Divorce is a Whole Family Affair with Robyn Mann
Today’s guest on the Financially Ever After Podcast is Robyn Mann, a matrimonial attorney and mediator who comes to her practice with a deep experience of and respect for the impacts divorce can have on a family – and what to prioritize in terms of mitigating them.Stacy and Robyn discuss the financial aspects of a divorce, as well as who needs what kind of care, and how to make sure as many needs are being met as possible.
Divorce Affects the Whole Family Robyn understands the impact of divorce on children – and mediates from that perspective.In experiencing different kids of divorce, from different perspectives – a child and an adult going through the process, Robyn learned what really matters for a family going through this process, and how to prioritize the whole family through what is often a difficult time.
Robyn believes that the majority of the upheaval that happens during a divorce should be on the shoulders of the parents, and nesting is one way to do that. This means the children situation in their home, and having the parents take turns being the primary caregiver in that house – it’s more challenging for the parents but keeps the stresses where they belong and makes it easier for children to adjust to their changing family.
When Robyn was ending her marriage, she also walked away financially from the law firm she shared with her ex-husband – she ended up working as a waitress while she regained her footing. This is something many women will recognize: making the choices that must be made to move forward.
What does it mean to be house-poor? This is a common situation that couples and individuals find themselves in – especially those who had a great deal invested in property during the 2008 recession. As a Real Estate Attorney, Robyn knew the bubble was going to burst but was unable to prevent a huge personal loss. She shares what it was like to know it was coming – but not be able to stop it.
Asking for Help In building her own business, and later legal practice, Robyn learned many things – and the most valuable of them was asking for help. This is a skill many women aren’t encouraged to develop – but that can make a huge difference in times of stress.
Stacy and Robyn talk about the widely believed but completely false myth that looking after your own finances requires a huge amount of specialized knowledge. It just takes time and attention. If you need a better understanding of your finances – you should do everything in your power to get it.
Robyn believes that women should give themselves the education, information, and confidence they need to speak on equal terms with their spouses about their financial situation. Even if it is only to know for yourself that you understand and can make decisions about what is happening in your financial life.
Robyn strongly recommends the one thing that over 60% of women experiencing divorce say they want but don’t have: access to mental health care. Women often put themselves at the bottom of the totem pole in terms of self-care and support, but to have the best possible result for yourself and your family, self-care is critical.
Contact Robyn Mann https://kenjewell-law.com/ robyn.mann@kjlaw.netP: (718) 316-2219
Contact Stacy Francis Stacy@francisfinancial.com212-374-9008
Resources Family Kind https://familykind.org/ Grief Out Of Season https://www.amazon.com/Grief-Out-Season-Parents-Divorce/dp/0316363510