Life Events Divorce conversation guide

Published onAugust 4, 2026

2 MIN ARTICLE

When working with a new client or even an existing client who is going through a divorce, it helps to see the full picture beyond investment goals. Asking deeper questions can help you get a sense of the client’s fears, priorities and potential opportunities.

 

The questions below are designed to help financial advisors understand clients who are just embarking on this new phase of life and reassure them that you are an advisor who wants to be part of their journey. 

 

TIP: These questions can be used in conjunction with In case of divorce, read this — a client-friendly primer covering divorce issues

 

Questions to help take your client’s emotional temperature

 

  • Have you worked with a financial advisor before? What was that relationship like?
  • Who have you shared the news of your divorce with? Do you have a support system?
  • Where are you living? Where is your spouse living?
  • Do you have family or close friends nearby?
  • How familiar are you with divorce? Have family members or close friends gone through it?
  • What’s your worst-case scenario when it comes to divorce?
  • What are the things keeping you up at night?
  • How would you describe the responsibilities in your home pre-divorce? How have things changed?
  • How do you envision your work life changing, if at all? Does this change your professional priorities?
  • Are there skills or knowledge you’d like to learn that would make you feel more confident or in control?
  • How do you envision your life a year from now? How about five years from now? 

Discover how to shore up short-term concerns

 

  • When it comes to family finances, where are the areas of agreement with your spouse? Are there areas of disagreement?
  • Did you choose guardians of your minor children should you and your spouse die or become incapacitated during the marriage? Will those change?
  • What are your goals for dividing assets with your spouse? What about living situations?
  • Who is your divorce attorney? What stage of the process are you in with him/her?
  • Who has paid the bills in your family? Do you have a household budget? Do you expect that to change?
  • Do you still have joint accounts with your spouse for things like checking and savings, credit cards, auto loans and home mortgages?

Flagging potential financial issues

 

  • Do you have a will and other estate planning documents? When was the last time they were updated?
  • When was the last time you checked the beneficiaries of your retirement accounts and insurance policies?
  • Have you thought about how distributions might be changed in your estate plan?
  • Who is your estate planning attorney? What’s your relationship with her/him like?
  • Do you have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement? Do you have a copy?
  • Are you holding cash positions that you plan to invest in the future?
  • Who are some of the other divorce professionals you’re working with?
  • Do you have a resource for receiving tax guidance on things like gift and estate taxes, income taxes, and alimony and child support?

Supporting materials

In case of divorce, read this
Wealth planning for life events at every stage

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