AM Financial - Divorce Financial Services

10/02/2026

Divorce puts everyone in a hurry. But fast isn't the same as efficient.

Divorce attorney Tia Zavaras shares why she built her practice around slowing that instinct down, and what it means for your financial future. Her advice: don't negotiate anything until you have the full picture.

Read the interview: https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/the-slow-divorce-philosophy-an-interview-with-tia-zavaras

09/16/2026

When does mediation actually work in divorce, and when does it just paper over an imbalance?

I sat down with divorce attorney and coach Tia Zavaras to find out. A few key takeaways from our conversation:

→ Mediation works best when both spouses have (or can get to) a shared, verified understanding of the marital estate. Financial disclosures have to come before the table, not during it.

→ It tends to fail when one spouse has historically controlled the finances and the other hasn't had the chance to catch up, or when one side uses speed as leverage to push an agreement through before the other is informed.

→ High conflict alone doesn't rule mediation out. A skilled, neutral mediator can sometimes handle a contentious case better than a courtroom can. What matters more is financial transparency and a genuine willingness to negotiate.

Tia's advice for anyone heading into mediation: get a complete sworn financial statement, understand the tax character of each asset, and have a post-divorce budget in hand before you ever sit down.

Read the full interview:
https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/what-cases-benefit-most-from-mediation-an-interview-with-tia-zavaras

09/02/2026

Mediation gets recommended in almost every divorce, but it's not automatically the right move.

In this interview, divorce attorney and coach Tia Zavaras breaks down what actually makes mediation succeed: complete financial disclosures, a real willingness to negotiate in good faith, and both parties walking in with a clear picture of the marital estate.

Her bottom line: mediation is a tool, not a finish line. Whether it works for you or against you comes down to how prepared you are before you walk in.

Read the full interview 👇
https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/what-cases-benefit-most-from-mediation-an-interview-with-tia-zavaras

08/19/2026

One of the first questions many people ask during divorce is: Do I really need an attorney?

The answer isn’t always simple.

Many couples handle parts of the process themselves, especially when they believe they agree on the major issues. But “agreeing” and fully understanding the long-term legal and financial implications are not always the same thing.

Retirement accounts, taxes, home equity, investment accounts, debt, business interests, and future financial obligations can all have consequences that aren’t immediately obvious.

As a divorce financial professional, AM Financial helps individuals gain clarity and make informed decisions during one of life’s biggest financial transitions.

Read the full article here: https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/do-i-really-need-a-divorce-attorney

In this post, we’ll explore what to consider if you are deciding whether or not to proceed with legal counsel.

08/03/2026

Divorce is one of the biggest financial transitions many people will ever face. While avoiding legal fees may seem like a way to save money, it’s important to understand the long-term financial impact of the decisions you make today.

An agreement that looks “equal” on paper may have very different tax consequences, retirement implications, or future costs. From dividing investments and retirement accounts to understanding home equity, debt, and future obligations, the details matter.

As a divorce financial professional, I help individuals understand the financial side of divorce so they can move forward with greater clarity and peace of mind.

Read the full article here: https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/do-i-really-need-a-divorce-attorney

In this post, we’ll explore what to consider if you are deciding whether or not to proceed with legal counsel.

07/22/2026

If you're navigating divorce and retirement assets, does your settlement account for what's actually inside the IRA, or just the number on the statement?

Self-directed IRAs can hold real estate, private placements, promissory notes, and that changes everything about valuation, income treatment, and how (or if) the asset can even be split.

A property appraised at $400K might realistically net a lot less once you factor in liquidity restrictions and the cost of selling out of a retirement account. This is exactly the kind of detail that gets missed when people rush a settlement.

Learn more about these important financial details relevant to your divorce in our latest blog post: https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/real-estate-in-self-directed-iras-hidden-risks-in-divorce-settlement

Self-directed IRAs tend to catch people off guard. The account may appear straightforward on paper as a retirement asset with a stated value, but what's ‘inside’ can change everything about how it is handled.

07/07/2026

Do you have a self-directed IRA with real estate in it? Here's why that's not a simple asset to divide in divorce.

Most retirement accounts are easy because you know the balance, you split it, done. Self-directed IRAs holding real estate are a different animal entirely.

The IRA owns the property. Not the person. That means no personal use, no doing your own repairs, and every dollar of income or expense flows through the IRA, not into anyone's pocket.

If this sounds like your situation, don't let it get glossed over in settlement talks. Get someone who understands divorce finance in your corner early.

Learn more in our latest blog post: https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/real-estate-in-self-directed-iras-hidden-risks-in-divorce-settlement

Self-directed IRAs tend to catch people off guard. The account may appear straightforward on paper as a retirement asset with a stated value, but what's ‘inside’ can change everything about how it is handled.

06/17/2026

Colorado now recognizes coercive control in divorce proceedings, which is meaningful progress.

However, a growing problem is emerging: people are confusing emotional grievances with legally actionable financial claims, often due to advice pulled from social media or AI tools.

Family courts have evidentiary standards. Litigation has real costs. The right question to consider is "does pursuing this improve my long-term financial outcome?"

That distinction can save you significant time, money, and emotional energy.

Learn more in my latest blog:
https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/coercive-control-financial-abuse-and-divorce-what-is-actually-worth-fighting-for

Colorado statutes allow courts to consider coercive control in divorce and family law matters. Separate emotional narratives from financial realities, and decide what is worth pursuing.

06/01/2026

Divorce is hard enough. Add allegations of coercive control or hidden assets, and the process becomes exponentially more complex.

Colorado recently updated its statutes to allow courts to consider coercive control in family law matters, which is an important development that's also creating real confusion for people navigating divorce right now.

Much of that confusion stems from expectations shaped by social media and AI-generated advice that simply doesn't reflect how family courts actually work.

The smartest financial decisions in divorce aren't always about fighting every battle. They're about knowing which ones will actually move you forward.

If you're navigating a complex divorce, make sure your team includes professionals who understand both the legal and financial landscape. Learn more in my latest blog:

https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/coercive-control-financial-abuse-and-divorce-what-is-actually-worth-fighting-for

Colorado statutes allow courts to consider coercive control in divorce and family law matters. Separate emotional narratives from financial realities, and decide what is worth pursuing.

05/19/2026

That investment account might not be worth what you think it is.

If there’s a margin loan attached, the number on the statement is not the number you’re dividing in a divorce.

And in a volatile market? The gap between perception and reality can get big.

I see this mistake all the time, and it can lead to:
→ Unequal settlements
→ Unexpected losses
→ Forced liquidations at the worst time

I put together a breakdown of what to watch for and the questions you should be asking before anything is finalized.

https://amf-divorce.com/our-blog/dividing-investments-margin-accounts-in-divorce

In this blog, we discuss what you must know about margin accounts before dividing assets.