Divorce and Money

Divorce can make even the smartest, most successful person feel rushed, pressured, and unsure of their next financial move. In this season finale, Gabriella Martinelli names the hidden cost that shows up when people make complex divorce decisions under stress: the confusion tax. She explains why meaningful assets require divorce-specific financial strategy, how retirement accounts, business owners...

If you’ve been through it, you know that betrayal doesn’t just break trust – it disrupts how you think, feel, and make decisions. And in divorce, that can have serious financial consequences. In this episode, Gabriella sits down with Dr. Debi Silber, founder of the Post Betrayal Transformation Institute, to explore how betrayal trauma impacts both the mind and body, and why traditional approaches...

Divorce can put everything a business owner has built at risk – financially, emotionally, and operationally. In this episode, Gabriella is joined by Matt Middendorp to unpack one of the most overlooked strategies for protecting a business during divorce: Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Together, they explore how business owners can meet large divorce settlement obligations without selling...

In this final episode of the Psychology of Divorce Decisions series, Gabriella brings both sides of divorce dynamics together: the spouse paralyzed by fear and the spouse facing unrealistic demands, and shows what happens when financial clarity replaces emotion and assumption. Through real client stories, she reveals how accurate business valuations, documented financial analysis, and sustainable...

When a business is at stake in divorce, the valuation becomes one of the biggest financial and emotional pressure points. In this episode, Gabriela sits down with business valuation expert Matt Springer at VisionPoint Capital, to break down what makes a credible business valuation, how commingled personal and business expenses can derail settlements, and why state laws on personal goodwill create...

What happens when you’re doing everything “right”... and it’s still not enough? In this second episode of the series, Gabriella explores what it feels like to be the spouse carrying the financial weight of divorce while facing demands that feel impossible, emotionally charged, or completely detached from reality. She breaks down how fear, guilt, and social pressure twist negotiations, and why even...

Most people think divorce starts by hiring an attorney. But in this episode, Gabriella and seasoned mediator Susan Guthrie break down why how you begin the process can shape your financial future more than anything else. They explore the real differences between litigation, collaborative divorce, and mediation, not in theory, but in practice, especially for high-net-worth couples. From the hidden...

Why do smart, successful women stay quiet when money is on the line? In this first episode of a three-part series, Gabriella dives into the psychology of divorce decisions -- specifically, how financial fear takes over when clarity is needed most. She unpacks how trauma bonding disrupts your survival instincts, how financial abuse hides in plain sight, and why getting informed isn’t just smart, it...

Divorce doesn’t just disrupt finances, it shatters identity. And for many men, especially high achievers, it’s a silent unraveling. In this conversation, Gabriella is joined by Karen McMahon, High Conflict Divorce Strategist and Founder of Journey Beyond Divorce, to unpack why men often face divorce isolated, emotionally shut down, and without a roadmap for recovery. They explore how shame, societ...

Scrolling for support during divorce? Be careful who you listen to. In this episode, Gabriella sits down with North Carolina family law attorney Theresa Viera of Modern Legal to react to real questions, and dangerously misleading answers, posted in Facebook divorce groups. Together, they unpack the legal and financial risks of taking advice from strangers online and highlight the serious consequen...

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 ch...

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...

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 reall...

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 Divor...

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 enter...

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...

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 Certifie...

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 c...

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 sig...

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...

Dividing retirement assets can get incredibly complicated and cause a lot of headaches. That’s why I brought my good friend and fellow CDFA®, Gerard Zielinski, onto the podcast. In this episode, we discuss the common pitfalls of dividing retirement accounts, the importance of having an experienced CDFA® on your side, and how to avoid leaving your financial future in jeopardy. Gerard Zielinski is a...

If you’re separated or contemplating separation, now is a good time to call a CDFA®. Yes, even before you call a divorce attorney, I recommend calling a CDFA® like me first. In this episode, I share why having a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® on your team first so you can understand the nuances of your financial situation, and so we can start putting together a strategy to get what you want...

Divorce is incredibly personal, but when your soon-to-be ex-spouse is going after the business you’ve put your blood, sweat, and tears into building, it becomes very personal. I have helped countless clients protect their business so they can maintain full ownership of it after their divorce. In this episode, one of my clients graciously offered to share her personal experience of how we strategiz...

One of the first questions I ask my clients when we start working together is “What do you actually want?” It’s a simple question, but it’s not easy to answer. At first, my clients might want to take something they know their spouse wants in the divorce to hurt them or feel in control of the situation, but my job as a CDFA® is to get to the bottom of the “why” behind that, so we can forget about r...

Going through a divorce is overwhelming, difficult, and lonely - and that’s before you even start talking about dividing assets! In this episode, I talk about how a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® - or CDFA® for short - is an important person to have on your divorce team so you can make informed and strategic decisions about your financial future during your divorce. I share what a CDFA® actu...