Finance

How to Talk to Your Kids About Money—When You’re Still Figuring It Out Yourself

Judd Allen

Published on: 02/09/2025

Talking to your kids about money after divorce can feel overwhelming - especially when you’re still piecing together your own financial stability. Your income, expenses, and routines may all look different now, yet your children are still watching, listening, and asking questions. The good news is, you don’t need to have all the answers. What matters most is showing up with honesty, consistency, and calm. By turning everyday moments into teachable ones, setting boundaries you can stick to, and modeling resilience as you learn, you give your kids something more valuable than financial perfection: a foundation of security and confidence.

Divorced and Self-Employed? Here’s How to Take Control of Your Finances Again

Judd Allen

Published on: 02/09/2025

Divorce can shake both your personal and professional foundations - especially if you’re self-employed. Suddenly, you’re balancing the unpredictability of business ownership with a whole new set of financial realities: divided assets, shifting expenses, and the pressure of building stability on your own. It may feel like you’re walking a tightrope without a safety net, but you’re not powerless here. By taking a clear-eyed look at your new obligations, stabilizing your income, and putting the right systems in place, you can regain control. This season of transition can also become an opportunity to reshape your business and finances around what matters most to you now.

What Divorced Parents Need to Know About College Planning

Judd Allen

Published on: 11/08/2025

College planning is already complex - divorce adds a whole new layer. In What Divorced Parents Need to Know About College Planning, Judd Allen, CDFA® Candidate, breaks down how to navigate FAFSA rules, 529 plan ownership, and setting realistic expectations with your ex and your child. Learn how to support your student’s future without sacrificing your own financial stability, and why clarity - not perfection - is the key to getting through this season with confidence.

Starting Over at 50 - How to Rebuild Your Retirement Plan After Divorce

Judd Allen

Published on: 05/08/2025

Divorce at 50 can feel like hitting reset on a future you thought was already mapped out - but it’s not the end of your retirement dreams. In Starting Over at 50, Judd Allen, CDFA® Candidate, offers practical, compassionate guidance on how to rebuild your financial foundation post-divorce. From updating your retirement strategy and understanding new tax rules to managing housing decisions and maximizing catch-up contributions, this article shows you how to move forward with clarity, control, and confidence.

Downsizing in the Automotive Industry: Protecting Your Finances Amidst Uncertainty

Judd Allen

Published on: 01/07/2025

As Michigan's automotive industry faces significant downsizing due to global shifts, evolving technology, and sustainability demands, many are left uncertain about their financial future. Navigating this turbulence requires clear strategy: diversify your investments across industries and asset types, strengthen your emergency fund, and maintain a long-term perspective to avoid reactive decisions. Whether it’s reassessing pension plans, exploring new sectors, or revisiting retirement and estate planning, adaptability is key to resilience. While these changes can be daunting, they also present opportunities to pivot and protect your financial well-being - and as a financial advisor, I’m here to help guide you through the road ahead.

Alimony’s Killing My Cash Flow — Can I Still Retire at 65?

Judd Allen

Published on: 03/06/2025

Divorce - and the alimony that may follow - can significantly alter your retirement plans, but it doesn’t make them impossible. While your original strategy likely assumed shared income and expenses, now’s the time to reassess based on your current reality: a single income, ongoing obligations, and new financial goals. Start by understanding exactly how long and how much you’ll pay in alimony, then work with a financial advisor to run fresh retirement projections. Focus on what you can control - optimize tax efficiency, adjust your investment strategy, reduce expenses, and consider phased retirement or downsizing if needed. Think of retirement in two phases: before and after alimony ends. With the right strategy and support, a fulfilling retirement is still entirely possible.