Financial Planner
Mark Flowers
CFP®, CDFA™
My philosophy
I am firmly dedicated to financial literacy for women, especially in divorce. Our professionals believe deeply that our community needs clarity around the confusing divorce process. Not just legally, but emotionally, and financially.
Divorce will likely be the largest financial transaction you make in your life, and now is the time to advocate for your fair share.
The financial planning process is incredibly useful before, during, and post-divorce. Having a plan from the onset will allow you to negotiate a settlement that will create a sustainable lifestyle for you and your family post divorce.
How I work with you
Many clients end their marriage with investments that need to be managed. I take an educational and collaborative approach throughout the process to help you understand financial concepts and manage your wealth efficiently.
My personal story
I am originally from the San Francisco Peninsula, and am a proud alumnus of Serra High School. As a young child, my parents were divorced and I grew up in a single parent parent family. Our core family was my mother, sister, and grandmother were/are women (even our pets!). I am now married, have two daughters, and still have female pets! So being around women is comfortable for me. My mother was (and still is) very hard working, intelligent, and strong. But women of her generation were not given the financial skills to navigate life's curveballs. I realized at a young age that I didn't have the same resources that others did, and I needed to be more mature and focused. My passion for divorce financial planning comes from our personal experience of getting from fear, anxiety, and chaos (i.e. divorce aftermath) to a thriving financial and personal life that we had envisioned, but never, never, ever, thought possible.
Financial planning through the divorce process:
Before divorce
How I can help:
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Provide guidance for efficient data gathering
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Establish an individual financial identity
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Income and expense analysis
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Financial Independence coaching
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Preparation to transition financially- be sure a plan is in place
During divorce
How I can help:
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Past and current cash flow analysis relevant to the marital standard of living and child and spousal support calculations
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Marital estate settlement options analysis (Pre and Post Tax)
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Stock options valuation
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Pension valuation
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Separate and community property interest valuations
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Assistance with QDRO preparation
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Financial Mediation Assistance- If parties are cooperative, asset values can be mutually agreed upon.
After divorce
Practice areas of interest:
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Setting relevant financial goals and implementing them
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Cash flow analysis and budget management
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Tax efficiency planning
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Retirement planning
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Asset Allocation and Investment Management
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Estate planning
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Monitoring and changing beneficiaries