News and Commentary

Amy Begnaud is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.

Gary Begnaud & Connor Webb are Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ professionals.

Amy Begnaud and Gary Begnaud are Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professionals.

Married couples often decide together that one spouse should be the primary breadwinner while the other stays home to take care of family members.

More women are working and taking charge of their own retirement planning than ever before.

As a woman, you have financial needs that are unique to your situation in life. Perhaps you would like to buy your first home. Maybe you need to start saving for your child's college education. Or you might be concerned about planning for retirement. Whatever your circumstances may be, it's important to have a clear understanding of your overall financial position. That means constructing and implementing a plan. With a financial plan in place, you'll be better able to focus on your financial goals and understand what it will take to reach them. The three main steps in creating and implementing an effective financial plan involve: Developing a clear picture of your current financial situation Setting and prioritizing financial goals and time frames Implementing appropriate saving and investment strategies

When a separation or divorce occurs and the couple involved has one or more children, the noncustodial parent is usually ordered to pay some child support to the custodial parent. The child's expenses over and above this sum are generally borne by the custodial parent.

Alimony is a support payment made to a former (or separated) spouse under a divorce decree or separation instrument in an attempt to maintain the predivorce lifestyle. Alimony is sometimes called maintenance.

There's no doubt about it — going through a divorce can be an emotionally trying time. Ironing out a divorce settlement, attending various court hearings, and dealing with competing attorneys can all weigh heavily on the parties involved. In addition to the emotional impact a divorce can have, it's important to be aware of how your financial position will be impacted. Now, more than ever, you need to make sure that your finances are on the right track. You will then be able to put the past behind you and set in place the building blocks that can be the foundation for your new financial future.