BUSINESS NEWS - The secret to thriving beyond the trauma of divorce is not just legal strategy, it’s professional financial advice.
Divorce is one of life’s most emotionally charged and financially complex transitions.
While headlines often focus on high-profile breakups, the true cost of separation is usually felt quietly in homes and bank accounts.
Securing strong legal representation is essential, but many people overlook a partner just as critical: a financial adviser.
Expert advice helps you protect what you’ve built, prepare for what’s next, and make confident decisions at every step, before, during, and after divorce.
Before marriage: Why advice belongs in the prenup conversation
Most couples view a prenuptial agreement primarily as a legal safeguard. But a prenup is also a financial planning tool. Involving a financial adviser at this stage helps couples:
- Understand what each partner is bringing into the marriage: assets, debts, and goals.
- Select the right marital contract (in or out of community of property, with or without accrual) based on shared long-term intentions, not fear.
- Put in place appropriate insurance, retirement, and investment structures that protect both partners’ futures, regardless of what happens.
“Couples often discuss love, but not liquidity,” says Cebile Zibi, Head of Trade Marketing at Momentum Advice. “An adviser brings a neutral, future-focused lens, helping couples build transparency and financial confidence before marriage, which becomes the foundation for trust.”
When the relationship is ending: Turning confusion into clarity
When you’ve made the difficult decision to separate, emotions run high. It’s a time when panic and pressure can cloud sound judgement. “Divorce is often a period of crisis decision-making,” says Zibi. “People can rush into settlements or accept cash payouts without understanding the long-term implications. That’s where advice matters most, it brings structure to emotional chaos.”
An adviser can work alongside your legal team to:
- Assess the full picture, valuing assets, policies, pensions, and annuities that might otherwise be overlooked.
- Optimise the split, structuring settlements in a tax-efficient way to preserve value.
- Forecast the future, projecting how settlement choices impact your ability to maintain your lifestyle and retirement goals.
For instance, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) recently confirmed that income from annuities can form part of the divisible estate, an area where financial advisers often spot opportunities or risks that may be missed.
After divorce: Rebuilding with purpose
A divorce decree might end a marriage, but it marks the start of a new financial chapter. This is where advice shifts from protection to possibility. A certified financial planner helps you:
- Rebuild a sustainable budget aligned to your new reality.
- Reassess investment and retirement strategies.
- Update your will and beneficiaries.
- Secure maintenance income through life cover or trusts to protect your children’s future.
“A good divorce lawyer gets you out of the marriage; a good financial adviser ensures you don’t go broke doing it,” says Zibi. “The real victory is regaining financial self-sufficiency, building a new life on your own terms.”
Advice meets every chapter of life
Advice is not only for damage control; it belongs at the start of every life decision that carries financial weight. From choosing a marriage regime to navigating a breakup, professional financial advice ensures that emotion doesn’t dictate your future.
“You can’t fix a painful event with a spreadsheet,” says Zibi. “But you can use advice to prevent a temporary crisis from becoming a permanent financial setback. We help clients stop the panic and start building their future, one intentional step at a time.”
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