Most women in a marriage breakdown are not financially clueless. They are intelligent women who never had the chance to be involved in the money, and that gap becomes dangerous the moment a marriage ends.

Tasia sits with divorce attorney Drew Soshnik for part two of their hot takes on the book "Strangers" by Belle Burden, and the focus is one thing: financial agency. Subscribe for more conversations on women, money, and building real financial confidence.

Drew, who practices divorce law in four states including New York, walks through what he does first when a woman arrives at a low ebb. He steadies her confidence, teaches the concepts at a basic level, and builds a team around her, a financial planner or advisor she actually relates to. That sequence matters because confidence, not capability, is usually the thing that has atrophied. Most of these women, in his experience, are more than financially adept once the fear lifts.

The conversation gets concrete about process. Once a separation or divorce petition is filed, the first move is provisional or temporary orders that settle who lives where, who pays which bills, and how the children are handled. Drew explains why the heavy discovery, the long lists of document requests and interrogatories, is a timing and strategy decision, not an automatic first step. He and Tasia name the hardest stretch of all: the year before anything is filed, when a spouse controls the accounts, no court can compel disclosure, and a woman trying to save her marriage has almost no leverage.

They also unpack the parts of Belle's story that drew criticism after a New Yorker article surfaced questions about her trusts. Drew separates a true generation-skipping trust, which a spouse has no right to, from a trust a beneficiary can request distributions from, which changes the legal picture entirely. He clarifies a point many people miss: a prenup can waive temporary spousal maintenance, but it cannot touch child support, custody, or parenting time, and a prenup that tries to may invalidate itself.

The episode closes on the moment Belle agreed to meet her husband alone, with no attorney in the room, hours before settlement. Drew calls that a predictable power move designed to remove her advisors and her leverage, and explains the house-heavy mistake that leaves women with property and no cash. The throughline is empowering, not frightening: there is no shame in not knowing your finances, almost everyone has the ability to learn, and it is never too late to build agency over your money.

This conversation connects to wealth building, financial independence, prenuptial agreements, estate and trust planning, and the financial side of divorce and widowhood.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

• The three things a divorce attorney does first to rebuild financial confidence
• Why the year before any filing is the most vulnerable financial stretch
• What a prenup can and cannot waive (child support is protected)
• Why meeting alone with no attorney is almost always a mistake

If this episode helped you think differently about protecting your assets, subscribe to Graceful Investor for more conversations that help you take control of your financial future. Share this with someone who needs to hear it before they make similar decisions.

DISCLAIMER

The content shared on this channel is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or investment advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. The host is not a licensed financial advisor. All investments carry risk, including the potential loss of principal.

LINKS & RESOURCES

"Strangers" by Belle Burden: https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Memoir-Marriage-Belle-Burden/dp/0593733312

Drew Soshnik's law practice: https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/professionals/s/soshnick-andrew-z#tab-Overview

Previous episode with Drew Soshnik: https://youtu.be/0HBwm8LeevA

#GracefulInvestor #WomenInvesting #FinancialAgency #DivorceAndMoney #WealthBuilding

A 19-year marriage. Two luxury homes purchased with inherited trust money. One prenup signed under pressure five days before the wedding. When divorce attorney Drew Soshnik breaks down the financial decisions in the NYT bestseller "Strangers," the lessons for protecting your wealth become impossible to ignore.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

- Why liquidating a trust to purchase property with your spouse can eliminate your legal protections

- What "coercive financial control" looks like in high-net-worth marriages—and the warning signs to watch for

- How prenuptial agreements can fail to protect you if assets are commingled or retitled

- The critical difference between keeping assets in a trust vs. putting them in joint names

- Why the timing and pressure around signing a prenup matters legally and emotionally

In this episode, Tasia and licensed divorce attorney Drew Soshnik (practicing in four states including New York) examine the financial decisions detailed in Belle Burden's NYT bestselling memoir "Strangers." The book chronicles a high-net-worth divorce after 19 years of marriage, revealing how the author—a former corporate lawyer turned stay-at-home mother—lost access to millions in inherited wealth.

Drew explains the concept of coercive financial control, referencing research from University of Toronto professor Mike Saini, and identifies the warning signs present in the book's narrative: monthly budget monitoring down to smoothie purchases, requests for detailed spending accounting, and complete exclusion from income visibility.

The conversation examines how the author's decision to liquidate two family trusts and purchase a Manhattan apartment ($4M) and Martha's Vineyard home ($5.5M) in joint names converted protected separate property into marital property—despite having a prenuptial agreement. Drew breaks down how prenups work in New York versus other states, why tracing provisions matter, and how pressure to sign or modify agreements close to the wedding date can lead to devastating financial outcomes.

This episode provides an essential perspective for anyone navigating marriage, divorce, or estate planning with significant assets.

If this episode helped you think differently about protecting your assets, subscribe to Graceful Investor for more conversations that help you take control of your financial future.

Share this with someone who needs to hear it before they make similar decisions.

LINKS & RESOURCES

"Strangers" by Belle Burden: https://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Memoir-Marriage-Belle-Burden/dp/0593733312

Drew Soshnik's law practice: https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/professionals/s/soshnick-andrew-z#tab-Overview

Previous episode with Drew Soshnik: https://youtu.be/4tKyCIeYTa4

Professor Mike Saini's research on coercive control: https://discover.research.utoronto.ca/9702-michael-saini/publications

#DivorceFinances #PrenupAdvice #WealthProtection #GracefulInvestor #FinancialPlanning

Did you know you only have 60 days after a divorce or loss to secure new health insurance—or risk months without coverage? In this episode, Tasia breaks down the health insurance blind spots that catch people off guard during major life transitions.

• The 60-day qualifying event window and why missing it can leave you uninsured for nearly a year
• COBRA coverage: the real costs and the 18-month trap most people don't see coming
• Healthcare.gov options: bronze, silver, and gold plans explained
• Why HSA accounts may be more valuable than 401(k)s during asset division
• The January 2026 HSA rule change and what it means for your healthcare strategy

Health insurance is one of the most overlooked financial blind spots during divorce or widowhood. While you're navigating grief, brain fog, and rebuilding your life, the government gives you just 60 days to find a new plan—and missing that window can mean months without coverage.

Tasia walks through the three main options available during this critical window: COBRA continuation coverage, enrolling in your own employer's plan, or shopping on healthcare.gov. She explains why COBRA's 18-month coverage period can create a dangerous gap if it expires outside of open enrollment season—something most people discover far too late.

The episode also covers a strategic consideration for anyone negotiating asset division: HSA accounts may deserve special attention. Unlike 401(k) funds locked until retirement age, HSA dollars can cover immediate medical expenses tax-free. And with the January 2026 rule change allowing contributions to HSA accounts through bronze marketplace plans even without earned income, understanding this tool becomes even more important.

Whether you're currently navigating a transition or planning ahead, this episode provides the awareness you need to protect yourself financially.

If this episode helped you understand something new about health insurance during transitions, subscribe to Graceful Investor for more financial clarity. Share this with someone navigating divorce or loss—they need to know about the 60-day window.

• Healthcare.gov Marketplace: https://www.healthcare.gov
• COBRA Information (DOL): https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra
• HSA Contribution Limits 2026: https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/hsa-contribution-limits
• Connect with Tasia: https://www.instagram.com/gracefulinvestor/

#HealthInsurance #DivorceFinances #COBRA #HSA #GracefulInvestor