unaware how much debt they have,

As financial advisors, we work with many clients who have lost a spouse, gone through a divorce, or are wondering what they should do if something happens to their significant other who has been managing the money and finances. We also work with many people who find themselves in a position of having to manage their parents’ finances. No matter the situation, it’s important for each person to be involved in the family finances – knowing where things are, who to call, and what to do in case an u

When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) went into effect in December 2017, it enacted several major changes, including an increase in the estate tax exemption amounts and decreases in both individual and corporate tax rates. Now, many provisions of the Act are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress makes them a permanent part of the tax code. Given the impact to your taxes and estate planning strategies, now is the time to start preparing for these anticipated changes. In this post, we’

Introduction It’s not uncommon in a relationship for one partner to handle most of the finances and for the other to have little or no interest – or involvement – in the process. Many are not the ones responsible for managing the day-to-day finances in their relationship. They may be experts in their own fields, but they may not fully understand the investments, know their accountant or attorney, or feel any sense of general financial preparedness. If difficult situations or unexpected events

After years of positive market performance, newer investors are seeing for the first time that markets do not go up in a straight line. While we saw a correction in March of 2020 when the start of COVID spooked markets and investors, the recovery was swift. We are now seeing more volatility, so clients are asking, “What should I do?”  Stay the Course Creating and sticking to a financial plan – a road map of where you are and want to be financially – will keep you from making knee jerk move

Most of us understand how getting a mortgage can help us to purchase a home. We use our personal funds (usually 20% of the purchase price) as a down payment and then obtain a mortgage loan with a bank or financial institution for the remaining 80% of the purchase price. The mortgage rate is based on current interest rate levels – there are fixed rate loans that can be for 10, 15, or 30 years, or you may choose an interest-only loan with a floating rate that can start low and increase if interes