Common Myths Around Financial Aspects of Divorce #2 - "I Don't Need a Business Valuation" 

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation, and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a valuation expert and divorce financial mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. Today, we are joined by Rosalia Labate, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant located in New York.

Another common thing we hear is, "I don't need a business valuation." Listen to the full episode for why this is a myth.

Podcast takeaways:

Misconception About Business Valuation Necessity:
A key takeaway from our discussion is debunking the myth that business valuations are unnecessary if the financial figures appear straightforward from tax returns. Rosalia emphasizes that underestimating the complexity of a business's worth can lead to significant financial discrepancies in divorce settlements.

The Importance of Specialist Involvement:
We stress the critical role of engaging a valuation specialist early in the divorce proceedings to ensure that all financial aspects are thoroughly analyzed. This is especially vital in complex cases where substantial assets are involved, ensuring that all parties have a clear and accurate financial understanding.

Risks of Non-Professional Valuation:
The conversation highlighted the dangers of relying on non-experts for business valuation, such as attorneys or accountants who may lack the necessary valuation expertise. This can lead to inadequate assessments and potential financial losses.

Verification and Validation Essential:
Trust but verify was a recurring theme, underscoring the need for meticulous verification of all financial data presented during divorce negotiations. This approach prevents potential manipulation and ensures fairness in the valuation process.

Collaborative Approach Between Experts and Attorneys:
Finally, the podcast advocates for a collaborative approach between financial experts and attorneys. This synergy enhances the accuracy of financial affidavits and valuations, providing clients with well-rounded, expert-driven support throughout their divorce proceedings.


Rosalia Labate
https://labatecpa.com/
(516) 996-7788
[email protected]

Melissa Gragg
CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
[email protected]  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com  
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com  
https://www.valuationmediation.com  
https://www.thedivorceallies.com/
Cell: (314) 541-8163


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Common Myths Around Financial Aspects of Divorce - #1 Attorneys Should File Financial Affidavits

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation, and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a valuation expert and divorce financial mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. Today, we are joined by Rosalia Labate, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant located in New York. She specializes in financial forensics, divorce finances, and business valuations. Although we work in a lot of the same spaces, our approaches differ slightly.

In this podcast series, we will explore three common myths surrounding the financial aspects of divorce. This will be a conversational podcast featuring two financial experts with decades of experience in divorce. We often encounter the same questions from our clients, so we thought it would be interesting to offer different perspectives on these myths.

Today, we'll discuss Myth One, which has been widely debated online, including on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The myth in question is that an attorney is the best person to file the financial affidavit. Rosalia, could you start us off by explaining this myth, and what exactly a financial affidavit is?

Rosalia Labate
https://labatecpa.com/
(516) 996-7788
[email protected]

Melissa Gragg
CVA, MAFF, CDFA  
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
[email protected]  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com  
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com  
https://www.valuationmediation.com  
https://www.thedivorceallies.com/
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Negotiation Beyond the Zeros: High Net Worth Divorce Strategy. Million dollar divorce? Billion dollar divorce? Try not to get blinded by these numbers. It's all strategy. 

In this episode, we are speaking with Beth McCormack. She's a Divorce and Family Law Partner at Beerman, LLP in Chicago. Beth focuses on highly complex family law matters and has experience in complex litigation as well as mediation and collaborative law.

Welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a Valuation Expert and Divorce Financial Mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Questions discussed:
What is typically involved in a billion-dollar divorce?
What are some issues billionaires fight over in divorce that most people wouldn’t even consider?
How do negotiation tactics differ between a million-dollar and a billion-dollar divorce?
What’s most important when crafting a strategy for a high net worth divorce?
Are there specific laws that give high net worth individuals leverage in divorce negotiations?
Is it more challenging to manage the legal team and other experts when dealing with high net worth divorces?
What negotiation techniques are most effective when every dollar counts in a divorce?

https://www.thedivorceallies.com/
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF 
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
[email protected]  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com  
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com  
https://www.valuationmediation.com  
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Beth McCormack
[email protected]
https://www.beermannlaw.com/team/beth-f-mccormack/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-mccormack-0453a84/


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In this episode, we're speaking about the Business of Negotiation, Inherited Trauma and Family Wealth with Ruschelle Khanna. She's a family advisor, mediator and therapist in West Virginia. She helps create small, strong bonds between parents and adult children in order to live healthy financially secure lives. In mediation we deal with a lot of high conflict around the financial aspects of divorce, and we also deal with a lot of family and generational wealth. And with that comes a bunch of relationship issues and trauma that people start to unpack when they start getting divorced.

Hi, welcome to the MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation, and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a valuation expert and divorce financial mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Topics discussed:
How do you negotiate with difficult personalities?
How is mediation a tool to use when conflict is high in business or family matters?
Do you see addictive behaviors or other personality traits in high-conflict families?

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.BridgeValuation.com
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Ruschelle Khanna
[email protected]
https://www.ruschellekhanna.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruschelle-khanna-lifestyle-for-legacy/

In this episode we are with Laurie Israel - a national Prenuptial Agreement Mediator, Consultant, Lawyer, and author of the Generous Prenup: How to Support Your Marriage and Avoid the Pitfalls. She's located in Massachusetts and has been an attorney for over 35 years.

We discuss prenups and postnups and who needs them and why. Laurie has a different way of looking at prenups and in this episode describes who they are beneficial for and who might not need one.

