Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
INL pensions, retirement accounts, real estate — Idaho's 50/50 split requires expertise. This guide shows you what to protect.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in gray divorce for 50+
Turn Panic Into Power — $97Q: How are Idaho National Laboratory (INL) federal pensions divided in divorce?
INL federal employees participate in FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System). Under Idaho community property, FERS pensions earned during marriage are divided 50/50 automatically. For 30-year INL careers, FERS pensions worth $30K-$50K annually represent substantial retirement security. Proper Court Order Acceptable for Processing (COAP) execution is required for FERS division—this is the federal equivalent of a QDRO. At 60+, dividing federal pensions correctly preserves both spouses' retirement income.
Q: Can I afford Idaho Falls after divorce at 60+?
Idaho Falls is Idaho's most affordable major metro: homes $350K-$400K vs. Boise $450K-$500K or Coeur d'Alene waterfront $800K-$3M. Annual costs: property taxes ($3K-$4K), insurance ($1.5K), utilities ($3K), maintenance ($4K) = $25K-$35K/year. At 60+ on retirement income ($50K-$70K with FERS pension), solo Idaho Falls living is very sustainable. Idaho's no income tax on Social Security and pensions further preserves retirement dollars.
Q: What about INL Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) division in divorce?
INL federal employees participate in TSP (federal 401(k) equivalent). Under Idaho community property, TSP balances accumulated during marriage are divided 50/50 automatically. For 30-year INL careers with maximum contributions, TSP balances reach $600K-$1M+. Proper Retirement Benefits Court Order execution is critical—TSP has specific procedures. Dividing $800K TSP means each spouse receives $400K, providing substantial retirement security but halving future growth potential.
Q: Is Idaho Falls a good place to stay for retirement after divorce at 60+?
Idaho Falls excels for 60+ post-divorce retirement: exceptionally affordable housing, no income tax on retirement income, small-town safety, outdoor recreation (Yellowstone 90 minutes, skiing, fishing, hiking). Healthcare access via Mountain View Hospital adequate for routine needs. However, Idaho Falls is isolated—nearest major city is Salt Lake City (3.5 hours). At 60+, consider: does Idaho Falls' financial advantage ($15K-$20K/year lower costs than Boise) and outdoor lifestyle outweigh isolation from family, limited cultural amenities, and harsh winters?
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 FERS pension and TSP, 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 Idaho 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.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Idaho Falls, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown. Instead, you're dividing Idaho National Laboratory retirement benefits, affordable Eastern Idaho real estate, and assets under Idaho's community property in one of the region's most affordable communities.
Idaho Falls offers small-town living with stable federal employment at Idaho National Laboratory (INL)—America's leading nuclear research facility.
INL is Eastern Idaho's major employer:
Community property: FERS pensions and 401(k) accounts accumulated during marriage divided 50/50.
Idaho Falls offers the most affordable major Idaho metro:
Post-divorce affordability: Many 50+ clients can easily afford Idaho Falls on one income.
Idaho Falls offers rural mountain lifestyle:
Can you afford Idaho Falls solo? Idaho Falls is very affordable. Most 50+ clients can easily keep their home on one income, especially with INL federal benefits.
Idaho law applies: Community property means 50/50 division.
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 FERS pension, TSP, and Social Security — 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 on retirement income.
The asset identification system helps you find accounts and property you might not even know exist.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
$97
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Get the Clarity You Need — $97Whether you've worked at INL for decades or you're learning about FERS pensions, we provide the guidance you need.
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