Financially Ever After Widowhood

Latest Episodes:

Building Resilience After Grieving the Loss of Your Relationship Oct 26, 2021

Show notes

Nesreed Ahmed is founder and CEO of Harbor Life Coaching, and is an ICF credentialed Professional Certified Life and Grief Coach. She is passionate about helping people find their North Star and transforming their grief into superpower. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss her role as a grief coach, and how listeners can convert their grief into resilience.

Many people do not handle grief very well. Grief coaching helps you deal with all the emotions and upset that you are feeling in practical ways, which is more proactive and focused than counseling or therapy.
We grieve in several different ways, and each experience that causes grief is going to be different. We must understand that grief is something that happens to us, as we cannot just choose when we’re going to fall apart, so we must allow ourselves to ride the wave.
Part of the problem with divorces lies in self-flagellation. We doubt ourselves, asking questions like ‘How did I allow this to happen with this person? How did I not see it with this person?’
A survey of 150 divorced women revealed that the majority of them felt like they didn’t have enough support during their divorce, and only a minority worked with a coach or therapist to help them through the process.

Resources

Nesreen Ahmed on LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram

Phone: (917)830-6863

Email: Nesreen@harborlightcoaching.com

HarborLightCoaching.com

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Smart Money Mamas – Overcoming Financial Overwhelm Oct 12, 2021

Show notes

Chelsea Brennan is a contributing writer at Forbes, as well as the founder and host of Mamas Talk Money and Smart Money Mamas. Smart Money Mamas is a family finance website that helps mothers build wealth in alignment with their values and in ways that feel good to them. Chelsea's mission is to change the way that we talk about money so that women see it as a means of self-care, similar to going to the gym. She talks about financial concepts that seem overwhelming but are actually easy to do.

Women are conditioned from a young age to have an uncomfortable relationship with money. The things women want are generally treated as frivolous purchases, and things that bring them joy are considered bad expenses.
If you are dealing with deep-seated anxiety surrounding finances, you may want to see a professional called a money therapist. They have the specific training necessary to help you through emotional blocks caused by money.
While it’s essential to have serious conversations about money with your children, it’s equally important that your daily financial operations, decisions, language and even body language align with those conversations.
A family’s financial values are key to understanding what is most important to them, what their priorities and goals are, and what they want their money to do in the world.

Resources

Chelsea Brennan on LinkedIn

SmartMoneyMamas.com

Family Money Values Template

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Juggling Divorce, Parenting, and Other Responsibilities Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

Andrea Boulanger, a university administrator, is the breadwinner of her family and describes herself as ‘happily divorced.’ She joins Stacy Francis to discuss her journey, from her marriage to deciding to get divorced and life after divorce. She shares how she was able to move forward despite having so many responsibilities, including being the caretaker for her son with autism.

Studies have shown that women who are breadwinners are often doing just as much work at home, and even sometimes more. The bigger the income disparity between her and her partner, the more she does.
Mothers often decide not to leave or get divorced because they worry how it will affect their children; they don’t want their kids to have to go through the difficulties of seeing their parents separate and all the changes that come with it.
Gathering all the information you can about the divorce process can help you build confidence in your decision and make you feel at ease. Too many unknowns can be overwhelming.
When getting divorced, you should carefully consider if staying in your home is the right financial decision to make. Rather than clinging to the sentimental value, you must go over whether you can safely afford to keep your home or whether it would be wiser to move.

Resources

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Divorce Ease Through Radical Acceptance with Karen McMahon Sep 14, 2021

Show notes

Karen McMahon is a certified relationship and divorce coach and the host of the Journey Beyond Divorce podcast, where she helps men and women navigate difficulties in the divorce process. In this special episode, she draws from her personal experience of a high-conflict divorce as well as a decade of helping her clients as she shares what we need to build muscles of acceptance for moving on.

Karen gives details about her divorce. Rather than focusing on all the shortcomings of her then-husband, she paid attention to her part in the conflict and her responsibility in reconciliation. When she emerged from her divorce, she felt healed and refined.
At the heart of resistance is the belief that the world should be operating and unfolding in accordance with your views. If we could expect and accept what we know to be true, our suffering would be reduced.
Accepting your circumstances gives you choices that you would have otherwise missed. When you are in resistance, these choices are not visible because you don’t have the right perspective to see them.
We must always remember to treat ourselves with deep compassion and gentle kindness whenever we are struggling with something. Adding self-condemnation on top of that struggle is only going to push you backward, not forward.

