Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Hetrick.
I’ve been a financial advisor for almost 20 years and in 2007 went through my own divorce in a less-than-optimal way. I was disappointed when the resources I needed just weren’t there. We didn’t want to waste thousands of dollars on attorneys and were basically amicable so did a do-it-yourself divorce where I filled out all the necessary paperwork. About 30 days after the divorce was final, his guilt turned to anger, and he began dictating when I could see my children, where they would go to school, and anything else he wanted. Because I had such a generic decree, there was nothing enforceable. I ended up back in court, spent over 20thousand in attorney’s fees and had my credit rating destroyed when he failed to refinance the properties he took over and ultimately let them both go into foreclosure with my name on them. Because I had not adequately protected myself in the original decree, there was absolutely nothing I could do.
It was around this time when I was still working in Corporate, that I learned about the CDFA credential, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and I knew that I HAD to help people not make the same mistakes I had. I left corporate in 2011 and went independent and founded Smarter Divorce Solutions. I THOUGHT I was going to be doing mostly litigation support, until I did some. I watched the system destroy families, waste money that could have been used for college for their children, turn basically cooperative people into enemies, and take a horrific toll on children and I decided I didn’t want any part of it. At the same time, couples started showing up in my office together, with no attorneys, just wanting help and it was the best work I’d ever done.
I proceeded to take training in mediation, collaborative divorce, and financial forensics and now specialize in financial mediation helping couples stay out of court and structure smart settlements where BOTH parties get to keep more of their own money and preserve a sense of family. I like to say I’m raising the vibration of the planet, one little family at a time.
Starting in 2014 I also started teaching and training financial advisors across the country to build similar businesses so that EVERY couple facing divorce can get access to the most appropriate resources for their situation.
One of the biggest struggles for a new business will always be marketing. Just getting your name out there without spending a fortune on marketing will cause most businesses to fail.
I was 100% do-it-yourself and I pride myself on having built this business without EVER having any debt.
Smarter Divorce Solutions offers divorce mediation, financial guidance, forensics like separate property tracing, lifestyle analysis and even searching for hidden assets but our specialty is working with couples of long-term marriages that are looking to separate amicably and want the financial guidance to ensure they both have the best odds of success in the next phase of their lives.
We’re also a full-service wealth management firm, Better Money Decisions, to provide ongoing financial planning and investment management.
Phoenix is a GREAT place to build a business! The business owners in Phoenix all network and help each other and I’m part of several mastermind type groups where we all offer support. The demographics are diverse, and the economy is strong. I love it here!
We offer flat-fee pricing so they know going in what the costs will be.
Fee-only asset management starting at 1% annually.