Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
Pensions, retirement accounts, real estate — Missouri'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 — $97Here'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 Missouri 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 — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in Missouri, you're likely dealing with something most people don't talk about: the complete shift in your financial future when child-related issues are no longer the focus. Your children may be grown and financially independent, which means your entire divorce becomes about protecting and dividing decades of accumulated wealth.
This is especially overwhelming if you've never personally managed the household finances—and you're certainly not alone. Many of our Missouri clients are navigating complex financial decisions for the first time during divorce, often involving financial services compensation from companies like Edward Jones or Stifel, insurance industry pensions, corporate executive packages from Fortune 500 companies like Emerson Electric, or retirement savings built over 30+ year careers.
Why Missouri is different: Missouri uses equitable distribution (not the strict 50/50 split of community property states), but Missouri courts have a strong tendency toward equal division in practice. While the law says "equitable" (fair), judges typically interpret that to mean close to 50/50 unless there are compelling reasons to deviate. This makes Missouri practically similar to community property states, even though it's technically equitable distribution.
The fear-to-strength progression: Right now, you might be feeling panic about losing half of everything you've worked for. That's normal. But here's what we do together: we turn that panic into power by understanding exactly what Missouri law means for YOUR situation, protecting your separate property, and building a post-divorce financial plan that gives you confidence and security.
Here's what that really means for your situation: Missouri law requires "equitable" (fair) division of marital property, not automatically 50/50 like California's community property system. However, in practice, Missouri courts typically divide marital property close to equally unless there are strong reasons to deviate.
What counts as marital property in Missouri:
What counts as separate property in Missouri:
The equitable distribution factors Missouri courts consider:
Critical point: While Missouri law allows for unequal division based on these factors, most divorces result in approximately equal division of marital property. Courts typically need strong evidence to deviate significantly from 50/50.
The commingling danger—and how to avoid it.
Missouri law protects separate property (assets owned before marriage or received by gift/inheritance)—BUT only if you've kept it truly separate. Commingling separate and marital property can transform your separate property into marital property subject to division.
What is commingling?
Commingling occurs when you mix separate property with marital property in a way that makes it impossible to trace or distinguish. Common examples:
How to protect separate property:
Real example: You inherited $150,000 from your parents 15 years into your marriage. If you deposited it into a joint account and used it to pay off the mortgage, remodel the kitchen, and fund vacations, that $150,000 is now commingled and likely marital property. If instead you kept it in a separate investment account in your name only, it remains YOUR separate property and won't be divided in divorce.
Missouri—particularly St. Louis and Kansas City—is home to major financial services firms including Edward Jones (headquartered in St. Louis), Stifel Financial, Commerce Bank, UMB Financial, and countless wealth management and investment firms.
Financial services divorce considerations:
Edward Jones specifics: Edward Jones financial advisors are independent contractors who build valuable client books. These books can be worth hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. Valuing and dividing this intangible asset requires specialized financial expertise.
Missouri has a significant insurance industry presence, particularly in St. Louis with companies like Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), Assurant, and numerous regional insurance carriers.
Insurance industry divorce issues:
For those new to finances: Insurance industry benefits can be complex. A pension is a promise to pay monthly income in retirement, deferred compensation is money earned now but paid later, and stock compensation gives you ownership in the company. Understanding and dividing these benefits fairly requires specialized knowledge.
Missouri is home to major corporate headquarters including Emerson Electric, Monsanto (now Bayer), Centene Corporation, and Express Scripts (now Cigna), among others. Executive compensation at these firms creates unique divorce complexity.
Executive compensation divorce issues:
Timing is everything: Stock compensation that vests after divorce may still be partially marital if it was granted during marriage. Understanding vesting schedules and valuation dates is critical.
For gray divorce, retirement accounts may be your largest asset—and Missouri's tendency toward equal division means you're likely splitting them close to 50/50.
