When divorce upends your life, the hardest part is knowing where to begin. Most people are flooded with fear, urgency, and emotion - and without a roadmap, they make decisions that cost them far more than money. That’s exactly why I created the E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™. In this second part of our series, I’m breaking down the signature process I use to help clients shift from reactive choices to intentional strategy, so they can protect their stability, their sanity, and their long-term financial future.

Resources mentioned:

• More information on The E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Urgency is emotional, not strategic. When you don’t yet have the full financial landscape, “What do I do first?” is the wrong question. The E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™ helps you ask the right ones instead.

• A clear sequence protects you from costly mistakes. Following a structured process keeps you from making reactive decisions that might feel good today but create long-term financial consequences.

• Survival mode doesn’t build your next chapter. Strategy does. The moment you shift from panic to informed planning, you reclaim power, clarity, and the ability to make decisions that set you up for your strongest future.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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When you own a private practice, divorce introduces a level of financial risk most physicians never see coming. Your income, your reputation, and the practice you’ve spent years building can all become leverage in negotiations if you don’t know where the blind spots are. In this first part of my private-practice series, I’m breaking down the unique vulnerabilities medical professionals face, from inflated valuations to reputation-driven earning assumptions, and the strategic steps that protect your practice long before divorce papers are filed.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Personal vs. enterprise goodwill plays a major role in practice valuation, and the distinction can mean the difference between a fair outcome and a multimillion-dollar hit.

• Courts often base support obligations on earning capacity, not current hours or burnout-driven changes in workload, which can dramatically distort your financial reality.

• Clean books, consistent documentation, and early valuation benchmarks give physicians the strongest protection when divorce enters the picture.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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Colleen Odegaard’s story is one of heartbreak, shock, and hard-earned wisdom. In this episode, Gabriella talks with Colleen about the emotional fog that followed her husband’s sudden decision to leave, the costly financial choices that happen when you try to handle everything alone, and why she wishes she’d had a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® from the start. Together, they unpack what really happens when emotions lead, why trusting your attorney to handle “the numbers” isn’t enough, and how learning to ask for help can change everything, financially and emotionally.

Colleen Odegaard is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-host of the Charlotte Today Show. She hosts the award-winning podcast Wake Up to Your Life where she shares her experience of reinventing herself in her 50s, dating after divorce, and healing her inner child to create a peaceful, fulfilling life.

Connect with Colleen:

• Instagram

• Wake Up to Your Life Podcast

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• When you’re in emotional survival mode, it’s easy to make financial decisions you’ll later regret, but those early choices can shape your entire future.

• Attorneys handle the law, they don’t build your financial strategy. A CDFA® shows you what’s really on the table before you agree to anything.

• Investing in expert support isn’t a luxury, it’s self-protection. You deserve clarity, stability, and someone who knows how to safeguard your future.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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• Facebook
  

The process of divorce is scary enough, but dividing financial assets can be its own nightmare. In this episode, Gabriella is joined by Gerard Zielinski and Rhonda Noordyk to share the divorce horror stories they’ve seen happen to their clients and how they helped clients avoid a scary outcome whenever possible.

Rhonda Noordyk is a CDFA®, Amazon bestselling author, and host of the Disrupting Divorce Podcast. After witnessing the financial industry fail women, Rhonda channeled her experience as a financial advisor to become a CDFA® and financial divorce advocate for women.

• Website

• Podcast

Gerard Zielinski is a CDFA® who has spent the last 15 years providing individuals, couples, and family law attorneys with financial tools, resources, and expertise in divorce. Gerard specializes in the valuation and division of retirement benefits including Military Retired Pay and the Federal Service Retirement Systems. 

• Website

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 888-203-7117

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Retirement accounts and pensions should very rarely be split 50/50. Unfortunately, judges and attorneys are not the financial experts CDFAs® are, and might order these assets to be split 50/50 if there isn’t an expert present to educate both parties.

• Never sign documents or make decisions without input from your divorce team. An attorney might come to you with a deal that looks great on paper, but your CDFA® will be able to see if you’re leaving money on the table.

• You should have direct access to and communication with every member of your divorce team. Your attorney should not be the go-between for the experts brought in for your case, you should be privy to - and ultimately, in control of - the strategy to ensure you’re getting what you actually want.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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• Facebook

When divorce enters the picture, business owners often face a terrifying question: Am I going to lose everything I’ve built? When you’re going through divorce, emotions run high and those emotions can cloud your judgment in ways that cost you time, money, and credibility. In this second part of my series for business owners, I’m sharing the biggest mistakes I see my clients make when divorce enters the picture. From relying too heavily on attorneys to letting your attachment to the business drive your decisions, I’ll walk you through the traps that can derail your settlement and show you how to avoid them.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Your attorney isn’t your financial strategist. Lawyers understand the law, but they don’t understand business finances the way a CDFA does.

• Messy books can delay your case, cost you more, and lead to the wrong assumptions about your income and business value.

• Emotional arguments rarely work in court. Judges look at numbers, not feelings, which is why clear financial strategy is non-negotiable.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

• Website

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• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook
  

When divorce enters the picture, business owners often face a terrifying question: Am I going to lose everything I’ve built? In the first part of my series for business owners, I’m speaking directly to those of you who are already in the divorce process, or see it coming. I’ll walk you through the financial blind spots no one warns you about, the emotional mistakes that cause the most damage, and the first steps you can take to protect your business. This isn’t just about numbers. This is about your future, your legacy, and your ability to move forward without losing control of the company you built.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• If you’re running personal or family expenses through your business, it’s time to stop. Messy books create confusion, distrust, and unnecessary legal battles. When your numbers aren’t clean, the wrong assumptions can be made and those assumptions can cost you.
  

