4 top financial concerns your divorcing female clients might have (but may not share with you)

During a divorce, your female clients are likely to be juggling numerous demands on their time, energy, and finances. They could be facing a dramatic change in their circumstances and lifestyle, which may be worrying and stressful.

It’s a time when many women doubt themselves and feel uncertain about the future. As such, your divorcing female clients may not share all their thoughts and financial concerns with you.

Unfortunately, this means they could miss out on the support and guidance they need to take control of their wealth. In contrast, if you recognise your clients’ concerns and signpost them to empathetic professional help, this could empower them to make key decisions that bolster their financial security.

Here are four common concerns divorcing women have that I can help address and overcome.

1. “I’m worried that seeking financial advice might antagonise my ex”

Findings from a new report published by Mishcon de Reya (19 November 2025) reveal that 65% of midlife women fear for their finances post-divorce, yet 91% don’t seek financial advice.

One potential reason for this is a concern I frequently hear from my female clients – “I’m worried that my ex will think I’m being disloyal if I seek financial advice”.

In fact, my experience suggests that working with a financial expert often reduces the risk of disagreements and facilitates better outcomes for both parties by:

• Avoiding costly mistakes that may lead to future disputes, such as failing to include pensions in a financial settlement
• Ensuring each person gives full financial disclosure and understands the value of shared assets
• Fostering balanced and calm negotiations by helping your clients feel knowledgeable and confident about their finances.

As such, seeking financial advice is a sign of strength that shows your client is keen to act responsibly and fairly.

Read more: It’s not disloyal to seek financial advice during divorce. Here’s why

2. “I’m anxious that I might lose my family home”

A divorce is a major transition, so, understandably, many women don’t want to uproot their lives further – and those of any dependents – by moving somewhere unfamiliar at this time.

Indeed, the family home often represents security in both the short- and long-term. What’s more, a divorcing woman may have strong emotional attachments to her home – it might be where she’s raised her children and built cherished memories.

However, it’s important that your clients understand the financial implications of keeping their property. According to Legal & General (2 April 2025), on average, women see their incomes cut in half in the year after divorce. This could make it difficult to cover the ongoing costs of a large family home.

Additionally, favouring the house over other valuable assets, such as pensions, could jeopardise your female clients’ long-term financial security.

That’s why it’s crucial that your clients seek financial advice.

A financial expert can use sophisticated cashflow modelling software to help your divorcing female clients visualise how keeping their family home could affect their financial wellbeing in the short-, medium-, and long-term. This could remove any uncertainty that is contributing to their anxiety and empower them to make informed decisions.

Read more: House or pension? Financial guidance can help divorcing women make this tough decision

3. “I’m afraid of managing my finances alone”

If you have clients who are divorcing after many years of marriage or civil partnership, they might not have been solely responsible for managing their finances for a long time. As such, the prospect of doing so could be extremely intimidating.

Indeed, the gender financial literacy gap persists in 2025. PA Future (7 March 2025) has reported that just 19% of adult women feel they received a good education on managing money in school, compared to 23% of men. Additionally, more women than men in every age bracket admit to having limited or no understanding of financial products such as investments, mortgages, pensions, and insurance.

As an empathetic female financial expert who specialises in supporting divorcing women, I can help your clients improve their financial knowledge and make important decisions with confidence – from making the most of their financial settlement to planning for retirement.

Through ongoing guidance and regular reviews, I give divorcing women the support they need to embrace their financial independence.

4. “My long-term finances feel unclear and uncertain”

Your divorcing clients will need to revisit and revise any long-term financial plans they had with their ex-spouse or partner, such as shared retirement plans.

If they’ve held a picture in their mind of what their future might look like for many years, changing this will require a major shift in perspective, which might feel uncomfortable and disorientating.

Unfortunately, the persistent gender pay and pension gaps could make it harder for divorced women to build the funds they need for retirement.

What’s more, research by Legal & General (2 April 2025) shows that women are more likely to waive their pension rights during divorce than men (28% compared to 17%), which could exacerbate retirement wealth inequality.

Women who divorce later in life will also have less time to accumulate the retirement pot they need. This is an increasingly widespread problem as “grey divorce” is on the rise. Figures published by Legal & General (1 October 2024) reveal that in 2021 (the most recent data available), 1 in 4 divorces took place between couples aged 50 and over.

A financial expert can give your female divorcing clients clarity on their financial situation and help them make the most of any settlement they receive to support their future financial needs.

Read more: How cashflow modelling could help your female divorced clients retire with confidence

Get in touch

As a female financial expert who specialises in supporting divorcing and divorced women, I can help your clients face their future with confidence.

To find out more about how we can work together, please get in touch by email at lottie@truefinancialdesign.co.uk or call 03300 889138.

Please note

This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.

All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.

Please do not act based on anything you might read in this article. All contents are based on our understanding of HMRC legislation, which is subject to change.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate cashflow planning.

A pension is a long-term investment not normally accessible until 55 (57 from April 2028). The fund value may fluctuate and can go down, which would have an impact on the level of pension benefits available. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. 

The tax implications of pension withdrawals will be based on your individual circumstances. Thresholds, percentage rates, and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. 

Approved by 2plan wealth management Ltd 15/1/26.