MCFM Professional Development Workshop
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Wellesley Free Library
530 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA 02482
WORKSHOP TOPIC: “Hidden Financial Mistakes in Building Divorce Settlements -- And How to Avoid Them!"
PRESENTERS: Susan Miller CPA, CFP, CDFA; Adam Waitkevich, CFP, CDFA, ADFA; and J. Anthony Licciardello, CDFA
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
Our talk will cover the financial traps, as well as the opportunities, that arise as your clients move from the preparation to negotiation and implementation phases of their mediation.
You will be given practical tools to help you recognize and avoid costly errors as you guide your clients to a financial settlement that is equitable and intelligently designed.
Topics will include
Preparation
- How to help your clients define their priorities and prepare for financial discussions
- The “Pre-Divorce Financial Reality Check”
- Questions to help define and recognize financial issues
Negotiation/Discussion - - Potential Pitfalls and Issues to Consider
- Alimony vs child support
- Retirement accounts and pensions
- Rental properties and business interests
- Other assets
- “Stress testing” your agreement
Implementation and Post-Divorce Issues
- QDRO language and issues related to dividing retirement accounts
- Refinance issues
- Life insurance cash value
- How divorce agreements affect college financial aid
- Income streams for the retiree divorced couple
BONUS: Following the main presentation, Julie Tolek, Esq., and Chris Chen, CFP, CDFA, will talk briefly about two helpful tax planning tools they have available.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:
Susan Miller, MA, CPA, CFP, CDFA, is President of Aurora Financial Advisors, LLC in Wellesley. Susan has provided tax, financial planning (including divorce), and investment advice to individuals, small business owners and non-profit organizations for over 30 years. Additionally, she works extensively with lawyers, mediators and clients to address financial issues that arise in the divorce process. Susan is also a trained mediator and provides various types of dispute resolution assistance, including analysis of various tax and financial issues, structuring financial settlements, and expert testimony services. Susan is a past president of the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council and a former board member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. Susan developed the curriculum for training financial professionals in the Collaborative Law process in Massachusetts, and has trained financial professionals in the Collaborative Law process in numerous states, as well as internationally.
Adam Waitkevich is the President and Founder of Divorce Financial Solutions, LLC. He holds the Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioner (CFP®), Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ (CDFA™) and Advanced Divorce Financial Analyst® (ADFA®) designations. As a divorce professional, Adam delivers consultative and expert advice in all financial matters relating to divorce and the dissolution of the marital enterprise. He provides services to divorcing individuals and/or couples and frequently supports the work of divorce mediators as well as family and collaborative law practitioners. Adam also prepares Domestic Relations Orders for court approval and regularly consults on pension and retirement matters pursuant to divorce.
Adam is a former faculty member of Conflict Resolution Training where he taught courses in both basic and advanced divorce finances to attorneys and mediators across New England. He earned his B.S. in economics from Clark University in Worcester, where he graduated summa cum laude. Adam is certified in collaborative law, is a professionally trained divorce mediator and is featured in a newly released divorce book titled "Stress-Free Divorce." Adam is also the President and founder of Coppertree®, an independent financial planning and investment management firm with offices in Westborough.
J. Anthony Licciardello is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and President of Wentworth Divorce Financial Advisors, a fee-only divorce consulting firm located in Providence, Rhode Island. He is the author of “The Financially Smart Divorce'” and “The Financially Smart Divorce Planner” available on Amazon.com and has written numerous articles on divorce financial topics. More information on his practice may be found on his website or you may email him at janthony@wentworthplanning.com.
Julie Tolek is a solo Firearms Compliance and Estate Planning attorney as well as a Family Law Mediator practicing in Framingham and the Metro West area. Right after swearing into the Massachusetts Bar in 2013, Julie founded her firm, Think Pink Law. Julie is also an Associate at Skylark Law and Mediation, PC, in Framingham. Her mission is to provide her clients with convenient access to the law by harnessing technology and keeping things real with a human touch, making the law less intimidating and more accessible.
Julie graduated from from Suffolk University in 2003 with a BS in Sociology and Criminology and received her J.D. from New England Law | Boston in 2013. Julie is a member of the Boston Bar Association and she is also licensed in the U.S. Federal Court for the District of Massachusetts. Julie speaks on branding and entrepreneurship at various local and national conferences, and is on the Boston Bar Association and MCLE faculties.
Chris Chen is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA™). He is the founder of Insight Financial Strategists LLC in Waltham. Chris specializes in navigating clients through often challenging life transitions such as divorce and retirement. His cost-effective and tax-efficient strategies help clients achieve their long-term financial goals with wealth preservation, retirement income planning, and legacy planning.
*** FOR MEMBERS ONLY ***
"Ask the Mediator" Small-Group Mentoring Opportunity
PLEASE NOTE: "Ask the Mediator" sessions are open to MCFM members only. Nonmembers are welcome to attend the workshop, but they may not register for the mentoring sessions.
An experienced mediator will offer small-group mentoring BEFORE the workshop to answer questions and provide advice about the issues challenging you. The session will run from 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. If you would like to participate, please sign up using the "Register Now" link.
COST: The workshop and mentoring session are free!
RSVPs REQUESTED for Workshop and Small-Group Mentoring (available to MCFM members only): Click "REGISTER NOW" link on this page.
QUESTIONS? Email admin@MCFM.org
Wellesley Free Library
Wellesley, MA 02482