• Your income isn’t just your paycheck. If you take both W-2 wages and distributions, or if you’ve been inconsistent in how you pay yourself, that can lead to double counting and inflated support calculations. The key is clarity and no sudden changes mid-process.
  

• A proper business valuation is non-negotiable. It needs to be done by someone who understands your industry and how divorce works. Don’t let someone unfamiliar with your business tell you what it’s worth without context. And if your spouse gets a valuation, you need someone who can spot the holes in it.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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• LinkedIn

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• Facebook
  

When you’re going through a divorce, and every financial decision matters, the wrong financial guidance can have lasting consequences. In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Milone, Chief Wealth Strategist at Solaris Strategic Wealth, to discuss why your wealth advisor should not double as your divorce strategist. We explore the key differences between the roles of a wealth manager and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and how trying to combine them can derail your divorce, expose you to legal risk, and leave long-term money on the table.

The second half of our conversation airs later this season, where Nicole shares how she helps clients rebuild and grow their wealth after divorce.

Nicole Milone, Chief Wealth Strategist at Solaris Strategic Wealth, helps clients use money as a tool to achieve their goals, buy back time, and build a legacy.

Connect with Nicole:

• Nicole at Solaris Strategic Wealth

  
  

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Divorce financial strategy is a specialized discipline. Even the best wealth advisors aren't trained to anticipate the legal and strategic complexities of divorce.

• When your CDFA® and wealth advisor work together, you can get coordinated financial guidance that supports your short-term divorce outcomes and your long-term financial goals.

• Maintaining joint accounts or making large financial moves during your divorce can lead to serious legal and financial setbacks. Always consult your CDFA® before making any changes.

  
  

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

• Website

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook 
  

If you’re getting divorced, or even just thinking about it, here’s the truth: financial strategy isn’t just helpful, it’s absolutely necessary.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on real client stories that show what can happen when you try to get through divorce without a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® on your team. 

From wasted time and sky-high attorney bills to life-changing clarity and resolution, these stories are a reminder that legal advice alone isn’t enough. You need someone who knows how to protect your money, your future, and your peace of mind.

Episode referenced:

• 3. How My Client Avoided Splitting Her Business In Her Divorce | Client Case Study

  
  

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Attorneys know the law. A CDFA® knows the money. If your case involves business ownership, real estate, or high income, assuming your attorney can “handle it all” could leave you financially exposed.

• Strategy saves more than money. It saves momentum. One client was stuck in a four-year legal battle. Four months after we started working together, he settled and moved on.

• You deserve clarity. Not confusion. Divorce numbers are complicated. When you understand what’s yours, what’s possible, and what you actually want, you can make smart choices that hold up for the long run.

  
  

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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7. Real Self-Care During Divorce, Hormones & the Midlife Reset You Didn’t Ask For with Debbie Harbeck

Divorce in midlife can feel like an emotional ambush — even for the strongest women. In this episode, I’m joined by certified life and menopause coach Debbie Harbec to talk about how to stay grounded when your body, your future, and your identity all feel in flux. We break down the warning signs of burnout, why high-achievers are often the most at risk, and how to reclaim clarity, calm, and control — without burning out in the process.

Debbie Harbec is a certified life and menopause coach with 20+ years in the health and wellness field. She helps midlife women reclaim their energy, manage symptoms like brain fog and mood swings, and stay centered through major life transitions like divorce. 

Listen to Debbie on The Midlife Momentum Podcast.

Learn more about Debbie and book a call with her on her website.

Some key takeaways from this episode include:

• Midlife and divorce don’t just overlap — they compound. Hormonal changes during perimenopause can make the emotional weight of divorce feel even heavier. Knowing what’s happening in your body helps you name what you’re up against and navigate it with clarity.

• Feeling “off” is your body asking you to listen. Brain fog, exhaustion, mood swings — these aren’t minor. They’re signals. When you tune in early, you give yourself the chance to protect your health and make smarter decisions.

• You’re not meant to carry everything. High-achieving women are used to pushing through — but in divorce, that mindset can backfire. Letting go isn’t weakness. It’s strategy. And it creates space for the support you actually need.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

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• Facebook
  

In this episode, I'm diving into one of the most emotionally charged parts of divorce: alimony. Whether you're the one paying or receiving, this conversation is filled with insights to help you move beyond the myths, understand your rights and responsibilities, and create a strategy that makes sense for your financial future. I share what I see most often with clients, how courts actually approach spousal support, and why clarity, not conflict, should lead the conversation.

Some key takeaways from this episode are:

• Alimony is not a punishment or a prize. It's a tool to support financial transition—and it requires realistic planning, not emotional reactions.

• Your budget needs to be strategic and reasonable. Courts don’t preserve lifestyles; they evaluate needs. Work with a CDFA®, know your numbers, and be honest about what’s essential.

• Independence is the ultimate goal. Whether you're paying or receiving, support is temporary. What you really need is a plan to stand on your own.

Marriage is about love, but divorce is about money. The Divorce & Money Podcast, hosted by Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA®, CDS®, is all about how to navigate your separation and divorce so you can set yourself up for a strong financial future. Gabriella is the Founder at Ever After Wealth®, a divorce financial strategy firm. 

Connect with Gabriella & Ever After Wealth: 

• Website

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

• YouTube

• Facebook