A middle-aged woman, distraught about the prospect of divorce, pours out her heart. She talks about her kids and mourns the end of her marriage. She expresses fears about the future—especially her financial future. This scenario regularly plays out in the office of Trish Goodman. Goodman is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, one of only four in Oklahoma. Through her company, Partners in Financial Planning and its new subsidiary, Partners in Divorce Accountability, Trish helps divorcing couples equitably and fairly divide years of marital assets.

“I got into this business because of my clients,” Goodman said. “These wonderful people would come to my office to plan their financial future, only to share with me their hurt and anger about their inequitable divorce settlements. In some cases, we were talking about divorces that happened 20 or 30 years ago!”

Knowledge Is Power
Many of Goodman’s clients knew little about the family finances during their marriage. They trusted their spouse to pay bills, make investments, and plan the family’s financial future. When that future disappeared, they didn’t know where they stood.

Unfortunately, Goodman said divorce settlements typically favor the spouse who has the most knowledge about the household’s finances. “I’ve talked with many wives who were thrilled to get the house and kids,” Goodman explained, “only to learn they had to sell the house just to keep the kids fed and clothed while their ex-husband remained financially secure.”

Partners in Divorce Accountability ensures that settlements are fair—both at the time of the divorce and in the future. Working with the client’s legal team, Goodman assists in the discovery process, helping to find the financial information needed to make an educated evaluation. Once all the facts are in hand, she creates the “Goodman Report.” This one-of-a-kind document accurately reflects the family’s financial picture without bias to either party and indicates a fair settlement for all concerned. Although the report is not legally binding, it provides a roadmap for successful and fair negotiation in the court system.

“I’ve been thrilled with the response I’ve received from clients, divorce attorneys, and judges I have worked with,” Goodman said. “One judge even has gone so far as to call our services the ‘wave of the future.’”

Uniquely Qualified
Goodman, who once experienced financial difficulties herself, feels uniquely qualified to help struggling clients. In 1985 Goodman’s husband John, a defensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ended his seven-year career with the team shortly before the birth of the Goodman’s first child. The Goodmans were shocked to learn that, because of poor financial advice and a slumping economy, they had almost no money in the bank.

Determined not to ever be put in that position again and armed with a finance degree from the University of Oklahoma, Goodman became a Certified Financial Planner and launched a successful financial planning career. Some twenty years later, Goodman completed months of intense study, court observation, and research to become a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Today, Goodman considers it her mission to help others faced with the economic challenges that arise during an emotional time.

Considering or Facing Divorce?

Tips to Ease the Transition

• Stand your ground. Don’t move out of the house and do not take on more marital debt (new car, home equity loan, etc.)
• Seek advice. Ask friends and acquaintances for recommendations on attorneys. Contact a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. Seeking professional advice early will help eliminate pitfalls later.

• Collect documents. Get a copy of your current credit report. Gather paperwork on all the household finances, including tax returns for the past several years, debts, assets, etc.
• Get out the camera. Use a video camera to make a record of all the household belongings including electronics, vehicles, jewelry, furniture, etc.
• Prepare two household budgets—one for the current household expenses and one for the divorced future. Remember to include new expenses such as insurance, etc.
• Get a tune-up. If your spouse carries health insurance, now is the time to make those medical and dental appointments you’ve been putting off. This is also a good time to have your car serviced and repaired as needed.
• Focus on healing, not revenge. Divorce is emotional. Even though you are hurting, focus on equity. Having legal, financial, and counseling professionals helping you will ensure that you and your family get through this trying time more easily.

Lesa Crowe is the president of Itancan, Inc., a public relations and advertising firm in Choctaw. A mother of a combined family of five and an extended family of six employees, Crowe and her group works with companies and nonprofits nationally and internationally to increase sales and public awareness for their firms.