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Blog post by Mike Benaglio, May 18, 2023
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
– Eleanor Roosevelt
I often pause to remember; I typically appraise companies and analyze financial details for clients in some of the worst and painful times of their lives … death and divorce. Further, everyone knows they will die someday, but nobody expects to get divorced. It is never part of any well-laid plan, but it comes into the lives of couples and families, and it is often desperately unwanted ...by those affected.
I have written lots of articles and presentations over the years for those working inside family court & mediation events. This brief post is for those who might be walking the hard path of contemplating divorce and need to know who I am – as a financial professional and business appraiser in this arena.
When divorce comes, there are myriad issues to sort out and solve; community vs. separate property, real estate, cash, annuities, jewelry, retirement accounts, vehicles, ownership in companies, access to resorts, stadiums, or clubs, and even pets must be part of a reasonable settlement. We adhere to the strictest standards to help clients, mediators and judges find the most appropriate solutions possible.
Race and I deeply believe in the value of family, and we work in the trenches of challenging times, endeavoring to keep everyone from scorching the structure of their relationships – for the purpose of protecting the future of all involved.
Know this … If we work together and you have influence over resources, I will encourage you to be generous. I believe I do you a great service in this approach.
My dearly departed friend, John Anderson, often quoted John Wesley and I love these words –
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can,” … There is more but you get the idea.
I know that is a high ground to aspire to, especially in a mean or dark time of life. Still, I hold it out; if one has the character and ability to do good, even in times of conflict and difficulty, I believe blessings will come back to them (soon or maybe down the road) in ways we might not currently imagine.
Let us set the stage so that someday you can still walk your daughter down the aisle, or attend important family events, and always offer civil discourse in daily life. This is my life’s work and I believe there’s enormous value, not just to our individual families, but to our nation and the world … in taking the high road and being kind… best we can.
Glad to serve you, always!
Mike Benaglio, CVA, CDFA, MAFF