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The scariest moment in divorce is realizing you might not even know what you’re negotiating. When accounts “disappear,” income suddenly looks smaller, or the lifestyle never matched the paycheck, the problem isn’t just stress, it’s missing data. We want you to have a way to get your footing back.

We’re joined by Michele Laws, a highly specialized CDFA and forensic professional who works with divorce cases involving businesses, complex records, and serious red flags. Michele breaks down what a forensic analyst actually does in a divorce and how that role supports you and your attorney.  Michelle explains how tactics such as diverted payroll, redirected bonuses, and fake invoices can look legitimate until you trace them. 

If you’re navigating divorce financial planning, business valuation, or you simply feel like the numbers don’t add up, this conversation will help you spot the signals and ask better questions. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the clarity they deserve.

• To learn more about Michele please visit her website https://turningpointfinancialgroup.com/

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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Divorce can flip your life overnight, and the scariest part is how fast money, custody, and control can slip away when you are making decisions on the fly. Jacki Roessler, a certified divorce financial analyst, sits down with Texas attorney Hannah Hembree Bell to talk about what it really means to “divorce rich” by building access to resources, solid information, and a plan you can defend.

Hannah shares how her own divorce and custody journey shaped her practical approach to family law, including what happens when you walk into the process strategically unprepared. Jacki and Hannah dig into why parenting continuity matters, and how high-stakes custody fights can unfold.

Subscribe to this podcast for more clear, practical divorce financial planning and strategy, share this with someone who needs steadier footing, and leave a review so more people can find support when it matters most.

For more information about Hannah and her law practice, please visit Hembree Bell Law Firm or My Confident Divorce Law Firm

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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Most people think divorce “has to” look like a court fight, but that assumption can quietly drain your time, money, and emotional bandwidth. Jacki Roessler sits down with Michigan family law attorney and domestic relations mediator Xavier Prather to break down what divorce mediation actually is, how it differs from traditional litigation, and why the best outcomes often come from better communication rather than better arguments.

We get practical about the two major mediation styles listeners will run into, facilitative mediation versus evaluative mediation, as well as which couples are best suited for mediation. 

Then the conversation takes a fascinating turn: Xavier shares how winning Big Brother sharpened skills that matter in mediation, reading people, staying calm, and reframing emotional statements into something the other side can receive.

Xavier Prather Contact Information

Xavier Prather | Foster Swift

Subscribe to Divorce Rich, share this episode with someone weighing mediation, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. 

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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 The first question people ask me, almost without fail, is “How do I pick an attorney?” And I get it. Divorce already feels like your life got flipped, and the legal side can feel like a maze where one wrong turn gets expensive fast. That’s why I brought on Kelsey Minor, Esq. Managing Partner at DAWN in Bingham Farms, Michigan, a firm that has focused on women’s needs for decades. We get specific about what to look for when you’re interviewing a divorce lawyer, what questions to ask, and what “fit” really means when the stakes include your home, your retirement, and your long-term financial stability.

We talk about why family law specialization matters, and why local experience still counts even after the shift to virtual hearings. Kelsey explains how different judges and referees can have different courtroom protocols, scheduling rules, and filing requirements, and how hiring someone who already knows the landscape can save time and legal fees. We also dig into the less talked about part of hiring counsel: emotional support, responsiveness, and whether your attorney helps you understand the timeline and next steps so you’re not left guessing.

Click below to schedule an initial consultation with Kelsey, https://womensrights.com/law-firm/our-lawyers-staff/

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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High-conflict divorce is rarely just “fighting.” Sometimes it’s grief, fear, shutdown, or subtle power dynamics that make every money or parenting decision feel impossible. We’re joined by Siedah Spencer-Ardis, a Michigan mental health professional and the founder of Focus Therapy Clinic, to talk through what really happens inside a collaborative divorce and why the mental health neutral can be the difference between progress and chaos.

• To schedule a consult with Siedah, CLICK HERE
• To listen to Siedah's last guest appearance on this podcast, CLICK HERE

Subscribe to Divorce Rich, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find practical guidance when it matters most.

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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Keeping the house after divorce can feel like the last thread of stability, but the numbers do not always cooperate. If you are over 60 and facing a gray divorce, you might be sitting on substantial home equity while struggling to come up with the cash needed for a buyout, repairs, or everyday income. We wanted a real, practical conversation about one of the most misunderstood tools in divorce financial planning: the reverse mortgage.

We’re joined by Laura Phillips, a reverse mortgage specialist, to break down what a reverse mortgage actually is, how an FHA HECM works, and why “no monthly mortgage payment required” can be a game changer for retirees who would never qualify for a traditional refinance. We walk through an easy-to-follow example of using a reverse mortgage to pay a spouse and set up a growing line of credit for future needs. We also cover who qualifies, why age affects how much equity you can access, and when a proprietary jumbo reverse mortgage may be worth comparing for higher-value homes.

