Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
State pensions, USC retirement, real estate — South Carolina'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 — $97Your spouse has managed the state pension for 25 years. They understand PEBA benefits, Optional Retirement Program choices, and the difference between SCRS and PORS retirement systems.
You're seeing these statements for the first time. While negotiating a settlement that could be worth $500,000-$2 million in pension value alone.
And in South Carolina's equitable distribution system? "Equitable" doesn't mean equal — it means fair. But fair to whom?
Without understanding the value of what you're dividing, you can't fight for what's rightfully yours.
Columbia divorces involve state government pensions, USC retirement benefits, military benefits from Fort Jackson, and Midlands real estate. These aren't simple assets to divide.
The difference between understanding these assets and not? It can easily be $150,000-$300,000 in your final settlement.
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 Columbia or the surrounding Midlands, you're navigating one of South Carolina's most pension-heavy economies combined with South Carolina's fault-based divorce laws. Your divorce likely isn't about custody battles—your children are grown and independent. Instead, you're dividing state government pensions worth $500K-$2M+, USC retirement benefits, Fort Jackson military pensions, or established Midlands real estate.
This is especially overwhelming if you've never personally managed complex pension portfolios or government benefits. Many of our Columbia clients are navigating these financial decisions for the first time during divorce—often while dealing with the emotional trauma of discovering a spouse's adultery or other marital fault.
Why Columbia is uniquely complex: Columbia combines South Carolina's largest concentration of state government employees (with complex PEBA pension systems), the University of South Carolina's extensive retirement programs, Fort Jackson military benefits, and a growing healthcare and insurance sector. AND South Carolina's fault-based divorce system where adultery can bar alimony completely.
The Columbia advantage turned challenge: You may have built a stable life here—government job security, good schools, affordable living. But now divorce threatens that stability. We turn that fear into financial strength by protecting your pension share, maximizing retirement benefits, and navigating fault allegations strategically.
Understanding the unique financial landscape of Columbia gray divorce:
For gray divorce: Columbia's combination of stable government employment, significant pension values, and established Midlands real estate creates marital estates often $1M-$5M+ in total assets for 50+ couples—with pensions frequently being the largest single asset.
South Carolina's Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA) administers retirement benefits for state employees, teachers, and public safety personnel. These pensions are often the largest marital asset in Columbia divorces.
Key pension systems in Columbia divorces:
Critical pension division issues:
For those new to finances: A 25-year state employee's pension can be worth $500,000-$1,500,000 in present value. If your spouse worked for the state during most of your marriage, you're entitled to a significant portion of this asset. Getting the valuation wrong can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.
University of South Carolina employees have unique retirement options that require specialized understanding.
ORP (Optional Retirement Program):
SCRS for USC employees:
Additional USC benefits to consider:
Columbia's proximity to Fort Jackson means many divorces involve military retirement and benefits.
Military pension division:
Additional military considerations:
Unlike most states, South Carolina's fault grounds HEAVILY IMPACT financial outcomes—this is NOT just a legal technicality.
The five fault grounds in South Carolina:
How fault impacts YOUR finances:
For gray divorce: Fault allegations become even more critical when you're dividing decades of pension accumulation and negotiating long-term alimony.
Lake Murray waterfront homes represent significant value in Columbia divorces, with properties ranging from $400K to $2M+.
Forest Acres, Shandon, Heathwood, and other established Columbia neighborhoods have seen significant appreciation.
Lexington, Irmo, Blythewood, and Northeast Columbia represent the region's growth corridors.
State pensions, USC retirement, military benefits, Midlands real estate — Columbia divorces involve complex assets. Get the education you need before you sign anything.
Turn Panic Into Power — $97 Schedule a Consultation