Finding a Smoother Path to Divorce A Different Approach
Money Matters Brandon Miller, CFP When a couple decides to end their marriage, they can face a daunting list of costs, paperwork and formalities before their divorce is finalized. One thing most should be able to agree on is that they’d like the divorce process to move along as smoothly as possible. While everyone’s circumstances are different, finding common ground can be important to making the divorce process less painful and potentially less costly as well. A newer development in the legal process for divorce is known as collaborative law. It is designed to help couples find points of agreement, settle issues in a more cooperative way and stay out of divorce court. The process can be effective for couples of all ages, but finding a less antagonistic way to settle a divorce may be especially beneficial when children are part of the mix.
Divorce is often a process that is litigated between two parties, each represented by his or her own attorney. With a collaborative process, each spouse has his or her own attorney as well, but in this case, the attorneys are trying to find ways to settle issues with less contention. Legal professionals who pursue this approach are committed to finding solutions to points of dispute and both parties make a priority of keeping the issue out of the courts. An honest and forthright approach by both parties is crucial to this process. Open disclosure of information is fully expected. For example, both a husband and wife must be candid about money they may have set aside in any account or documents that may have been drawn up prior to or during the marriage that could have an impact on the ultimate settlement. Financial advisors can be involved in the process to help provide guidance through tricky issues related to joint accounts, retirement savings plans and tax implications of a divorce (although you’ll also want to work with a tax professional). The two parties should agree to the use of other various financial specialists to help, for example, conduct an appraisal on the value of the home or other property. Going Beyond Financial Issues Many people would agree that there is significant emotional stress to the entire family when a home is split
apart. This is especially true if custody of children becomes part of the settlement process. Collaborative law puts significant emphasis on the involvement of professionals who can help families through the process. This can include mental health counselors and coaches, parenting experts, and child specialists. If the couple has children, the help of child specialists can be particularly important to help assure that the transition to a new relationship with their parents is as smooth as possible. It also is a way to give children a voice in the process and helps contribute to a more satisfactory resolution to the divorce. Moving on with Life For most people, going through a divorce is extremely emotional and complex. If the divorce process can be handled with less hostility and a spirit of cooperation, it can result in a faster resolution and one that is more suitable for both parties. This can be critical in helping divorced spouses move on with the next phase of their lives. Often seeking out help from professionals—financial advisors, lawyers and CPAs—can make the process go a little bit smoother. Brandon Miller, CFP, is a financial consultant at Brio Financial Group, A Private Wealth Advisory Practice of Ameriprise Financial Inc. in San Francisco, specializing in helping LGBT individuals and families plan and achieve their financial goals.
Cars with Muscle
Auto Philip Ruth For some guys and gals, it’s all about the muscles. And the two cars we’ll check out this time have some strong ones. There are three muscle cars from U.S.-brand manufacturers. All have familiar names and looks, and they’ve never been better. For this column, I drove a Ford Mustang EcoBoost and a couple of Dodge Challengers, an SXT V6 and an R/T V8. The Chevy Camaro will be redesigned for 2016, and we look forward to driving one. In our day of electric and hydrogen cars—yep, in October, the hydrogenpowered Toyota Mirai starts deliveries in California—muscle cars can seem even more like the throwbacks many think them to be. But you don’t need an engraved invitation for people to appreciate strength, and the healthy sales numbers of each of these three prove that. The Ford and Chevy are selling at about half the rate of the midsized sedans in those lineups, and the Challenger is up big from last year. They’re like Tom of Finland: they’re obviously from another time, but they still strike a chord in our modern day. The tested Mustang is perhaps the most modern among them, with its optional EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The last four in a Mustang was the lump of a motor from the Pinto, and so there was 10
BAY TIMES AUGU S T 6 , 2 0 1 5
Dodge Challenger
Ford Mustang EcoBoost
understandable concern when news came down of another four. No matter: the Mustang has a hint of turbo lag off the line, but lots of surge awaits once the boost hits. The reward is an EPA overall rating of 25 mpg, if you can keep your right foot out of the turbo and the 310 horsepower it helps produce. Over the road, the Mustang feels surprisingly light and nimble, and the stiff ride is the manageable tradeoff for handling that’s truly engaging. The Pirelli P Zero tires on my test car made it easy to kick out the rear end, even at lower speeds. You’d have to reach licenseburning velocities to get the Mustang EcoBoost crossed up. Of the two Challengers I drove, the one with the 6.4-liter V8 made the biggest impression, though the standard V6 in the other was no slouch. The R/T V8 with the Scat Pack fea-
tured a launch control that would likely put my license in dire jeopardy; when I excitedly told a gay cop friend about my experimenting with it and the frankly awesome velocities I hit within mere feet of my start, he replied, “And you did this on private roads, yes?” That’s what 485 horses from a V8 do; they can turn the world into a funhouse of your very own. The Challenger also handles well and has a roomier interior than the Mustang. Maybe most importantly, both Challengers got many more admiring looks than the Mustang did, including from a few cute straight guys who stopped to chat. For some buyers in this $25–40K price bracket, that might be all they need to know. Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant at www.gaycarguy.com. Check out his automotive staging service at www.carstaging.com