Michael

In the Middle of Divorce

Make confident financial decisions during divorce, avoid costly mistakes, and protect long-term stability.

Case Study #2 : Age 38

Primary Goals:

A smiling man with glasses and a beard wearing a black button-up shirt and a wristwatch, standing against a plain gray background.

The Challenge

Michael was in the thick of his divorce negotiations.
His attorney was focused on the legal side, but Michael was overwhelmed by the financial complexity of the process:

  • Understanding the value and tax implications of retirement accounts, real estate, and business interests

  • Deciding between taking more cash now or more retirement savings later

  • Evaluating whether to keep the family home or sell it

  • Managing short-term cash flow while also planning for her long-term needs

Every proposal from his spouse’s attorney came with numbers and trade-offs he didn’t fully understand. He worried about agreeing to something that could hurt his financially for years to come.

The Approach

Michael reached out to us because he needed clear, unbiased financial analysis to guide his decisions.

Our first priority was to slow down the process just enough to give him space to think — without delaying negotiations unnecessarily. We:

  • Analyzed each settlement proposal side-by-side to compare short- and long-term impacts

  • Modeled scenarios for keeping vs. selling the home, factoring in mortgage costs, taxes, and investment growth

  • Calculated the after-tax value of retirement accounts, stock options, and other assets so he could compare apples to apples

  • Built a short-term cash flow plan so he could meet his needs without unnecessary financial stress

  • Acted as his sounding board, explaining complex issues in plain language so she could make informed decisions

The Results

By the time Michael signed her divorce agreement, he knew exactly what each decision meant for him now and in the future.

  • He chose the asset mix that gave him the best combination of stability, growth potential, and tax efficiency

  • He avoided taking on a house that would have become a financial burden

  • He walked away with a settlement that gave him flexibility and peace of mind

  • He left the process knowing he hadn’t overlooked any hidden financial traps

Today, Michael says the relief he felt wasn’t just from finalizing his divorce — it was from knowing he had made smart, confident decisions every step of the way.

Note: This case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual FMD Wealth Advisors client. No portion of the content should be construed as a guarantee of future results or satisfaction.