NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Divorce can cause upend a client's life, particularly if children are involved. And for many women — 86% — financial security is a top concern, according to a recent survey.
"When we asked them more about this, the reason this topped their concerns is that they were scared to death that they wouldn't be able to provide for their children," said financial planner Stacy Francis, whose firm commissioned a poll of 150 women.
Francis, speaking to attendees at the FPA's annual conference, outlined three ways that financial planners could better help their female clients during this trying time.
First, educating clients will not only help them make better choices in the short-term, but it will establish stronger bonds between advisor and client, said Francis, who is the CEO of an RIA, Francis Financial, in New York.
Only a third of women in the survey said they felt financial secure post-divorce, and 15% said they didn't understand their financial situation enough to know if they should be worried.
"I have to say that is most worrisome because those are the women with their head in the sand. They don't even know what the problem is," Francis said.
Moreover, she noted that among the top post-divorce regrets women expressed was a feeling that they did not grasp what was transpiring when the couple's assets were divided up.
"They wish they more clearly understood what they were saying yes or no to," Francis said.
Financial Planning's August 2026 continuing education quiz is now open to subscribers. By successfully completing the quiz, advisors can earn one hour of CE credit to maintain professional certifications.
A survey found Medicare Advantage customer satisfaction dropped for the second year in a row. Financial advisors can guide clients as they weigh coverage choices.
Shareen Minor is chief revenue officer, U.S., at Vitesse, financial infrastructure connecting the global insurance ecosystem. With more than 20 years of experience across carriers, TPA operations and PE-backed insurtechs, she leads Vitesse's commercial growth in the United States, bringing deep knowledge of the operational and financial pressures facing the U.S. insurance market.
Most recently, Shareen served as chief revenue officer at Ontellus, a leading provider of health records retrieval and claims intelligence, where she delivered sustained double-digit revenue growth, expanded enterprise client relationships across carriers and law firms, and helped position the business for a successful private equity exit. Before that, she held senior leadership roles including chief commercial officer at Charles Taylor Adjusting and Technical Services, SVP of Casualty Operations at Engle Martin and Associates, and regional vice president at NatGen Premier, where she helped launch and scale a new business unit from zero to $50 million in revenue in 15 months.
Secondly, clients need a confidence boost, Francis said. Oftentimes, they find themselves vulnerable and feeling they lack support. What they need, she says, is to feel they have a team backing them.
"When you see a client going through a divorce, you're seeing them at their worst moment," Francis said.
Finally, women need a judgment-free zone to talk about money issues, particularly if they are starting with little financial knowledge. This is a particularly advantageous area for financial planners to make a difference.
"When women go out, they'll talk about sex, about work, about dirty underwear — but they don't talk about money. That needs to change. And being able to talk about money in your office is a great safe space for them," she said.
