WOMEN, DIVORCE & MONEY: Who’s in Your Corner?
Guidance, clarity and confidence for your next chapter
For those who go through a divorce, it is often one of the most stressful life events.
Divorce affects nearly every area of financial life, from insurance and taxes to retirement plans, future income, and long-term security. The decisions made during this period can have enormous future impacts. What feels fair in the moment may not always be equitable over time without careful analysis and planning.
This is why careful financial analysis matters. A qualified divorce attorney focuses on the legal framework; a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® focuses on the financial consequences, both immediate and long term.
Financial advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Amy Begnaud has built a specialty within her practice around helping women navigate this chapter. Her motivation is deeply personal.
Amy openly shares that her own divorce was the most traumatic experience of her life.
“It was a time filled with uncertainty, fear and overwhelming decisions,” Amy says. “Even when a divorce is amicable, it is still one of life’s most stressful events. You are making major financial and personal choices while navigating grief, change and often exhaustion. It is simply too much for anyone to carry alone.”
That experience ultimately reshaped her life and career. What began as personal hardship evolved into a sense of purpose.
“That experience changed me—and ultimately shaped my professional calling,” she says. “I chose to specialize in helping women through divorce because I understand how vulnerable this period can feel.”
Today, Amy works with clients across the country, many of whom come to her feeling anxious and uncertain about their futures. She emphasizes that these feelings are normal. In fact, they are common. For many women, especially those who were not the primary financial decision-makers in their marriages, divorce can feel particularly overwhelming.
Recently, she held a focus group with several female clients, many of whom are divorced, to better understand their needs and concerns around financial planning and wealth management.
“The overarching emotion that women have expressed to me is fear,” Amy says. “Being with me, they all said, gives them peace of mind. And they said what’s missing in the industry is being able to find someone like me.”
For Amy, this feedback reinforces how important it is to provide not only technical expertise, but also steady guidance and reassurance. While divorce financial analysis represents about 15% of her overall practice, she considers it some of the most meaningful work she does because of the impact it can have on a woman’s long-term stability.
She notes that during periods of intense stress, even highly capable and intelligent women can feel pressured. Emotions can run high, and decisions made quickly or reactively may carry long-term consequences.
“My role is to bring clarity, calm and objective guidance when it is needed most,” Amy says.
Her approach centers on helping clients step back from the immediate emotion of the moment and understand the larger financial picture. That includes evaluating assets carefully, considering tax implications, planning for future income, and aligning decisions with long-term goals.
Amy describes her practice as concierge-level planning and investing—highly individualized and tailored to each client’s situation. She takes a hands-on approach and encourages clients to reach out whenever financial questions arise. Whether the issue is a settlement decision, a budgeting concern, or a long-term investment question, she aims to be accessible and supportive.
At the core of her philosophy is partnership. She focuses on listening, educating, and empowering women so they feel informed and confident about their finances. For clients who may not have previously been involved in financial decisions, this can be a powerful turning point.
Her goal is not simply to help women get through divorce, but to help them build a stronger future on the other side; one where they feel a renewed sense of control over their lives.
“Every situation deserves care and attention,” Amy says. “If you are going through a divorce, know this: You are not alone, and you do not have to navigate the financial side by yourself. And sometimes, the most powerful outcome of all is not just financial security, but confidence in your next chapter.”
She also acknowledges that not every situation is the right fit for her services. Still, she takes pride in leaving anyone who reaches out to her in a better place than she found them, whether through education, direction, or simply reassurance.
For women facing divorce, the message is clear: you do not have to figure it all out alone. With the right support, thoughtful planning, and trusted guidance, this difficult chapter can also be the beginning of a more confident and secure future.