Resources

Karen McMahon on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

JBDDivorceSupport.com | Podcast

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

[REPLAY] What Wise Women Do After Divorce Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Tanya-Marie Dubé is a master of transformation. She has lived through some very traumatic experiences: from being born into the foster care system, to being homeless from ages 12 to 18, to leaving her marriage of 18½ years without her home or any finances. Through each adversity, Tanya was able to change her perspective and come out a stronger, happier person. Now she teaches women around the world how to thrive after divorce. She joins Stacy Francis to talk about the five stages of transformation and things women need to know to create the best life possible for themselves and their families.

Tanya says that her life has presented her with a series of transformational opportunities. She started to study psychology at age 17 and inadvertently started to coach others. She learned that the only way for her to grow was to help others achieve their goals.
By the time Tanya left her marriage 3½ years ago, she had been out of the workforce for more than a decade. Information about how to survive through and after divorce was hard to find. This inspired her to put together her first online summit where she invited 21 experts to speak on every aspect of separation. Over 300,000 women have been impacted to date.
There is a time and place for tears and anger when you’re experiencing a divorce. However, when you're rebuilding your life after divorce you need to remove the emotion out of it some of that time so you can focus on what’s working.
Tanya shares why gratitude and meditation are vital, no matter what you’re going through.
Stacy asks about the five stages of transformation after divorce. Tanya says that the five steps are building blocks and you’re going to be in and out of them, much like the grief cycle. She emphasizes that you need to work with someone because you need a new perspective and a mindset shift.
The five stages of transformation are:
Visionary: building a new foundation by working on your belief systems. This stage focuses on aligning who you think you are with who you want to become.
Renewal: self-love and reconnection to spirituality. You learn how to overcome your addiction to people-pleasing and putting yourself last. You begin to take charge of your healing and personal development.
Alignment: busting through your comfort zone. If you push yourself out of your comfort zone, you’re going to move forward. The confidence you gain by doing so will propel you into other areas of your life and open doors and opportunities you never dreamed of.
Courage: finding your true purpose. Tanya shares the simple but powerful exercise she used to find her purpose.
Powerful: creating incredible relationships. Now that I found my purpose, how am I going to achieve it? Who do I need to surround myself with? How can I become the best version of myself so that I’m showing up for everybody else the right way, but I'm also attracting people at this high energy level?
Stacy talks about the importance of community when you’re going through a divorce. Tanya has created a membership site where these women can find the support they need through divorce and after, to launch them into the next phase of their lives. She shares how listeners can be part of that community, as well as the summits she produces.

Resources:

Tanya-Marie Dubé | Facebook

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

[REPLAY] Recognizing Financial Abuse and Gaslighting Aug 17, 2021

Show notes

Victoria McCooey was one of the many women who thought she had a husband who loved and idolized her but found herself married to an abusive man who kept her isolated and financially disempowered – questioning her own knowledge and pressuring her into taking on debt while controlling almost every aspect of her life. Victoria saved herself and her children from this situation and has gone on to help hundreds of other women take their power back from abusive, narcissistic partners.

Victoria McCooey is a transformational divorce coach, speaker and inspirational thought leader committed to guiding smart but overwhelmed people out of a toxic marriage and into a life they can’t wait to live. In this episode of Financially Ever After, Victoria and Stacy talk about recognizing, understanding and escaping from abuse, and how to handle the aftermath, and how Victoria has dedicated her life to helping other women escape deadly situations.

How Victoria came to the realization that her situation was not normal, not okay, and not going to end well [10.15]
The myths too many people believe about abuse in marriage [14:00]
The moment Victoria left the situation [23:15]
What Victoria is doing now – and how she is turning her experience into programs and support for other women in similar situations. [28:45]
Victoria’s advice to women who are currently in abusive situations. [35:15]

Resources

Domestic Violence Help:

https://www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/service/1542/domestic-violence-help-for-victims

https://ncadv.org/resources

Victoria McCooey Victoria McCooey | Email

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

The High Net Worth Divorce Playbook: How to Divide and Distribute Complex Assets Aug 03, 2021

Show notes

Karen McMahon is a certified relationship and divorce coach and the host of the Journey Beyond Divorce podcast, where she helps men and women navigate difficulties in the divorce process. In this special crossover episode, she invites Stacy Francis to talk about the complexities of executive compensation packages, understanding the worth of alternative investments, and the importance of assessing your business’ value if you or your spouse owns one.

Stock options are the most common type of executive compensation package. They allow employees the opportunity to purchase a stock in the future at a certain price. Stock options are great wealth generators because the value of most stocks increases over time.
Even the best matrimonial attorney can potentially put their clients at risk if they don’t have experience working with high net-worth. These divorce cases are best settled with seasoned experts.
There is a lot of risk associated with cryptocurrency. The good thing about digital assets is that you are now required to report them on your tax returns, which makes it more difficult to hide money this way.
Real estate is an asset that should be reviewed more often. Sometimes the sentimental value we place on our vacation homes can cloud our vision of what’s best for us financially. We should first consider whether we can afford to support the ongoing upkeep and costs before we get attached to the idea of keeping a house.

