What actually happens after the first call to a divorce attorney?

Once the decision has been made and legal proceedings begin, individuals enter a structured process that can involve filings, financial disclosures, mediation, and sometimes, a trial. For many people, the uncertainty surrounding timelines, legal requirements, and financial decisions can make an already difficult transition feel even more overwhelming.

In this second half of the conversation with family law attorney Linda Weiksnar, we continue the discussion on divorce by walking through what actually happens once the process begins. Drawing on decades of experience guiding clients through family law matters, Linda explains the real-world mechanics of divorce, from petitions and mandatory financial disclosures to mediation, settlement negotiations, and court proceedings.

Listen in as she outlines the stages of divorce and explains how courts approach property division, spousal support, and parenting plans. You’ll get practical insights that can help anyone move through the process with clearer expectations and greater confidence.

What You’ll Learn:

• The first legal steps that officially begin a divorce case.
• Why financial affidavits and mandatory disclosure are essential to the process.
• How equitable distribution works when dividing property, accounts, and debts.
• What courts consider when determining spousal support.
• Why mediation is required before most divorce cases go to trial.
• How parenting plans and time-sharing arrangements are structured.
• What happens during a divorce trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
• Why preparation and patience are critical throughout the process.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “The judge is going to tell you the same thing I'm going to tell you right now: I can't fix your heartache.” - Linda Weiksnar
• “You can be more creative in mediation. You can be the captain of your own ship in mediation.” - Linda Weiksnar
• “Listen to your attorney because your attorney does want what's best for you, but has to get you there within what the law allows.” – Linda Weiksnar

Resources:

• Linda Weiksnar: LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Crary Buchanan
• Rule 12.285. MANDATORY DISCLOSURE

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.

Is owning a rental property really the smartest way to build wealth—or just the most familiar one?

For many investors, the first instinct is to buy a rental property and become a landlord, but owning one property can bring concentration risk, unexpected expenses, and more hands-on responsibility than expected. As markets shift, it is essential to understand how real estate fits within a diversified financial plan.

In this episode, Shannon Kiefhaber, real estate investor and asset manager at Riverside Group and Twenty-Five Eight Capital, opens up about her transition from single-family rentals to multifamily syndications and commercial assets. Listen in as she explains how to evaluate return on equity, what passive investing through syndications really looks like, and how to align real estate decisions with your long-term wealth strategy.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why many investors underestimate the true cost of owning a single rental property.
• How vacancy, capital expenditures, and property management impact cash flow.
• The difference between concentration risk and diversified real estate exposure.
• What a real estate syndication is and how limited partners participate.
• How metrics like cash-on-cash return, IRR, and equity multiple compare to market benchmarks.
• How depreciation and cost segregation can enhance tax strategy.
• The importance of aligning real estate investments with your overall financial plan.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “The problem is people dramatically underestimating the true cost of owning a rental property and overestimating the benefit of having only one property. I'm not trying to say rental properties are bad, but I think scale matters here.” - Shannon Kiefhaber
• “For building wealth, it's not about necessarily doing more and more deals—it's about building something or designing something that supports the lifestyle I want to live.” - Shannon Kiefhaber
• “If you’ve been holding real estate for the past 10 years, it’s a great time to hold real estate. It’s highly appreciated. And so now you have to actually start looking at another metric called return on equity.” - Shannon Kiefhaber

Resources:

• Shannon Kiefhaber: LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Riverside Group Commercial Real Estate
• Twenty-Five Eight Capital

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.

A financial gift can feel generous, timely, and full of opportunity. But without the right guidance, even well-intentioned decisions can create unexpected tax consequences.

In this episode, Joyce Ruggeri, CPA at Reynolds Bone & Griesbeck, shares a client story involving a gifted property that resulted in a $120,000 tax bill. With two decades of experience in tax compliance and strategic planning, Joyce breaks down capital gains, cost basis, step-up in basis, and the common misconceptions that often lead families to make costly mistakes.

Listen in as she explains how one missed phone call changed the outcome of a major financial decision, what families should understand before gifting or inheriting property, and why coordination between your CPA and financial advisor can protect both your wealth and your peace of mind.

What You’ll Learn:

• The difference between gifting property and inheriting property from a tax perspective.
• What a step-up in basis is and why timing matters.
• How capital gains are calculated on real estate sales.
• Why the old “buy another house to avoid tax” rule no longer applies.
• What qualifies as a home improvement that increases your cost basis.
• Why communication between your CPA and investment advisor matters.
• The long-term cost of withdrawing money early from a 401(k).

Ideas Worth Sharing:

• “If she had called me, I would say, ‘Just wait. You inherit a property—dad passes away, and you inherit the property. Then you get what is called a step-up in basis.’” - Joyce Ruggeri
• “Capital gains… has such a negative connotation… People think of it as a penalty… It's a tax, but it can be lower than normal. Good news, you made money” - Joyce Ruggeri
• “This happens more often than not because people trust what they hear from their neighbor. And in today's day and age, people trust what they hear from AI, and they Google things to get answers. And really what you should do is call your CPA.” - Joyce Ruggeri

Resources:

• Joyce Ruggeri: LinkedIn
• Genevieve George: Website | LinkedIn
• Reynolds Bone & Griesbeck, PLC
• Quicken
• QuickBooks

Connect with Us:

If you're ready to stop avoiding your finances and start building the future you deserve, schedule a free call with me at pelicanfinancialplanning.com and let’s create your personalized financial plan together.

And if you want ongoing guidance, clarity, and confidence as you grow your wealth, subscribe to our newsletter for financial insights delivered right to your inbox.