Critical considerations:
For those new to finances: A 401(k) is your employer-sponsored retirement account. Money grows tax-deferred until you withdraw it in retirement. Dividing it incorrectly can trigger massive tax bills—this is where expert guidance pays for itself.
If you've been married 10+ years, you may be entitled to Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings record—even if you never worked outside the home or earned significantly less. This is federal law, not Missouri law.
Key benefits:
Critical timing: When you start Social Security significantly impacts your lifetime income. This is an essential part of your post-divorce financial plan.
Whether you're in Clayton, Ladue, Town and Country, or anywhere across Missouri, your home equity is likely a major asset.
Key decisions:
Tax implications: The capital gains exclusion ($250K single, $500K married) affects whether you sell before or after divorce. Timing matters.
For gray divorce: Can you afford the house on one income? Property taxes, maintenance, and utilities don't decrease just because you're single. We need to ensure keeping the house doesn't jeopardize your retirement security.
Missouri law provides for "maintenance" (commonly called spousal support or alimony). Missouri's approach is relatively structured compared to some states, but still allows for judicial discretion.
Key characteristics of Missouri maintenance:
Missouri maintenance duration guidelines (for marriages without minor children):
Important note: These are GUIDELINES. Courts can and do deviate based on circumstances. For a 25-year marriage, maintenance could last 25 years or be indefinite (until retirement, remarriage, or death).
Statutory factors Missouri courts consider:
Critical considerations when you're approaching or in retirement:
If you're the potential recipient:
If you're the potential payor:
For those new to finances: Maintenance is monthly payments from one spouse to another after divorce. It's designed to help a lower-earning spouse maintain a similar standard of living. In gray divorce, maintenance becomes critical because you may have limited time to rebuild income before retirement.
Clayton serves as the financial and business center of St. Louis County. The area is home to major corporate headquarters, financial services firms, law firms, and wealth management companies.
Common gray divorce issues in Clayton:
Local market knowledge matters: Understanding St. Louis County courts, local valuation standards for professional practices, and regional compensation norms is essential for favorable outcomes.
The St. Louis metro area features some of Missouri's most affluent communities—Ladue, Town and Country, Clayton, Central West End—where gray divorce often involves substantial accumulated wealth.
Affluent area considerations:
Looking for information specific to your area? Explore our metro-specific pages:
Missouri has a progressive income tax system with rates ranging from 0% to 4.95% (as of 2024). While not as high as California or New York, state taxes still matter for your post-divorce financial planning.
Missouri tax brackets (2024):
Key tax considerations for divorce:
For gray divorce: Tax planning becomes crucial when you're living on fixed retirement income. Understanding which assets are pre-tax (traditional 401k/IRA) vs. post-tax (Roth accounts, taxable investments) affects the true value of your settlement.
Missouri courts take economic misconduct seriously. If your spouse has been hiding assets, gambling away marital funds, or making large unexplained transfers, Missouri law allows courts to account for this "dissipation" of marital assets.
What is dissipation? Dissipation occurs when one spouse wastes, misuses, or inappropriately spends marital assets for non-marital purposes, particularly when the marriage is breaking down.
Common forms of dissipation:
How courts address dissipation: If the court finds dissipation occurred, it can "charge" the dissipating spouse for the wasted assets in the property division. Essentially, they get less property to account for what they wasted.
How to protect yourself: Document everything. Bank statements, credit card statements, tax returns, and financial records become critical evidence if you suspect misconduct. As a financial professional, I can help you identify red flags and work with your attorney to build a strong case.
If you're 50-64 and divorcing in Missouri, healthcare coverage becomes a critical concern. You're too young for Medicare but may lose coverage through your spouse's employer.
Healthcare coverage options:
Cost considerations: COBRA can cost $700-$1,500+ per month. Factor healthcare costs into your budget and maintenance calculations. For some, maintaining healthcare coverage is more valuable than other assets.
You don't have to navigate Missouri divorce finances alone. Let's turn your fear into financial strength.
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