Resources

Karen McMahon on LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook

JBDDivorceSupport.com | Podcast

The High Net Worth Divorce Playbook

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Financial Do's & Don'ts Before, During & After Divorce Jul 20, 2021

Show notes

Paul Stagias is Senior Advisor at Francis Financial, where he provides comprehensive financial planning, wealth management, and divorce planning to help clients navigating a life transition organize, grow, and protect their assets. He is also a CFP®, CDFA®, and CPWA®. Paul is a matrimonial and divorce expert specializing in financially complex divorces. He joins Stacy Francis to share do’s and don’ts pre- and post-divorce. They discuss why it’s important for women to be financially intelligent, and how you can rebuild your life in the aftermath of divorce.

Divorce causes disproportionately more financial harm to women. For most women, income drops significantly after they and their partner have completed the process.
A cross-country survey of divorced women revealed that the majority of respondents felt like they had no support. 60% said they wished they had some type of mental health professional or coach to help them through the process, and 64% regret not having a financial advisor.
Sometimes after a divorce, one spouse is required to pay off the debts of the other spouse, despite not being the one to rack them up. It’s imperative that both parties make clear who will be responsible for paying off debts during the divorce process. Unfortunately in the case of credit card debt, divorce settlements have no bearing on the legalities; whoever’s name is on the card will have to pay it off.
An important step to rebuilding your finances after divorce is to remove your name or your spouse’s name from any joint accounts that were created during your marriage.

Resources

Paul Stagias on LinkedIn

FrancisFinancial.com

Financial Do's & Don'ts Before, During & After Divorce Webinar Presentation

Unveiling the Unspoken Truth: The Financial Challenges Women Face During and After Divorce

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Download our free divorce resource guide: Divorce Checklist

Reach out to clientservice@francisfinancial.com to receive a copy of the template statement of net worth

Finding Your Tribe during Divorce, and Why it Matters Jul 06, 2021

Show notes

Elise Pettus is the founder and Editorial Director of UNtied.net, an online community for NYC women navigating separation and divorce. UNtied hosts online panels each month featuring experts who provide assistance and resources to make the divorce process as smooth as possible and help members become their best selves. Elise joins Stacy Francis to talk about how women can relaunch their lives post-divorce and feel their best during the process. She shares her personal journey to find happiness and fun.

When going through a divorce, it’s better to let the grief for your lost relationship run its course. You can’t skip it or run around it; trying to suppress or ignore your grief will only force it to become deeper and eventually so unmanageable that it will explode in your face.
UNtied is a community of women who have experienced divorce. The purpose of the community is to provide a safe space for women to talk to other women who intimately understand their circumstances and can provide practical and emotional assistance.
Having a community of people who accept, support, and encourage you is important, and even more so during a divorce. Separation is not easy, but it becomes easier to navigate when you have a team.
Many women often forget that taking care of their mental health is critical and do not prioritize themselves. Self-care should be seen as a medical necessity; even something as simple as going for a massage is a good activity to indulge in.

Resources

Elise Pettus on LinkedIn

UNtied.net

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!

Divorcing as a Business Owner: Finding Your Professional & Emotional Support Jun 22, 2021

Show notes

Ivy Slater is the founder and CEO of Slater Success. She works with C-Suite executives and upper-level managers to create clear strategies that impact their business. She is a speaker, a bestselling author, and host of a podcast and LinkedIn Live show. She joins Stacy Francis to discuss succeeding through a divorce as a business owner and pulling your emotional and professional support teams together.

Even when we are aware of an impending crisis, it still catches us off-guard, and we never truly understand the scope and impact of it until it happens. Crises are notorious for not allowing time for us to create strategies to combat them.
When couples who are also business partners are going through a divorce, priorities can get mixed up. It is important to know who your support team is, and have professional counsel for your business that is separate from your matrimonial affairs.
One of the most frustrating things about divorce is how much time it takes. Take a step back and delegate your responsibilities to people you trust while you are going through the divorce process.
Sometimes we need someone to be our cheerleader, coach or consultant, especially when we fail or don’t do as well as we hope. We don’t have the same compassion for ourselves as they would have for us, so their support will help us succeed.

Resources

Ivy Slater on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

SlaterSuccess.com | Connect

Connect with me on Clubhouse!

Visionary Leader Roundtable Info Sheet

National Association of Women Business Owners

Women Presidents’ Organization

The Alternative Board

Stacy Francis on LinkedIn | Twitter

Email: stacy@francisfinancial.com

FrancisFinancial.com

Reach out to receive a complimentary consultation! Contact Francis Financial at +212-374-9008 or visit Francis Financial today!