The Financially Smart Divorce Book Review

This is a review of

The Financially Smart Divorce

J. A. Licciardello, CDFA

Wentworth Publishing, 2016

Divorce mediators can greatly benefit from reading and having readily on hand this new book by a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst who understands that divorce should be a planning process. The book is now on Amazon where it has received 11 reviews as of January 1, 2017, all 5 stars, from people getting divorced.

Listen to one of them:

“I wish that I had found this book before I filed for divorce. Instead I tried to glean the pertinent information everywhere, but everything was so scattered. So the main reasons that Mr Licciardello ‘s book has been so useful to me is:
1. It is very specific to a divorcing person’s financial decisions,
2. It is presented in a systematic way. This should not be underestimated because my normally logical mind was undermined by the emotional chaos of divorce.

There are a myriad of financial issues that have to be thought through and dealt with my best interest in mind that are very difficult to keep track of.

Moreover, most of us have zero experience with these issues.

This book identifies these issues and lays out a timeline and checklists that are critical to keeping it under control and getting it all done.

It gives me the tools and confidence that I really can do a good job for myself in an empowered way. When I get this kind of help, I can get in gear and be proactive for myself. I am very glad I read this book.”

As a mediator, I would be grateful for such feedback from my clients. The book is accompanied by the forms and checklists in the book in “The Financially Smart Divorce Planner”.

The book should appeal to divorce mediators. Divorce is a planning process, developing a parenting plan for children and a financial plan for parents. We try to remind our clients tactfully they have a brain as well as a heart, that divorce can involve thinking as well as feeling, that the calculator can be as useful a tool to them as a box of Kleenex. The book divides the divorce process into three  phases, Preparation, Negotiation and Financial Recovery. Each step helps people to slow down, think and organize their papers, thoughts and their whole approach to divorce. What kind of information do I need? What process should I follow? Who should I hire to help me, and why?

Most of my male divorcing clients fear paying alimony forever. “When am I free? When am I off the hook?” Most of my female clients fear financial insecurity, particularly losing a house.. “I don’t want to be a bag lady. I don’t want to be out on the street.” Anthony’s book gives them an antidote to fear, a way of collecting and organizing information to help them make smart decisions about their financial future.

I recommend you check it out on Amazon and decide for yourself if you want to tell your clients about this useful guide. A number of my clients have been very grateful for the reference.

                       

J Anthony Licciardello

J Anthony Licciardello is a Certified Divorce Financial Advisor and President of Wentworth Divorce Financial Advisors based in Providence Rhode Island.  He is the creator of the FreshStart ProgramTM, an advisory service specifically designed to help couples and individuals navigate successfully through the financial maze of divorce. MORE >

                       

John Fiske

Partner in Healy, Lund and Fiske, now Healy, Fiske, Richmond, & Matthew, since September 1, 1979. From being lawyer and mediator about half and half in the beginning, I am now about 99% mediator and 1% lawyer. I also conduct mediation trainings. My wife and I took our 3 children,… MORE >