Anthony McLean, CDFA at Tidemark Financial Partners

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving

09/07/2023

Take a moment and look at this list of emotions:
Sadness and grief
Anger
Guilt
Fear
Anxiety

You may think I’m describing the loss of a loved one, and you are right. But, what’s so eye-opening, is this list is the typical emotions one experiences when a loved one dies, or when someone is going through a divorce. In a manner of speaking, a divorce is the death of a planned future and deserves the same thoughtful respect and support as the death of a loved one.
When you are faced with the passing of a loved one, it is common to hear the advice “don’t make any financial decisions for several months”. This is to gather your thoughts and assess your financial situation. The estate may be complex, or it may be well planned out in a trust. Ultimately, time will usually help you make clear decisions.
By this time, you may be asking “why is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst talking about death?”. Whereas the emotions can be similar, the advice of waiting is completely different. In both instances, you need professional help. But if you are considering a divorce, you can be proactive. A lawyer helps you comply with the laws surrounding the process. I absolutely recommend a therapist, especially if you have children, as soon as possible and even after the divorce is finalized. But also give a CDFA (such as me) a call. I will help you protect your personal assets, get an equitable share of marital assets (stuff, bank accounts, debts, house, retirement accounts, pensions), spousal support and child support. If done right, the ghost of your ex-spouse will keep from haunting you, and you will experience the last emotion in a divorce…. Relief.

05/11/2023

In a recent conversation, someone going through a divorce said, “We’re each keeping our individual cars (which had loans) so that’s a wash, and the house will just be put in one of our names”.
There is a list of problems with the highlights (or low lights) listed here. But this is not a comprehensive list:
• When the values and loans of the vehicles are calculated, is there a balanced EQUITABLE division of assets?
• How much has been invested in each of these vehicles? (The loan balance may be equal, but one may have had a significantly higher down payment.)
• Just because the ownership has been changed on the titles of cars and homes, who’s still responsible for the loan?
Often, it’s your Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) that helps protect you for the first two points, but if the last point is often overlooked but comes back to bite you because a divorce decree does not supersede contract law. The bite may happen when you go to finance a car and you’re still on your ex-spouse’s loan, it’s too late to change it. If your ex-spouse neglects to make the payment, you now get late marks on your credit, and maybe even a repossession. And lastly, years down the road, you forget about the mortgage you had with your ex-spouse and go to buy a home and are turned down because you still have a mortgage in your name.
If you’re in a divorce or even considering one, protect your rights by hiring a lawyer, protect your person by working with a therapist / counsellor, and definitely protect your assets today and in the future by getting help from a CDFA.

03/01/2023

Talking to my clients, their lawyers and counsellors, it seems that there are countless reasons that people get divorced. To make matters more confusing, it…

02/23/2023

I know we all roll our eyes when we get a call regarding our "vehicle's warranty" and obvious spam / phishing emails. But the truth is, the scammers call and send these because they get results.
Just today I received an email that appeared to be from paypal. The FROM listed paypal, each link was also paypal. But in the body of an email it stated I have an invoice, and to call a phone number.
When I logged into my actual paypal account, there was no invoice, and the customer service phone number was different. The only goal of the phishing email was to get me to call them.
Point of the story is: BE CAREFUL. Don't trust emails or random calls. If it's legitimate, you can always call the company based on your statement.

Just like when people work with us at Tidemark, we don't take directions on text or email. We validate requests with our clients on the phone. We take your safety seriously.

Increase your awareness and take steps now to prevent identity theft.

02/08/2023

Having the heart of a teacher and the knowledge as a trusted advisor, I can say this applies to so many people:
-The worker who has a 401k, but doesn't understand it.
-The parent who wants to provide foe their child without spoiling them.
-The person who doesn't know the risk in leaving an old 401k at their old job.
-Those in a dead relationship, not knowing the steps to ensure an equitable split and support.

Our team at Tidemark Financial Partners have solutions and support in all these. You don't have to be alone.

02/04/2023

It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world.
Yes, I just quoted another song: "Lola" by the Kinks.
That describes what the markets are like. We have a great jobs report, and dovish Feds report and the market tanks.
If you want to know how this affects you, it's time to give me a call.

https://go.oncehub.com/AnthonyMcLean

Pick a date and time that works for you - it's fast and easy.

01/31/2023

Divorce is like any other process. It takes time and healing. But it also takes it's toll on the parties involved.
Be sure to have legal, Financial and emotional support.

01/24/2023

01/23/2023

If you do not really know what your priorities are, you will not know what to ask for—and what to fight for, if necessary—and what you can live without. Saying “I want it all!” is useful neither to you nor your lawyer.
As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, I help people evaluate the difference between value and cost. Cost in one area can include: giving something else up, resent, healthy relationship with your child, or even as basic as legal fees. And sometimes it just cost less to replace something.
Working together, we can see where the value of something is worth the cost.