Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, some good, some bad—but we can learn from them all.
In my case, an unexpected, messy, and life-changing divorce rocked my world but also ignited a new passion in me to help others who are walking through similar situations. I turned my story around, and now as a dedicated life planner, I want to help women turn their darkest moments into a bright new future too.
As a life planner specializing in divorce transition for women, I understand that financial planning alone isn’t enough during major life changes. Life planning goes deeper than numbers and spreadsheets.
It’s about understanding your values, your dreams, and what truly matters to you as you rebuild your life. A life planner looks at the complete picture of your life—your goals, your fears, your hopes for the future—and helps you create a roadmap that honors who you are and where you want to go.
Many women going through divorce feel overwhelmed by the financial complexity while simultaneously dealing with emotional trauma. That’s where a life planner makes the difference. As your life planner, I combine compassionate support with practical financial expertise to guide you through one of life’s most challenging transitions.
How a Life Planner Helps Women Navigate Divorce
My Story
Here’s a picture of what my life looked like before divorce became part of my story. My husband and I had a beautiful home, two great careers, and a darling baby girl. We were even building a new home.
And then I woke up to a nightmare, one where everything had turned upside down and what was once magical had died. Not only was the emotional loss devastating, but our finances were a mess and I found myself in the middle of a debilitating financial crisis.
Our under-construction home was $400K over budget. I had no idea. All the credit cards were in my name, so my credit took the hit. We had a garbage bag full of unpaid bills, and by the time I realized what was going on with our finances, it was too late.
The experience of financial devastation during an already traumatic divorce showed me exactly why women need a life planner who understands both the emotional and financial dimensions of major life transitions.
I felt alone, confused, and terrified about my financial future. I didn’t know who to trust or where to turn. The traditional financial advisors I encountered didn’t understand the unique challenges women face during divorce—the power imbalances, the hidden financial information, the need for both emotional support and practical guidance.
This experience became my calling.
I knew that if I could survive this crisis and rebuild my life, I could help women do the same. That’s when I decided to become a life planner. I wanted to be the person I wished I’d had during my darkest days—someone who could listen without judgment, understand the complete picture of my life, and help me navigate both the financial complexities and the emotional journey of starting over.
So, yes, there was a season that felt like doom and gloom. But here’s the good news: I ultimately learned how I could create and influence my future despite what had happened in the past. And that’s what I’m here today to do for you as your life planner.
What I Do Now
The truth is, you don’t know what you don’t know. We made financial mistakes because we were uninformed and didn’t have anyone guiding us. Understanding retirement planning resources and Social Security benefits can be crucial for your financial future.
And when I was going through the transition of divorce, there were tools I didn’t have. Now, as a life planner and divorce specialist for women, I provide the resources and support, along with the Calamita Wealth Management team, to help you find clarity and direction.
As your life planner, I take a holistic approach that traditional financial planning simply doesn’t offer. Life planning starts with deep listening. Before we talk about investment strategies or retirement accounts, I want to understand your story, your values, and your vision for your future. What matters most to you? What are your fears? What dreams have you set aside that you’d like to reclaim? These questions form the foundation of effective life planning.
The life planner process I use involves several key stages. First, we create a safe space for you to share your complete story—the good, the bad, and everything in between. As a life planner who has walked this path myself, I understand the shame, fear, and uncertainty you might be feeling.
Second, we clarify your values and goals. What does a meaningful life look like for you post-divorce?
Third, we assess your complete financial situation with honesty and compassion. No judgment, just facts. Fourth, we create a comprehensive plan that aligns your financial resources with your life goals.
My goal as your life planner is to provide you with a compassionate, listening ear. I want to learn your story and help you achieve a seamless and empowering divorce transition. Unlike traditional financial advisors who focus primarily on investment returns, a life planner focuses on your life returns—the quality of life you want to create with the resources you have.
