Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
Corporate retirement, insurance pensions, real estate — Connecticut's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in gray divorce for 50+
Turn Panic Into Power — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Hartford, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown. Instead, you're dividing Hartford insurance industry pensions (Aetna, Travelers), corporate 401(k)s from 20-30 year careers, and real estate under Connecticut's equitable distribution with permanent alimony for long marriages.
Hartford is America's insurance capital with major employers offering substantial pension and retirement benefits.
Here's what nobody tells you: A "fair" settlement can still leave you struggling.
50/50 sounds equal. But if you take the house and your spouse takes the 401(k), only one of you has retirement income. A pension isn't cash. Tax treatment turns "half" into 40% or 60% depending on which half you take.
Your lawyer knows the law. They don't know what you'll live on for the next 30 years.
Most people sign their settlement while still in emotional shock. The brain is in survival mode — the prefrontal cortex that makes rational decisions is literally offline. By the time the fog lifts, the settlement is final.
You need someone whose only job is protecting your financial future — not billable hours, not legal posturing. Someone who can show you exactly what different settlement scenarios mean for your life 5, 10, 25 years from now.
The 5-step system that shows you what you'll actually live on, so you stop guessing and start knowing.
Calculate your real post-divorce income — including spousal support, assets, and earning potential — so you negotiate from facts, not fear.
Document gathering checklists tell you exactly what to bring to your attorney — so you walk in prepared, not panicked.
Map out your real expenses as a single person — before you fight for something you can't actually maintain.
The asset identification system helps you find accounts and property you might not even know exist.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
$97
Instant access. 100% money-back guarantee.
Get the Clarity You Need — $97Q: How are insurance company pensions divided in Connecticut divorces?
Hartford insurance companies (Aetna, Travelers, The Hartford) offer traditional defined-benefit pensions increasingly rare in corporate America. Under Connecticut equitable distribution, pensions earned during marriage are divided "fairly"—not necessarily 50/50. For 30+ year insurance careers, pensions worth $2K-$4K monthly ($24K-$48K annually) represent major retirement security. At 60+, proper QDRO execution is critical to preserve both spouses' retirement income.
Q: Does Connecticut's permanent alimony still exist for long marriages?
Yes—Connecticut maintains permanent alimony for marriages 20+ years, unlike many states that eliminated it. For 60+ divorcees from 30-year marriages, permanent alimony continues until death or remarriage. If one spouse earned $150K+ insurance executive salary while the other stayed home or earned significantly less, permanent alimony awards can be $3K-$6K+ monthly. This creates substantial ongoing financial obligation but provides retirement security for lower-earning spouses.
Q: What does "equitable distribution" mean in Connecticut vs. 50/50 community property?
Connecticut uses equitable distribution (fair division) NOT community property (automatic 50/50 split). Courts consider: marriage length, each spouse's earning capacity, contributions (including homemaking), age, health, vocational skills. For 60+ 30-year marriages with insurance executive earning $200K and homemaker spouse, division might be 60/40 or 55/45—not automatic 50/50. At 60+, judges heavily weight limited future earning capacity when dividing assets.
Q: Can I afford Connecticut after divorce at 60+?
Connecticut is expensive: median Hartford homes $300K-$400K, but with high property taxes ($6K-$9K annually), state income tax (up to 6.99%), and high cost of living. At 60+ on retirement income alone ($50K-$70K), solo Connecticut living is challenging. Many divorcees relocate to Florida (no income tax, lower costs), North Carolina (affordable), or within CT to cheaper areas. Consider: can you sustain Connecticut's $50K-$60K annual living costs on retirement income, or does relocating preserve financial security?
Hartford concentrates insurance companies:
Corporate pensions + 401(k)s accumulated during marriage are marital property subject to equitable distribution.
Hartford insurance companies offer traditional pensions:
Dividing pensions requires QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) for proper division.
Can you afford Hartford solo? Hartford is much more affordable than Fairfield County. Many 50+ clients can manage Hartford on one income, especially with insurance pensions.
Permanent alimony: Long marriages may qualify for permanent alimony in Connecticut, providing ongoing financial security for lower-earning spouses.
Pension protection: Insurance pensions are valuable assets that must be properly valued and divided through qualified domestic relations orders.
Your lawyer handles the law. Your therapist handles emotions. This guide handles what you'll actually live on for the next 30 years.
Turn Panic Into Power — $97 Have Questions? Contact Us