{"type":"doc","content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Divorce doesn't just end a marriage — it can end your financial future if you're not prepared. After working with hundreds of men going through separation, these are the 5 mistakes I see over and over:"}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"1. Not hiding (legally protecting) assets early enough"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Most men don't start thinking about asset protection until papers are already filed. By then, the discovery process makes everything visible. The time to structure your finances is BEFORE things escalate — separate accounts, document pre-marital assets, and understand what's considered \"marital property\" in your state."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"2. Agreeing to alimony terms without running the numbers"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Alimony isn't a fixed formula in most states — it's negotiable. Too many men accept the first number their spouse's attorney throws out because they just want it over with. That emotional decision can cost you $100K+ over the life of the agreement. Always model out 3, 5, and 10-year scenarios before signing anything."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"3. Ignoring the tax implications of the settlement"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"A $500K house and $500K in a retirement account are NOT the same thing. One has capital gains exposure, the other has income tax on withdrawal. Men routinely \"split things 50/50\" without realizing they're getting the tax-burdened half. Get a CPA involved before you agree to any division."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"4. Draining savings on legal fees without a budget"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"The average contested divorce costs $15,000-$30,000 in legal fees. Some men spend $100K+ fighting over assets worth less than the legal bill. Set a hard legal budget. Know when to fight and when to negotiate. Every dollar you spend on lawyers is a dollar that doesn't go toward your fresh start."}]},{"type":"heading","attrs":{"level":3},"content":[{"type":"text","text":"5. Not rebuilding credit and financial identity immediately"}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"Joint accounts, shared credit cards, co-signed loans — divorce tangles your financial identity with someone who's no longer on your team. Men who wait to separate their credit profiles often find their ex's spending habits tanking their score for months after the divorce is final."}]},{"type":"horizontalRule"},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"I built the Divorce Financial Playbook to help men avoid every one of these mistakes."},{"type":"text","text":" Inside, you get strategy guides, real-time community support from men in the same fight, and a private Q&A forum where you can get tactical answers to your specific situation."}]},{"type":"paragraph","content":[{"type":"text","text":"If you're going through it — or know it's coming — stop winging it. Get a plan."}]}]}