Our team will help you, both emotionally and financially, to move forward in life and learn how to manage your finances with confidence. We offer comprehensive support for women navigating financial transitions. The life planner approach means you’re never alone in this journey. You have a dedicated advocate who understands both the financial mechanics of divorce and the emotional toll it takes.
The Life Planning Difference
You might be wondering: what exactly is a life planner, and how is life planning different from working with a traditional financial advisor? This is one of the most important questions women ask me, and the answer reveals why the life planner approach is so transformative during major life transitions.
A life planner doesn’t start with your portfolio—we start with your life. Traditional financial planning typically begins with questions about your assets, income, and investment goals. Life planning begins with different questions:
What brings you joy? What are you afraid of? What does a life well-lived look like to you? What legacy do you want to create? These might seem like unusual questions for a financial professional to ask, but they’re essential for a life planner.
The life planner methodology recognizes that money is simply a tool to create the life you want. Your financial plan should serve your life plan, not the other way around. As your life planner, I help you get crystal clear on what really matters to you, and then we align your financial resources to support those priorities. This is especially crucial during divorce, when you’re essentially redesigning your entire life.
Here’s what makes a life planner different in practice. When you work with a life planner, your first several meetings might not involve spreadsheets or investment discussions at all. Instead, we engage in deep conversations about your life—your past, your present challenges, and your future aspirations. A life planner is trained to ask powerful questions that help you gain clarity about what you truly want.
This clarity becomes the foundation for all financial decisions moving forward.
Another key difference is that a life planner addresses the emotional aspects of money that traditional advisors often ignore. Money carries tremendous emotional weight, especially during divorce.
Shame about past financial mistakes, fear about financial security, anger about financial betrayal—these emotions are valid and important. A life planner creates space for these feelings while helping you move through them toward empowerment and confidence.
The life planner process is also highly personalized. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Every woman’s situation, values, and goals are unique, and your life planner creates a customized roadmap specifically for you. This personalized attention ensures that your financial plan truly serves the life you want to build, not some generic template.
Ultimately, a life planner is a partner in your life transformation, not just a financial services provider. We walk alongside you through one of life’s most challenging transitions, providing both strategic financial guidance and compassionate emotional support.
Why I Love What I Do
When we go through life circumstances that change us, we have an opportunity to use what we’ve learned to make a difference in the lives of others. That’s what motivates me as a life planner! I meet so many women who are exactly where I was, with one big difference—they have the Calamita Wealth Management team and a dedicated life planner behind them!
The most rewarding part of being a life planner is witnessing transformation. I’ve watched clients come to our first meeting feeling defeated, scared, and hopeless about their financial future.
Through the life planner process, I’ve seen these same women discover inner strength they didn’t know they had, develop financial confidence they never imagined possible, and create lives more fulfilling than what they had before.
One aspect of being a life planner that I particularly love is the depth of relationship I build with clients. This isn’t a transactional relationship where we meet once a year to review your portfolio. As your life planner, I become a trusted partner in your life journey. Clients often tell me that having a life planner means having someone who truly understands their complete situation—someone they can call when they’re making a major decision, someone who celebrates their wins, and someone who provides steady support during setbacks.
When I make a meaningful connection with a client, helping them see the big picture and connect the dots, and then engage in the next steps that will bring them closer to their reimagined lives and retirement security, that’s what invigorates me as a life planner! I love seeing my clients experience joy and positivity because of our relationship and the support we provide. The life planner approach creates lasting change, not just in bank accounts, but in confidence, clarity, and quality of life.
Want to Know More?
Don’t just take my word for it—experience the difference a caring advocate and support system can make in your life.
Working with a life planner means having a dedicated partner who understands both the financial and emotional complexity of divorce transition. As your life planner, I’ll help you gain clarity, build confidence, and create a financial plan that supports the life you truly want to live.
When choosing the right financial advisor, it’s important to find someone who understands your unique situation. Take the first step toward your new future by scheduling an introductory phone call using our online calendar.
