Financial Planning in Divorce

Personalized guidance for individuals navigating divorce in San Ramon, Contra Costa County, and throughout California.

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Helping You Make Clear Financial Decisions—Even in Uncertain Times

Divorce is one of the most emotionally and financially complex life events you can face. You’re making major decisions about your future—often without all the clarity or time you need. At Pacific Wealth Planning, we specialize in financial planning in divorce for clients across California. We help you understand your full financial picture, explore equitable options, and move forward with greater confidence and control.

Led by Laura Steinbeck, CFP®, ChFC®, CDFA®, our team provides clear analysis, informed strategy, and steady support when it matters most.

Key Considerations in Financial Planning in Divorce

Every divorce involves more than just dividing assets—it involves rethinking your future. We help you evaluate the short- and long-term financial implications of every decision, guiding you with thoughtful insight and practical solutions.

Separate vs. Marital Property

We help you distinguish what’s considered separate under California law, what’s community property, and how that impacts the division of assets.

Stock Options & RSUs

From unvested equity to complex compensation packages, we analyze and value these assets fairly and accurately.

Retirement Accounts & Pensions

We assess the best strategies for dividing retirement plans, including the use of QDROs, while helping you understand their impact over time.

The Family Home

Should one party keep it? Sell it? We model scenarios for keeping or selling the home and explore refinancing, equity buyouts, or shared arrangements.

Debt, Credit, and Investment Accounts

We untangle the liabilities and financial obligations involved in your divorce and develop a plan to address them realistically.

Spousal and Child Support

We help project how support payments will affect your cash flow and long-term plans, ensuring proposals are sustainable—not just legally compliant.

Divorce Tax Implications

From capital gains to tax filing status changes, we guide you through potential pitfalls and planning opportunities that can significantly affect your financial outcome.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to help you feel more informed as you move forward.

  • What should I prioritize financially during a divorce?

    Focus on understanding your full financial picture—assets, debts, income, and expenses—before making any major decisions. Prioritizing clarity over speed can help protect your future.

  • How can a financial planner help with divorce?

    We provide financial clarity and strategy by analyzing your assets, modeling settlement options, and helping you understand the long-term impact of every decision—from support to property division.

  • Is everything always split 50/50 in California?

    California is a community property state, but not all assets are automatically split evenly. Understanding what qualifies as community vs. separate property is critical, and some complex assets require special analysis.

  • What happens if we have stock options or restricted stock?

    These types of assets are often subject to division, but they’re also difficult to value and time-sensitive. We help you understand their worth and how to handle them fairly.

  • What’s a QDRO and why does it matter?

    A QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is required to divide certain retirement accounts without tax penalties. We guide you through the process to ensure legal and financial accuracy.