Divorce Asset Division and Settlement Review
Know what you are entitled to before you agree to anything.
A settlement can look reasonable on paper and still create financial pressure years later. The difference is seeing what it actually becomes.
Does This Sound Like You?
Most of my clients come to me asking the same questions.
Will I have enough to support myself after the divorce?
Should I keep the house or take the retirement accounts?
What happens to his stock options and RSUs?
How do I know if what he is offering is actually fair?
What if he hid assets and I do not know what we own?
What does this settlement mean for my financial future in 10 years?
These are exactly the questions I help you answer before you sign anything.
This Is the Right Fit If:
Your husband handled the finances and you do not know what you own or what it is worth
You have been presented with a settlement offer and need to know if it is fair before you sign
Your husband has stock options, RSUs, or executive compensation and the numbers do not make sense to you
You are working with an attorney but need someone to handle the financial analysis
You want to understand every asset before you agree to anything
You are not looking for someone to slow the process down. You want to walk in informed.
How I Protect
Your Financial Future.
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I review the complete picture of your marital estate alongside your attorney, including retirement accounts, stock options, deferred compensation, real estate, cryptocurrency, and payment app balances. I help you understand what each asset is actually worth after taxes and carrying costs, and I flag anything that appears undervalued or missing from the disclosure. When the numbers don't match your family's actual lifestyle, I build a lifestyle analysis, comparing what you actually spent against what's been reported, to see whether the disclosure holds up before you settle.
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Stock options, RSUs, and deferred compensation are among the most commonly undervalued assets in a high-asset divorce. I analyze vesting schedules, tax treatment, and what unvested awards may be worth so you are not leaving money on the table before you sign.
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A settlement that looks equal on paper is rarely equal in reality. I model every proposed offer in real numbers, after taxes, after carrying costs, projected over 10 years. You see exactly what you are agreeing to before you sign anything.
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I prepare financial analyses, model scenarios for mediation sessions, and help your legal team understand the numbers behind each proposed settlement. Family law attorneys bring me in specifically because I save time and reduce conflict by making the financial picture clear to everyone.
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As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, I help you build a financial plan for your next chapter - budgeting, investing, and building long-term security on your own terms.
How It Works
Start with a free 30-minute call
Most women who call me start the same way: "I do not even know where to begin." That is the right place to start. In 30 minutes I will help you understand what you are dealing with and what working together would look like. No paperwork. No pressure.
I build a complete financial picture
I gather and review all disclosed financial statements, identify anything that looks incomplete or undervalued, and make sure you know exactly what your marital estate contains before negotiations begin.
We model your settlement options side by side
I show you what each offer looks like after taxes, inflation, and carrying costs over time. Not just the number you are being handed today. What it actually becomes in your account over the next 10 years.
You negotiate from an informed position
You go back to your attorney and mediator knowing exactly what you have, what it is worth, and what a fair outcome looks like for your financial future.
“My attorney handled the legal side, but Katerina helped me understand the financial reality. That perspective made an enormous difference.”
— Leah N.Common Questions
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A divorce attorney and a divorce financial advisor do different jobs. Your attorney handles the legal process. I handle the financial analysis — reading pension statements, modeling the tax impact of a buyout, identifying whether an RSU or stock option disclosure is complete. Most attorneys are not trained to do this work, and most cases involve financial questions that go beyond what legal counsel alone can answer.
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That is where most of my clients start. In a California divorce, both spouses are required to fully disclose all community property assets. I help you build a complete picture from those disclosures, identify what is missing or undervalued, and make sure nothing is overlooked before you negotiate.
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My engagements are flat-fee, with most ranging from $3,500 to $6,000 depending on the complexity of your situation. For highly complex cases involving business interests, multiple properties, or significant executive compensation, pricing is discussed during our initial call. You will always know the full cost before any work begins — no hourly surprises, no open-ended billing. The best place to start is a free 30-minute call where we can discuss your specific situation and whether working together makes sense.
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A CDFA® — Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional — specializes in the financial side of divorce. Your attorney handles the legal process: filings, court procedure, and negotiation strategy. A CDFA® handles financial analysis: asset valuation, tax modeling, retirement account division, and settlement projections. In a high-asset divorce, especially one involving stock options, RSUs, or real estate, having both on your team means the legal strategy is built on accurate financial analysis.
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As early as possible — ideally before settlement negotiations begin. The earlier I am involved, the more complete the financial picture I can build. That said, if you have already received a settlement offer, I can still review it before you sign. The most common and costly mistake is waiting until the agreement is final.
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Yes. While I am based in California and have deep expertise in California community property law, I work with clients nationwide. The financial analysis involved in a high-asset divorce — valuing stock options and RSUs, reviewing settlement offers, modeling long-term outcomes — applies regardless of which state you are in. If you are going through a divorce anywhere in the country and need a CDFA® to help you understand the financial picture, I am happy to speak with you.
Ready to Understand What You Are Agreeing To?
Most people focus on getting through the divorce. I help you build financial stability after it. A free 30-minute call is the right place to start.
Schedule Your Free Call