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a Valuation Expert and Divorce Financial mMediator in St. Louis, Missouri.

Topics discussed:
The Risks and Benefits of Prenuptial Agreements
State Laws and Financial Discussions in Marriage
The Emotional and Relational Impact of Prenuptial Agreements
The Role of Mediation in Formulating Prenuptial Agreements
Future of Marriage and the Evolving Perception of Prenuptial Agreements

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.BridgeValuation.com
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Laurie Israel
https://www.laurieisrael.com/
[email protected]
Laurie's Book


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Today we're talking about relationship issues and things to consider before you call a divorce attorney with Jackie Harounian, she's a family law attorney in Long Island, New York. It could be months, years that you're considering ending a relationship. Sometimes we spend a lot of time in this thought process of "What could I do, what should I do? I don't know if this is right." Before we even get into this type of situation where you're actually calling a divorce lawyer, which really is way down the pipeline that you're ready to go. But what are the first steps that couples should take when they're even considering divorce or having some issues?

Welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm Valuation Expert and Divorce Financial Mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Questions Discussed:
What are the first steps couples should take when they start experiencing serious relationship issues?
What are the most common mistakes couples make when considering divorce?
How can a pre-nup or prenuptial agreement act as insurance in a marriage?
What is a legal separation and how is it different from a divorce?
What is a "post-nup" and when should couples decide to explore this option?
When is mediation a better option than litigation?

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.BridgeValuation.com
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Jackie Harounian
Wisselman Harounian Family Law
https://lawjaw.com/
[email protected]

Today we're going to be walking through the concept of how to be a traditional wife or a "trad wife" with Erika Anne Englund. She's an attorney, she's a mediator, she's a divorce strategist with 18 years plus experience and helps people try to divorce better.

Welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm Valuation Expert and Divorce Financial Mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Four ways to protect yourself if you decide to become a traditional wife:
-Get more than a high school diploma (educate yourself)
-Take charge as the family's CFO
-Ensure your husband has life and disability insurance
-Secure an ironclad prenup

https://www.thedivorceallies.com/
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.BridgeValuation.com
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Erika Anne Englund, Attorney-Mediator-Strategist
https://erikaenglund.com/
916.668.9338

In this episode, we are speaking with Erin Levine. She's the CEO and founder of Hello Divorce. And if you haven't heard about it, you'll want to! It's an online alternative to traditional divorce. After 16 years as a divorce attorney, Erin understood how broken, toxic, wildly inefficient, and unreasonably expensive the family law system is. So she set out to revolutionize how consumers interact with the law and provide a kinder, easier and cheaper pathway to divorce.

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm valuation expert and divorce financial mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. I specialize in family law and partner disputes.

Questions discussed:
1. What are the current divorce trends you are seeing?
2. What are some of the limitations in the current divorce system of litigation?
3. What are some ways people can get divorced more efficiently?
4. What motivated you to combine technology and divorce and create Hello Divorce?
5. How does the Hello Divorce process support mediators and attorneys?
6. What is the typical client profile that uses Hello Divorce?
7. What are some divorce trends you see in the future?

Melissa Gragg CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC
[email protected]
http://www.BridgeValuation.com
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com
https://www.valuationmediation.com
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Erin Levine
Founder & CEO
[email protected]
hellodivorce.com 
@hellodivorce

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a Valuation Expert and Divorce Mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Today we'll be discussing divorce mediation versus litigation. You don't know what you don't know. Basically the differences between divorce, mediation, and litigation with Rosalia Labate. She's located in New York and she's a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and Certified Public Accountant. She's known to provide services as: financial forensics, divorce finances, business valuations. Welcome, Rosalia. 

In this episode we discuss the differences between:
Divorce Mediation v. Litigation
-Process & Procedures
-Financial Analysis
-Communication
-Privacy and Confidentiality
-Negotiation

Melissa Gragg , CVA, MAFF
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
[email protected]  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com  
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com  
https://www.valuationmediation.com  
Cell: (314) 541-8163  

Rosalia Labate
CPA/CDFA/CVA/MAFF
Trained in Mediation and Collaborative
(516)996-7788
[email protected]
https://labatecpa.com/

Hi, welcome to MediatorPodcast.com, a podcast and video series about mediation, negotiation, and collaboration. My name is Melissa Gragg, and I'm a Valuation Expert and Divorce Financial Mediator in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Today we're speaking with Krista Shelton, a Certified Fraud Examiner and Former Special Agent for the IRS. She has her own firm, Focused Forensic Solutions, where she and her team aids clients in uncovering facts, decoding details, and finding resolution during challenging financial crime investigations. Welcome, Krista. 

What type of financial fraud is typically seen in divorce?
What signs or patterns raise concern for fraud or hidden assets?
What are the first signs your clients notice when they suspect fraud or hidden assets?What steps can individuals take on their own if there is suspected fraud or hidden assets?
What is Red Flag Analysis?
What is the Red Flag Analysis process?
How do you work with divorce attorneys in the divorce process?
What is the timeline of this process?

Melissa Gragg  
CVA, MAFF 
Expert testimony for financial and valuation issues  
Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC  
[email protected]  
http://www.BridgeValuation.com  
http://www.ValuationPodcast.com  
http://www.MediatorPodcast.com  
https://www.valuationmediation.com  
Cell: (314) 541-8163

Krista Shelton, CFE
[email protected]
www.FocusedForensic.com