Supporting your clients through a divorce in later life

More retirees than ever are choosing to separate in later life, with one in four divorces now happening over the age of 50¹. The end of such a significant chapter is never easy, but the strain of divorce isn’t purely emotional. Divorce can also have a huge impact on financial wellbeing, particularly as clients approach retirement. Financial advisers can play a critical role in helping divorcing couples.

The impact of divorce

Our research shows that more than one third (38%) of over-50s consider their divorce to be financially unfair, yet just 3% of people seek financial advice when going through the process. Over-50s are four times as likely to seek advice from friends when going through a divorce, as they are from a financial adviser².

It’s particularly crucial for women to seek financial advice; 31% of women in our research said they were financially worse off in the year following their divorce, compared to just 20% of men².

A third of financial advisers also said that clients got in touch with them too late in the divorce process². As an industry, it’s important that we help clients understand that the earlier they take advice, the better their outcome is likely to be. 

Take a holistic view of financial assets

Half of all divorcing couples look to the family home as the most important asset to consider when splitting their wealth, followed by possessions and cash².

Just 12% of couples consider pensions when dividing assets with their partners². In fact, 24% actively waive their rights to their partner’s pension, as the emotional cost of battling over it is too high³. In divorcing couples over 60, this percentage increased to 31%², despite the fact that retirees in later life have less time to make up any shortfall in income following a divorce. This is often to the greater detriment of women, who are more likely to have smaller pension pots.   

Create an environment of trust and support for clients

Divorce is challenging and can have a significant emotional toll on clients. Advisers may witness clients begin to "burn out" because the experience is often overwhelming. To support clients through such a difficult time, it’s essential that advisers approach the subject of divorce sensitively and empathetically.

More than ever, clients will need clear explanations about the advice process to understand the rationale behind their guidance. This is particularly pertinent for older people; while many may have more economic resources to help them cope with the challenges resulting from divorce, they also tend to have fewer social resources to support them emotionally and practically⁴.

Providing an environment of trust and support will mean clients feel more comfortable taking the advice of professionals, which enables advisers to become advocates for their clients' future.

Build relationships with solicitors

Henry Ford said that, “if everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself” – and it’s true that it’s important that advisers build relationships with other professionals to secure best outcomes. Clients of one profession will often require the services of another.

In our recent webinar, 'Later life divorce and the impact on financial planning' it was said that many private client solicitors have at least one financial adviser they have worked alongside in their career who they would recommend to their clients. Likewise, financial advisers will often suggest their preferred solicitor contacts to their clients.

When dealing with divorce, advisers should work together with solicitors to achieve the best for their clients. A great way to establish good working relationships is to talk. Roundtables, seminars, and networking events even virtually are a great way to spark conversations and exchange knowledge. 

An adviser can improve a client’s experience of divorce

Divorce causes an inevitable strain emotionally and financially, but with good financial planning and sensitive advice, an adviser can guide a couple to make the best of the fresh start that awaits them.

Interested in finding out more?

We specialise in helping advisers support their clients to achieve their financial goals in retirement.

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Our sources 

¹ONS: Divorces in England and Wales: 2017

²Opinium Research ran a series of online interviews among a nationally representative panel of 2,008 UK adults aged 50+ who are divorced from 19 to 23 September 2020

³A Guide to the Treatment of Pensions on Divorce, Pensions Advisory Group, 2019

⁴Gray divorce and mental health in the United Kingdom, Tosi & van den Broek, 2020