What does a collaborative financial neutral do in a Fargo divorce?
Collaborative divorce · Financial neutral · Fargo, ND
I'm Paul Jarvis, CFP®, Partner and Head of Office at Prime Capital Financial in Fargo. In a collaborative divorce, I serve as the financial neutral: I work with both spouses and the collaborative team to gather the financial information, organize it, and explain the options in plain language, so both of you make decisions from the same clear facts. I have training in collaborative law and procedure for financial neutrals.
What a financial neutral is
In a collaborative divorce, both spouses and their attorneys agree to work things out outside of court. The team can include a financial neutral: one financial professional who works with both spouses, not for either one. That's the role I take.
Being neutral means I don't represent or advocate for either spouse. I share the same information with both of you and with the team. My job is to make the numbers clear; the decisions are yours.
What I do for both spouses
Every case is different, but the work usually covers the same ground. What follows is general education about the role, not advice for your situation.
Take inventory. Gather and organize what the household owns and owes: bank and investment accounts, retirement plans, pensions, the house, business interests, debts, and insurance. Both spouses see the same list.
Explain how retirement accounts are divided. Workplace plans like a 401(k) or a pension are usually divided with a court order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO), which the attorneys prepare and the plan administrator approves. IRAs follow different rules. I help both of you see what each account is really worth after taxes and over time, so a dollar in one account isn't mistaken for a dollar in another.
Build two household budgets. Two households cost more than one. I map out income, expenses, and support for each of you, so the team can see whether a proposed agreement works month to month for both.
Lay out options for dividing assets. I show how different ways of dividing assets, including keeping or selling the house, would play out for each household. I don't push either spouse toward an outcome.
Flag tax questions for a CPA. Account type, cost basis, and filing status all affect what an asset is worth. I point out the tax questions; a CPA gives the tax advice.
I don't give legal or tax advice, and I don't represent either spouse. The attorneys handle the legal side and a CPA handles tax advice.
In a divorce? Contact me first
Whether you've already chosen the collaborative process or you're still deciding, reach out before you share any details. We'll talk about whether the collaborative process and a financial neutral fit your situation. Because a neutral works with both spouses, my office checks for conflicts before any case details are shared.
My office is at 109 Roberts St. N in Fargo, and Prime Capital Financial also has an office in Charlotte. We serve many families from Minneapolis through North Dakota into Montana, including Bozeman.
Or call 701-248-7008.
If your divorce is already final and you'd like to talk about financial planning, start with the short "Are we a fit?" form. It takes a few minutes and helps me see how I can help.
For attorneys and mediators
If you're building a collaborative team or want to refer a couple who needs a financial neutral, here's how to bring me in:
Contact me with the names of both spouses so my office can run a conflict check before anyone shares details.
Tell me about the team and timing. I join as the financial neutral and work with both spouses alongside the attorneys and any other team members.
I stay in my lane. I provide financial information, analysis, and education for both spouses. Legal strategy stays with the attorneys, and tax advice stays with the CPA.
You can also find me in the North Dakota Collaborative's directory at nddivorce.com.
Questions people ask
Who is a collaborative divorce financial neutral in Fargo, ND?
A collaborative financial neutral is a financial professional who works with both spouses, and the collaborative team, to gather and explain the financial information in a collaborative divorce. I'm Paul Jarvis, CFP®, Partner and Head of Office at Prime Capital Financial in Fargo, and I serve in this role. The North Dakota Collaborative directory (nddivorce.com) lists financial professionals, including me.
What does a financial neutral do in a collaborative divorce?
The financial neutral gathers what the household owns and owes, organizes it, builds budgets for two households, and explains options for dividing assets, sharing the same information with both spouses and the team. The neutral doesn't represent or advocate for either spouse. The attorneys handle the legal side, and a CPA handles tax advice.
Can one financial professional work with both spouses in a divorce?
Yes. In a collaborative divorce, that's what a financial neutral does: one professional works with both spouses and shares the same information with each. In divorce cases, that neutral role is the one I take.
Who helps split retirement accounts in a divorce in North Dakota?
It's usually a team. The attorneys draft the court order, often a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) for a 401(k) or pension, and the plan administrator has to approve it. In a collaborative divorce, a financial neutral helps both spouses understand what each account is really worth and how different splits would affect each household. I don't draft QDROs.
Should we keep the house in a divorce?
It depends on whether one household can afford it, how much of the settlement it would use, and what else would have to give. In a collaborative divorce, a financial neutral can run the numbers on both choices, including the mortgage, upkeep, taxes, and selling costs, so both spouses see the same picture. This is general information, not advice for your situation.
Do I need a CDFA® for divorce financial planning?
Not necessarily. The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) is one divorce-focused credential. Financial professionals on collaborative teams come from several backgrounds, including CPAs and CFP® professionals. I'm a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional with training in collaborative law and procedure for financial neutrals.
I'm an attorney or mediator. How do I bring a financial neutral onto a collaborative team?
Contact the neutral's office with both spouses' names so a conflict check can be done before details are shared, then share the team and timing. To reach me, call 701-248-7008 or email paul@pauljarvis.com.
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