Then we get honest about the concerns. Reverse mortgages can be expensive, and negative amortization is real, but so are the protections: mortgage insurance, non-recourse rules if the market drops, and updated spouse and partner safeguards that prevent the horror stories many families remember. We also spell out the rules that matter most, like paying property taxes, keeping the home as your primary residence, and staying on top of annual occupancy certifications, plus what happens if assisted living becomes part of the plan.

If you’re trying to decide whether staying put is realistic, listen, take notes, and share this with someone who’s house rich and cash poor. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: what would you need to feel confident using your home equity?

• To reach out to Laura Phillips, https://calendly.com/laura-559/informational-consultation?month=2026-07

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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Everyone assumes a prenup is a legal document you sign once and forget about. But when a marriage ends — five years later, or twenty — someone has to go back and figure out what that agreement actually means in today's dollars, today's assets, today's reality. That's where a CDFA comes in.

In this solo episode, Jacki breaks down what's really inside a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement from a financial (not legal) point of view — separate property schedules, appreciation clauses, income allocation, spousal support waivers — and walks through a real-world case where a business grew from $300,000 to over $2 million during the marriage, and what that meant for the settlement.

Jacki also busts a couple of myths she hears constantly from clients, explains why a CDFA's role isn't to decide if a prenup is enforceable, and makes the case for bringing a financial professional into the room before the wedding — not just after the divorce filing.

In this episode:

• What's actually inside a typical prenup or post-nup
• The difference between passive and active appreciation (and why it matters)
• Two common myths clients believe about what a prenup can and can't do
• A real case study: a business, twelve years of marriage, and a very different outcome depending on how one clause is interpreted
• Why getting a CDFA involved before the wedding protects both spouses, not just the wealthier one

Whether you're an attorney with an old prenup sitting in a client file, or you're the one about to sign one, this episode will change how you think about that document.

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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People don’t usually think they’re going to “lose it” over a lamp, a ring, or a set of dishes, until divorce turns personal property into a power struggle. We sit down with Kelly Knoll of Heritage Appraisals to get brutally clear about what household items, jewelry, art, antiques, and collectibles are actually worth, and when they are not worth the fight.

We talk about practical steps you can take early, like setting a value threshold, documenting portable items, saving receipts and certificates of authenticity, and understanding when photos are enough versus when an in-person inspection is needed.

Then we zoom out to trends shaping valuations right now, including softer demand for many traditional antiques, continued strength in modern and mid-century aesthetics, the market shock to natural diamond prices from lab-grown diamonds, and why more buyers are shifting toward colored gemstones. We even touch on designer handbags and how scarcity and brand discipline can make or break resale value.

If you’re negotiating a divorce settlement or trying to protect your financial future, this conversation helps you stop guessing and start making clean, defensible decisions. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

• To schedule a complementary consultation with Kelly Knolll for your persona property questions in divorce, CLICK HERE

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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Teens can look like they’re doing great while their world is quietly cracking. When parents divorce during adolescence, kids may keep their grades up, stay active, and joke with friends, yet still feel fear, anger, confusion, and a deep sense of loss about the family they thought they had. We sit down with national board certified mental health professional Sarah Kuretzky Rossington to talk about teen divorce recovery and why this stage is so often neglected. 

• Ciick HERE to listen to Sarah on her podcast, the Hardcore Therapist, https://www.thehardcoretherapist.com/
• To schedule an initial consultation with Jacki, Click HERE https://calendly.com/roessler-jacki/30min?month=2026-06
• Send your questions to us at [email protected]

If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a co-parent or friend, and leave a review so more families can find support when they need it most.

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women

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A divorce can expose one truth faster than almost anything: if you don’t have cash you can access today, you don’t have real options tomorrow.   In this episode, I share the idea that has been living rent-free in my head since hearing Jean Chatzky talk about it on Her Money: “her safety net” a personal, liquid account in your name that exists before you ever need it.

I walk through why this is not just an emergency fund for surprise expenses. A safety net fund changes how you make decisions at work, at home, and across the divorce table because it reduces panic and protects your ability to say no. You’ll hear a story from my professional experience about how short-term cash pressure and growing credit card debt can push someone to accept a long-term divorce settlement that isn’t truly fair, even when marital assets will eventually pay the bills.

If this resonates, take one small step tonight, then subscribe, share the show with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more women can find financial clarity when it matters most.

• To schedule a complimentary 30-minute consult with Jacki, Click Here

Visit us at Roessler Divorce Consulting to learn more about Jacki's practice and to find valuable resources for your case or to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

Center for Financial Planning

The Divorce Rich podcast is proudly sponsored by Center for Financial Planning: Striving to Improve Lives through Financial Planning Done Right! https://www.centerfinplan.com/

DAWN
Divorce Attorneys for Women: Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Michigan.  DAWN - Michigan's Original Divorce Attorneys for Women