TIAA Adjusting to Life Financially after a Divorce

This is especially so for the TIAA employees who are likely to have their financial lives turned upside down by a divorce since they should first focus on financial goals, budgeting, and credit report protection as the basis for future financial stability.

'For TIAA employees trying to make sense of the financial implications of divorce, creating a good financial plan that addresses cash flow, debt management, and insurance coverage can be a good starting point towards a positive financial future.'

In this article, we will discuss:

1. Financial Impact of Divorce  – An overview of the financial changes that occur after a divorce and the financial position of divorced individuals.
2. Key Steps to Financial Stability  – This article looks at budgeting, debt management, and the need to reevaluate one’s financial goals.
3. Protecting Your Future  – This article looks at credit protection, insurance review, tax implications, and seeking professional financial guidance.

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research revealed that the average wealth of divorced women over 50 is 50% less than that of married women of the same age. Therefore, it may be necessary for women to revise their financial plans and approaches following a divorce to secure a comfortable retirement. Some of the other important steps that one can take towards financial management after a divorce include seeking financial advice and coming up with a new budget.

Also, considering options for Social Security benefits and insurance policies can also be helpful. With this article, those who have been through divorce can learn how to manage the financial issues that may result from the divorce. Source:  The Financial Consequences of Divorce for Women Over 50: A Review of the Literature,  National Bureau of Economic Research, September 2018.

Without a doubt, getting a divorce can be quite an emotional process. Divorce settlement negotiations, multiple court appearances, and dealing with different lawyers can be exhausting for the parties. In addition to the emotional consequences of a divorce, the TIAA employees in this situation must know how it will affect their financial situation. Now more than ever, you need to make sure that your financial situation is in good shape. You will then be able to move on and create the financial foundations of your new financial life.

Check Your Current Financial Status

You will have to find out your financial situation and the financial position that you are in after a divorce since you will not have the income of your ex-spouse. You may also be responsible for some expenses that were previously the responsibility of your ex-spouse, such as housing, utilities, and auto loans. Before long, you may realize that you can no longer afford the lifestyle you had before the divorce.

Prepare a Budget

These TIAA customers should start with a monthly budget that reflects their current income and outgoings. Besides your basic wages and other tips and bonuses, you should also include your income from investments and other sources. See to it if you are receiving alimony and/or child support from your ex-spouse.

As a category, fixed expenses include accommodation, food, and transportation. They include entertainment, travel, and other similar expenditures that are classified as discretionary. You may have to cut some discretionary spending until you adapt to the reduced income. However, it is important not to starve yourself completely, as this will only make you feel depressed and unable to work effectively.

Reevaluate/Reprioritize Your Financial Goals

These TIAA customers should begin with a review of their financial goals. During your marriage, you and your spouse could have set some financial goals. Now that you are on your own, these goals may have changed. First, make a list of the goals that you want to achieve. Do you want to boost your TIAA retirement savings? Do you plan on going back to school? Are you thinking of saving up for a house?

Also, you should learn how to arrange your financial goals. Perhaps you and your spouse planned to buy a vacation home on the beach. After the divorce, you may discover that other goals are more important, such as making sure that you have enough cash reserves.

Take Control of Your Debt

Ensure that you take control of your debt and credit during your transition to your new budget. We recommend these TIAA customers not use credit cards for treats occasionally. If you have debt, you should come up with a plan to pay it off as soon as possible. The following advice will help you to pay off your debt:

• Check on account balances and interest rates.

• Develop a plan for handling payments and preventing late fees.

• Pay off debts that have the highest interest rates first.

• Use debt consolidation and refinancing options.

Protect/Establish Credit

Since divorce is likely to damage your credit score, we recommend that these TIAA customers take measures to safeguard their credit standing and/or open credit in their own names. A good credit history is important because it will allow you to get credit when you need it and at a better interest rate. Some of the companies today require their new employees to have a good credit report as part of their employment.

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Get a copy of your credit report and check for any errors. Are there any joint accounts that are closed or transferred? Are there any identities that need to be changed in the report? Once a year, you are allowed to get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. Consumers can get additional information from these TIAA customers at  annualcreditreport.com .

To build a positive credit history with your creditors, make sure to make your payments on time and try to avoid too many inquiries in your credit report. These inquiries occur whenever you apply for a new credit card.

Review Your Insurance Needs

In most divorce settlements, the insurance cover of one or both of the spouses is provided. Nevertheless, you may require more insurance protection than what you received in your divorce settlement. When it comes to health insurance, we suggest that these TIAA customers do not neglect the health insurance coverage. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows you to get limited health insurance coverage (up to 36 months) if your divorce decree does not mandate your ex-spouse to cover you with health insurance.

You may also want to get individual coverage or, if you still work for TIAA, coverage from your TIAA employer. You will also have to make sure that your disability and life insurance needs are adequate since you are now on your own. This is especially so if you are returning to the workforce or if you are the child’s legal guardian.

Finally, TIAA customers must ensure that their property insurance is up to date. Some of the applicable property insurance policies may need to be altered or rewritten to reflect changes in property ownership that occur as a result of your divorce.

Change Your Beneficiary Designations

You should go through your life insurance policies, retirement accounts, bank and credit union accounts, and update the beneficiary designations after a divorce. You should also inform these TIAA customers that a divorce settlement may prohibit you from changing the beneficiary of a policy. Also, now is a good time to make a will or update an existing one to reflect your new status. Make sure that your ex-spouse is not listed as a personal representative, successor trustee, beneficiary, or bearer of a power of attorney in any of your estate planning documents.

Consider Tax Implications

You also have to consider the tax consequences of your divorce. Your sources of income, your marital status, and the exemptions and/or deductions that you are eligible for may all be affected. You may have other sources of income after your divorce, for example, alimony and/or child support, in addition to your regular salary and compensation. In addition, your tax filing status will change. The filing status is on the final day of the tax year (December 31).

If you were divorced on December 31, you would be considered divorced for the entire year for tax purposes. If the customer is the custodial parent, they may be able to claim certain tax credits and deductions. These may include the child tax credit, the credit for child and dependent care expenses, and the tax credits and deductions that pertain to higher education. It is suggested that these TIAA customers seek the advice of a tax consultant.

Conclusion

Making adjustments to life financially after a divorce is like steering a ship through a stormy sea. It may be windy and there may be big waves, but with proper planning and decision-making, the ship can finally reach calm water. Finally, there is hope for those who have been divorced and are struggling with financial issues, as they can eventually regain financial stability.

Sources:

1. Investopedia Staff .  '12 Money Mistakes to Avoid When Divorcing Over 50.'  Investopedia, 2023,
   https://www.investopedia.com/personal-finance/mistakes-avoid-when-divorcing-over-50 .
   Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

2. J.P. Morgan Editorial Team .  'Maintaining Financial Security in a Gray Divorce.'  J.P. Morgan, 2024,
   https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/retirement/a-womans-guide-to-thriving-after-gray-divorce .
   Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

3. Buonincontri, Michelle .  'Financial Planning and Divorce.'  Savvy Ladies, 2020,
   https://www.savvyladies.org/education/financial-planning-and-divorce .
   Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

4. Family and Fertility Law Editorial Team .  'Divorce Over 50: The Financial Impact of Divorcing Later in Life.'  Family and Fertility Law, 2017,
   https://familyandfertilitylaw.com/divorce-over-50-the-financial-impact-of-divorcing-later-in-life .
   Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

5. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.   'Financial Planning for Divorce After 50.'  Let's Make a Plan, 2023,
   https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/financial-topics/articles/divorce/financial-planning-for-divorce-after-50 .
   Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.