Get Off Your Assets - by Neale S Godfrey (Hardcover)

About the Book

The largest segment of divorces is initiated by women over 50 years old. Financial expertise is necessary to navigate the troubled waters of gray divorce and come out financially secure on the other side. Get Off Your Assets is the complete guide for women thinking about gray divorce, knee-deep in it, or building their new life after divorce.

Book Synopsis

Booklist starred review: "From creating a "money map" (asking "what money habits do I want to change?") to establishing a "no magic money log" (a budgeting exercise) and assembling a personal financial team including a financial advisor, accountant, and perhaps a forensic accountant, Godfrey provides readers with enough information to begin improving their financial outlook as they also manage divorce proceedings, without being overwhelmed with complicated terminology or unnecessarily specific finance jargon...highly recommended..."

Step-by-step financial advice for women over 50 thinking about divorce, knee-deep in it, or designing life after their gray divorce

You had a long-term marriage. You had kids, bought your dream house, set up investment accounts, and even saved for your grandchildren's college education. You now look forward to your "golden years," winding down and enjoying those put-off hobbies and long-fantasized trips. The kids are gone, but the flames in your relationship have flickered out, and you can't imagine facing the next 30 years with a partner with whom you share nothing. You know you need to do something about it, but you don't know where to start because, in most cases, he has been handling the money part of your relationship.

Get Off Your Assets: The Ultimate Financial Guide to a Woman's Gray Divorce is a comprehensive guide for any woman facing these money challenges. The book gives tips and tools for women thinking about divorce, knee-deep in it, or designing life after their gray divorce. The book outlines step-by-step advice for women to design their team of lawyers, accountants, and financial experts to guide them through the process.

The unique approach of this book is that it engages the reader via real-life stories, quizzes, and worksheets, leaving the reader with a practical and inspirational confidence that she will be able to not only navigate this process but come out of it with a solid financial foundation for her new life.

Review Quotes

"Financial-literacy materials tend to focus on the needs of younger adults to establish their economic independence. But a growing audience for financial-literacy advice is women of retirement age going through a divorce. Godfrey is an experienced finance professional and a thrice-divorced woman; both identities allow her to share insights, knowledge, and empathy with her target audience. Using quizzes, worksheets, and cautionary tales, Godfrey provides direct guidance for readers to learn about their individual financial circumstances, how to alter those circumstances, and what must be considered when divorcing late in life to ensure a healthy financial future. From creating a "money map" (asking "what money habits do I want to change?") to establishing a "no magic money log" (a budgeting exercise) and assembling a personal financial team including a financial advisor, accountant, and perhaps a forensic accountant, Godfrey provides readers with enough information to begin improving their financial outlook as they also manage divorce proceedings, without being overwhelmed with complicated terminology or unnecessarily specific finance jargon. Due to the focus on a growing demographic and the current lack of resources with this specific lens, this title is highly recommended for public-library collections." --Booklist, Starred Review

"Neale describes why gray divorce for women is different. She shares real stories of divorce that illuminate transition, trauma, anticipation, anxiety, and excitement; she successfully steers the reader with fun headings toward self-reflection, resources and action steps. All the while, Neale underscores the importance of being prepared and building the "right" professional team. Readers, take comfort in knowing you are not alone, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel!" --Lili Vasileff, CFP, MAFF, CDFA, author of Money & Divorce: The Essential Roadmap to Mastering Financial Decisions; president of the national Association of Divorce Financial Planners

Financial-literacy materials tend to focus on the needs of younger adults to establish their economic independence. But a growing audience for financial-literacy advice is women of retirement age going through a divorce. Godfrey is an experienced finance professional and a thrice-divorced woman; both identities allow her to share insights, knowledge, and empathy with her target audience. Using quizzes, worksheets, and cautionary tales, Godfrey provides direct guidance for readers to learn about their individual financial circumstances, how to alter those circumstances, and what must be considered when divorcing late in life to ensure a healthy financial future. From creating a "money map" (asking "what money habits do I want to change?") to establishing a "no magic money log" (a budgeting exercise) and assembling a personal financial team including a financial advisor, accountant, and perhaps a forensic accountant, Godfrey provides readers with enough information to begin improving their financial outlook as they also manage divorce proceedings, without being overwhelmed with complicated terminology or unnecessarily specific finance jargon. Due to the focus on a growing demographic and the current lack of resources with this specific lens, this title is highly recommended for public-library collections.

Neale describes why gray divorce for women is different. She shares real stories of divorce that illuminate transition, trauma, anticipation, anxiety, and excitement; she successfully steers the reader with fun headings toward self-reflection, resources and action steps. All the while, Neale underscores the importance of being prepared and building the ldquo;rightrdquo; professional team. Readers, take comfort in knowing you are not alone, and you will see the light at the end of the tunnel!

About the Author

Neale S. Godfrey has been a financial voice for women and families for over 50 years. She is a 28-time author of several bestsellers, including a New York Times #1 bestseller, Money Doesn't Grow on Trees: A Parent's Guide to Raising Financially Responsible Children. She has also authored the first money curricula for children and three mobile gaming video apps teaching kids about money. Neale started her journey with The Chase Manhattan Bank, in 1972 joining as one of the first female executives in banking, and later became president of The First Women's Bank and founder of The First Children's Bank. She is proud to serve on the board of several charities; works with female veterans out of Syracuse University to help them to become entrepreneurs and is an Executive in Residence at Columbia Graduate School of Business. Neale is a mother of 2 adult children and grandmother of 2 children, and currently resides in Sparta, NJ. Visit www.NealeGodfrey.com for more money conversations.