The Question I Get Asked Most (And Why I Can't Answer It the Way You Expect)

“What are your fees and how does your process work?”

I get this question all the time, through my website, direct messages, and initial consultations.

And I understand why people ask. They want clarity. They want to know what to expect, especially during a time when nothing feels certain.

Divorce turns your world upside down. The rules you thought you understood no longer apply, and you are making life-changing decisions while trying to keep your head above water. Everyone—friends, lawyers, advisors—seems to have a different opinion about what you should do next.

So yes, it is natural to want clarity. But here is the truth: clarity does not come from a checklist. It comes from strategy—one built around your specific situation.

Why Most Divorce Financial Professionals Get This Wrong

Most divorce financial professionals use the same formula for everyone:

• The same number of meetings

• The same checklists

• The same templates

  
  

Regardless of your circumstances.

They might have different “packages” based on asset size, but the process itself? Cookie-cutter. That is how critical blind spots get missed—the kind that can cost you six or seven figures.

Your divorce is not like anyone else’s, especially if you are a business owner or physician navigating complex finances.

The E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™

After more than twenty-two years specializing in divorce financial strategy—including fifteen years inside the legal world of divorce—I have developed a proven methodology that adapts to each client’s unique situation.

I call it the E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™: Evaluate, Analyze, and Weave.

The outcome of this work is simple: financial clarity, strategic confidence, and control over your future. My clients walk away knowing exactly what they have, what they are entitled to, and how to protect it—without guesswork, chaos, or regret.

EVALUATE: I Meet You Where You Are

Before we dive into numbers and strategy, I need to understand:

• Where are you emotionally?

• What are your non-negotiables right now?

• What is keeping you up at night?

• How much do you know about your finances?

  
  

These answers shape everything that comes next—including how we work together and what you will invest. This is not a questionnaire. This is a conversation that reveals what standard processes miss.

ANALYZE: Deep Financial Discovery

With fifteen years inside the legal world of divorce and over twenty years specializing with business owners and physicians, I bring an insider’s perspective most financial strategists simply do not have.

I know:

• How businesses are valued in divorce court

• What judges focus on and how they see numbers

• How the system works

• What is coming next in your case before you do

  
  

Through in-depth analysis, I uncover what cookie-cutter processes miss:

• The nuances of how your business operates

• Blind spots you might not even see (like the client who did not realize she owned 49% of her husband’s business)

• Opportunities to protect what matters most

• Tax implications and equity-compensation complexities

• Hidden or undisclosed assets

  
  

Proof in practice:

• Helped a business owner preserve 92% of company equity through creative settlement design

• Identified $480,000 in undisclosed accounts missed by both attorneys

• Supported a physician in reducing support obligations by $9,000 per month through accurate income tracing

  
  

WEAVE: Integrate Everything Into Your Custom Strategy

This is where everything comes together. I weave the financial realities with your personal goals, fears, and priorities to create a comprehensive strategy that actually fits your life—not a generic template.

Weaving means integrating:

• Financial facts with your personal priorities

• Short-term settlement decisions with long-term financial security

• Asset-division strategies with tax implications

• Support calculations with lifestyle needs

• Business valuations with operational realities

  
  

What truly matters is this: even when two people are dividing the same business, they are facing completely different fears.

If you are the business owner, you may be worried about losing your livelihood—your life’s work. Many business owners lose their businesses during divorce. I help you protect what you have built.

If you are the spouse, you may fear financial insecurity, being left behind, or having your contributions overlooked. I help ensure your efforts are valued and your future secure.

Weaving also means implementing the strategy. When we work together through mediation or settlement negotiations, I am there with you to:

• Prepare you and coordinate with your attorney

• Adapt the strategy in real time as offers change

• Ensure nothing gets overlooked in the final agreement

• Guide post-settlement implementation

  
  

The goal is not to “win” against your spouse. The goal is to walk away with a settlement that protects your financial future and allows you to move forward with confidence.

Why The E.A.W. Framework™ Gets Better Results

Standard processes miss what matters most:

A standard questionnaire asks, “Do you own a business?” The E.A.W. Framework™ uncovers, “You did not think you owned the business, but you own 49 percent—that changes everything.”

A standard checklist values the business the same way for everyone. The E.A.W. Framework™ recognizes that one spouse may bring all the client relationships while the other handles operations—requiring entirely different valuations and strategies.

A preset package treats all physicians the same. The E.A.W. Framework™ understands that a practice owner, an employed physician, and a partner with equity each require distinct strategic approaches.

How We Work Together

My engagements are comprehensive, flat-fee packages—not hourly billing. This ensures you have clarity on costs from the start, and I can focus entirely on your outcomes rather than watching the clock.

Most of my clients manage $2 million to $15 million in marital estates or own professional practices, but what matters most is complexity, not net worth.

I apply the E.A.W. Framework™ at different levels depending on where you are in your divorce and what you need:

• Financial clarity and analysis for those who need to understand the complete picture.

  
  

• Strategic mediation support for those preparing to negotiate settlement.

  
  

• Comprehensive divorce strategy for complex cases requiring full partnership from start to finish.

  
  

Investment ranges from $12,500 to $35,000+ depending on your situation, case complexity, and level of support needed.

I do not offer à la carte services or hourly consulting. Strategy without implementation support means wasted money. Analysis without negotiation presence means missed opportunities. Scenarios without real-time adaptation mean outdated advice.

I have seen what happens when people try to navigate divorce with disconnected pieces of guidance. It does not work, and I will not take your money for something that will not truly serve you.

Ready to Take Control and Create a Strategy Fit for You?

As a Private Divorce Financial Strategist, I do not fit you into a framework. We build the framework—and your strategy—together.

Your divorce is not standard. And neither is the support you deserve.

Ready to take control and create a strategy fit for you? Let's talk.

→ Business owners, schedule here

→ Physicians, schedule here 

→ Other professionals, schedule here

About the Author: 

Gabriella E. Martinelli, CDFA® CDS® NCMP®, is the founder at Ever After Wealth® and creator of the E.A.W. Divorce Strategy Framework™. As a Private Divorce Financial Strategist specializing in protecting the wealth and futures of business owners and physicians, she brings over 21 years of experience and 15 years working inside the legal world of divorce to identify financial blind spots and architect strategies that protect what matters most.