In this episode of Journey Beyond Divorce, Karen McMahon sits down with Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA®, CES™, President and CEO of Francis Financial, to unpack one of the most complex and often overlooked aspects of divorce: executive compensation. When income extends beyond a traditional paycheck to include RSUs, stock options, deferred bonuses, and long-term incentive plans, the financial landscape of divorce becomes significantly more complicated—and the stakes much higher.

Together, Karen and Stacy explore how these "golden handcuffs" function and why they are so frequently misunderstood, undervalued, or even missed entirely during divorce proceedings. They dive into how executive compensation is structured, where disclosure gaps tend to occur, and how to identify these assets through key documents like offer letters, vesting schedules, and compensation statements. Stacy also explains how marital versus separate property is determined using time-based calculations tied to the date of divorce, and why timing, vesting schedules, and tax implications can dramatically impact the outcome of a settlement.

This conversation brings clarity to critical decisions, including whether to divide future vesting shares or offset their value with other assets, and highlights a common and costly mistake around who is responsible for taxes on RSU income. Karen and Stacy also discuss real-world complications like job changes, buyouts of unvested compensation, and what happens to these assets in the event of death or disability. Throughout the episode, they emphasize the importance of working with experienced legal and financial professionals who understand high-net-worth divorce and complex compensation structures.

Whether you are an executive navigating divorce or a spouse trying to understand the full financial picture, this episode offers essential insights to help you avoid costly mistakes, ensure proper disclosure, and make informed decisions that protect your long-term financial future.

Connect with Stacy:

• Website: https://francisfinancial.com/francis_team/stacy-francis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrancisFinancialInc/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francisfinancialinc/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjYgEJi2EhaCd1pL58V78iA?view_as=subscriber
• Free Gift: We have seen first-hand the impact that a detailed Legacy Plan has on our clients and their loved ones. This experience inspired us to create our Legacy Planning Checklist. To make it easier, we've created a three-part Webinar which will take you through the checklist step by step to make sure you finish with confidence. Each session is hosted by Certified Financial Planners™ Stacy Francis and Natalie Colley, who share practical guidance, real examples, and tools to help you build your personalized legacy plan with clarity and confidence.
• Gift Link: https://francisfinancial.com/because-i-love-you-a-legacy-planning-companion/

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com
• Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod

In this episode of the Journey Beyond Divorce Podcast, I'm joined by Wendy Valentine for a really honest and uplifting conversation about something I see so often: how easy it is to get stuck after divorce and begin living smaller than you're meant to.

Wendy shares what it looked like when her life unraveled all at once. At 45, she was navigating divorce, unemployment, $150,000 in debt, chronic illness, menopause, and multiple losses. It was one of those moments where nothing looks the way you thought it would… and you're left wondering what now?

But what's so powerful about Wendy's story is what she chose to do next.

Instead of staying stuck in that place, she began to imagine a different version of her life, a version where she felt happy, healthy, and financially free. And step by step, she started moving toward it. Not perfectly, not all at once, but intentionally.

Over time, she rebuilt her confidence, paid off her debt, healed, bought an RV, and created a life that truly reflects who she is today. She now hosts The Midlife Makeover Show and supports women around the world in doing the same through her FREEDOM Framework.

In our conversation, we talk about how easy it is to stay trapped in old patterns and limiting beliefs, especially during and after divorce, and how bringing awareness to those patterns is often the first real step toward change. Wendy shares how practices like journaling, meditation, and even "acting as if" can begin to shift the way you see yourself and what's possible.

We also talk about the importance of clearing space—emotionally and physically—so you can reconnect with your own voice and begin to envision what you truly want next. And we explore how learning to trust yourself and set boundaries becomes the foundation for creating a life that feels more peaceful, aligned, and fully yours.

This conversation is such a beautiful reminder that divorce isn't just an ending—it can be a turning point. A moment where you begin to choose yourself in a deeper way and step into a new chapter with more clarity, intention, and self-trust.

If you've been feeling stuck or unsure about what comes next, this episode will meet you right where you are, and gently invite you to see what's possible from here.

Connect with Wendy:

• Website: https://wendyvalentine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendy_valentine_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellowendyvalentine/
• Substack: https://wendyvalentine.substack.com
• Free Gift: Ready to thrive through divorce? These freebies are my gift to help you boost your joy, master your emotions, set bold boundaries, design the new you, and awaken your inner superhero. Grab one or grab 'em all!
• Gift Link: https://wendyvalentine.com/freebies

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com
• Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod

n this Voices of Celebration episode, I'm sitting down with Lauren, a woman who, for years, lived in that in-between space so many of you know all too well… where nothing is fully resolved, yet everything feels like it's on the line.

From the outside, her life looked successful. She was a business owner, had two homes, and was raising three children. But behind closed doors, she was carrying overwhelming debt, navigating constant uncertainty, and lying awake at night asking the same painful questions: What if I lose everything? What if my kids blame me? What if I never recover from this?

Lauren spent years trying to hold it all together—financially, emotionally, and as a mother—while also attempting to be fair, to protect her children, and to make sense of a process that felt anything but fair. It wasn't until she stepped into coaching that she finally had a space to put it all down… the fear, the pressure, the complexity, and the constant mental spinning.

Through that work, she began to shift. She learned how to separate what she could control from what she couldn't. She stopped looking to her ex or the legal system for closure. And instead, she started making decisions anchored in her values rather than her fear.

Her journey was anything but simple. She navigated incredibly complex financial challenges—from international tax issues to shared debt and business pressures—while also facing one of the most emotional decisions a parent can make: whether to sell the family home. The fear of how that decision might impact her children was real and deeply felt.

But what's so powerful about Lauren's story is not that everything worked out perfectly… it didn't. She didn't walk away with the financial picture she once imagined. What she did walk away with, however, was something far more meaningful.

She kept her business. She created a home that feels like hers. She rebuilt a more honest, grounded relationship with her children. And most importantly, she reclaimed her sense of self, her steadiness, and her freedom.

In our conversation, we talk about what it really takes to quiet the "monkey mind" when fear takes over, how to move out of rumination and into clarity, and what it looks like to set boundaries in a way that protects your energy without escalating conflict. We also explore the power of surrender—letting go of the hope that someone else will finally make things right—and choosing instead the path that gives you your life back.

Lauren's story is a reminder that even when divorce feels like it's taking everything from you, there is another side. A side where you are no longer stuck in the chaos. A side where you trust yourself again. A side where your life feels like your own.

If you've been carrying the weight of financial fear, emotional exhaustion, or the heartbreak of wondering how your choices will impact your children, this episode will meet you right where you are—and show you what's possible when you keep moving forward.

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• Follow JBD on Instagram: @journey_beyond_divorce
• Book a Free Rapid Relief Call: http://rapidreliefcall.com
• Free Divorce Support Network Gift: https://divorcesupportnetwork.com/jbdpod