While a reasonable and immediate goal for you to hold in the middle of your divorce is simply for the divorce to be over with, this goal will not suffice when it comes to your need to plan long-term for your future. If you want to pay for your child’s college education, how can you meet that goal in light of the changes in your life that the divorce has brought on? What about retirement? Did you give up a sizeable chunk of your 401(k)? Does it even make sense for you to invest your money when you have so many immediate needs that need to be addressed in your life?
Today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC, will address your long-term financial goals as seen in the period immediately following your divorce. You made it through your divorce, and now you have the luxury of being able to look down the roadways. What do you want to accomplish, and how will you accomplish the goals that you do have? Fortunately for you, the lion’s share of the effort needed to achieve those goals rests on your shoulders.
The shared goals of your marriage need to become your personal goals after a divorce.
Having a shared goal means not only that you can combine your efforts to achieve that goal with another person but that you also have a built-in accountability partner. If, instead of putting the usual monthly contribution in a particular month into your retirement account, you wanted to buy a new tool or dress or (fill in the blank here), your spouse could intercede and reason with you to stay true to your goals.
The shared goals you possessed with your spouse do not need to vanish after your divorce. It is for the best that they do not. You need to remain goal-oriented in your post-divorce life, even if your finances are a little tighter as a result. Remember that budgeting and restraint will need to be a part of your life in the years following your divorce. Your new life as a single person will allow you to reevaluate your initial goals and accomplish them on your terms.
Fit your financial goals within your new life
Figure out a way to get your money managed correctly based on the realities that life as a single person causes you to encounter. What made sense for you as a married person may not make sense for you any longer. If this sounds like I am telling you that you may need to change your habits and perspectives, it is because I am. This isn’t a bad thing, but it may be a shock to your system if you are a creature of habit.
Consider your investments based on your age, risk tolerance, and whatever tax implications result from those factors. If you need to ramp up saving for a child’s college savings, you may necessarily need to take a step back from investing as aggressively as you may like for retirement.
Additional responsibilities are not a bad thing. You can take more control of your life and your finances. These are excellent skills to develop early on in your life as a single person. As discussed this week, the responsibilities will not feel nearly as onerous if you plan and budget for them. How will you react to these challenges?
The typical life path of a divorced person’s finances
Let’s approach a timeline that many divorced people look at in their post-divorce life. First of all, your retirement assets have likely been divided in a divorce. You may have left the marriage with again in terms of your retirement savings, or there may have been an outflow to your spouse that resulted in you keeping less than you may have liked as far as your retirement savings are concerned.
Next, as a single person, you will need to consider retirement costs. What will it take for you to live comfortably as a retired person? How long into the future do you plan on working. What can change about your planning if you were to remarry? These are all viable questions that need to be asked.
Once these questions are answered, you can create your retirement savings vehicle if the need is there. You may have a work-funded 401(k) that you can continue to invest into. There are other options like IRAs that allow you to contribute a certain sum of money each year- either deferring taxes until retirement age or paying them upfront and not having to pay taxes on the back end.
Next- do you have kids? How will their college be paid for, if so? Contributing to a college savings plan is something that many parents do from when their children are very young. If you were not in a position to do this, fear not. You can make up for a lost time (to a certain extent) by investing more money now into a college savings account. Do what you can and then work with your ex-spouse to pay cash as much as possible for college expenses you could not save for.
A lesser-known financial issue that is becoming more common in long-term care costs- either in a nursing home environment or from maintaining a health care worker to care for you in your home. If you are concerned about the costs of paying for healthcare-related expenditures in your golden years, you may want to begin to price long-term care insurance. I have seen adults, once they reach sixty decide to purchase a policy that will ensure that their long-term care is paid for. Any older and the cost of the policy begins to outweigh its benefit to you.
If you consider these issues in full, you should be in a solid position to retire when you see fit. That doesn’t mean that you couldn’t use a bit more money in your IRA, but it does mean that you can live a respectable life- one that befits a person that worked hard, saved money, and did right by their children.
A word (or more) on gray divorce
If you find yourself a person in your fifties (or older) getting a divorce, then you should know that you are not alone. An increasing number of people in their retirement years (or near retirement years) choose to divorce their spouse. These are known as gray divorces. Be aware that you may face specific challenges in your divorce that younger persons may not need to be as concerned about.
Consider whether or not you and your spouse have saved sufficiently so that you both can retire relatively young with the ability to live comfortably. If not, you may struggle to build a portfolio of assets that sustain you into retirement age. Long-term care insurance may become more of a necessity as a result.
Hiring an attorney with experience in handling gray divorces is essential to living a respectable post-divorce life. How your marital assets are divided is critical when you are not flush with retirement savings. Take the time to interview attorneys to learn about their experience levels in handling divorces for people your age.
Questions about divorce, finances, and anything in between? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
If you have read through our material today and have questions about it, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. Likewise- if you have questions on any other subject in Texas family law, please give us a call today.
We offer free of charge consultations with a licensed family law attorney six days a week. It is always a pleasure to sit knee to knee with people in our community (like yourself) and discuss their problems in a confidential and hassle-free environment. Thank you for showing an interest in today’s topic, and we hope you return to read more tomorrow.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
