From Dividing Assets to Defining Your Financial Future
The moments that shape our lives often shape the kind of financial guidance we need beside us. And while clients may be facing those moments for the first time, our experienced advisors have helped many others through similar situations before – developing their own distinct way of guiding people through uncertainty, important decisions, and what comes next.
Signature Moves highlights those approaches, so people can more easily recognize the advisor they’ll want beside them when life happens.
Meet Nicole Romito, Wealth Advisor and Managing Director at Hightower Signature Wealth in Chicago, IL.
Signature Move
Helping women navigate the financial complexities of divorce through education and thoughtful planning so they can make important decisions with greater confidence and independence.
Who This is For
Divorce can leave you facing financial decisions you never expected to make on your own. Whether you’ve always been involved in managing your finances or are taking on new responsibilities, understanding what comes next isn’t always straightforward.
- You’re navigating the division of assets, retirement accounts and other financial arrangements, and want to understand how those decisions could affect your future.
- You’re thinking about what life after divorce will look like financially, from maintaining your lifestyle to managing expenses and planning for new priorities.
- You want to understand the financial details that affect you and feel comfortable asking questions without being expected to know everything from the start.
You’re looking for an advisor who understands the financial and emotional complexities of divorce, takes the time to explain what matters and helps you make decisions that reflect your needs and priorities.
Where You Are Today
You may be preparing for divorce, in the middle of the process or adjusting to life afterward. As your financial circumstances and responsibilities change, you’re beginning to consider what those changes mean for the life you want to lead.
What You’re Going Through
Divorce involves financial decisions that can have lasting consequences, often at a time when you’re already navigating significant personal change. Between legal agreements, financial responsibilities and planning for a different future, it can be difficult to know which details deserve attention first.
- Dividing assets isn’t always straightforward. Retirement accounts, investments, deferred compensation and other assets can carry different tax implications and long-term considerations that aren’t immediately obvious.
- You may be weighing emotional decisions about your lifestyle, such as whether to keep your home, while also determining what your finances can realistically support over time.
- Even after a divorce agreement is finalized, important details may still need attention, from transferring accounts and updating estate documents to establishing a sustainable spending plan.
These decisions deserve more than a quick answer. Taking the time to understand their financial implications can help you make choices that reflect both your immediate needs and longer-term priorities.
Nicole’s 3-Step Approach
1. Make sense of your new financial reality – evaluate your assets, income, expenses and potential settlement arrangements to understand what your finances can realistically support. Identify immediate priorities and begin building a plan around your needs and goals.
2. Connect the financial pieces – work alongside your attorney, accountant and other professionals to evaluate the implications of asset division, tax considerations and estate planning needs. Help coordinate the details so important decisions are considered within the context of your broader financial plan.
3. Build knowledge and confidence – take the time to explain your options, answer questions and help you understand what different choices could mean for your future. Rather than telling you what you can or cannot do, provide the education and perspective to make decisions on your own terms.
Signature Perspective
“Financial confidence comes from understanding your finances and feeling comfortable making your own decisions. My role isn’t to tell you what you can or cannot do with your money. It’s to give you the knowledge and perspective to make those choices for yourself.”
What You’ll Experience
- A supportive, judgment-free relationship with an advisor who understands the emotional weight of major financial decisions and takes the time to work through them with you.
- Thorough financial planning that looks beyond investments to address the legal, tax and practical considerations that can accompany divorce.
- Ongoing guidance as you establish new financial routines, revisit your priorities and become more comfortable making decisions independently.
Where You’ll Be Tomorrow
You move from facing unfamiliar financial decisions to understanding your options, trusting your judgment and taking a more active role in your financial future.
Connect with Nicole
If you’re looking for support and financial guidance while navigating divorce, talk with Nicole.
This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions.
Find answers to your questions about Hightower Signature Wealth
Hightower Signature Wealth is a fiduciary wealth management practice that provides investment management, financial planning, estate strategies, insurance, and banking solutions. We work with families, business owners, professionals, women, and retirees across more than 40 offices nationwide. Our advisors take the time to understand your financial priorities, develop a plan around your goals, and adjust that plan as your life and circumstances evolve.
Hightower Signature Wealth provides a broad range of wealth management services designed to address different aspects of your financial life. Our capabilities include investment management, financial planning, retirement planning, estate strategies, insurance and risk management, banking solutions, and charitable giving strategies. By considering these areas together, our advisors can develop a coordinated approach based on your goals, priorities, financial circumstances, and plans for the future.
Hightower Signature Wealth advisors work with a broad range of clients, including women, families, business owners, professionals, retirees, and high-net-worth individuals navigating major life or financial transitions. Rather than applying a generic playbook, each advisor tailors the plan to a client’s specific goals and current stage of life – from early-career decisions to multigenerational wealth transfer.
Yes. Hightower Signature Wealth advisors serve as fiduciaries, which means they are committed to acting in their clients’ interests when providing investment advice. We offer fee-based advisory services, with fees depending on the services provided and the specifics of your relationship. Your advisor will discuss the applicable fee structure with you so you can understand how you are charged and what services are included.
Hightower Signature Wealth has more than 40 offices nationwide, allowing our advisors to serve individuals, families, and organizations across the country. Depending on your location and preferences, you may be able to work with an advisor locally or connect with a team in another market. Visit our Locations page to explore our office locations, learn more about the teams in each market, and find an office near you.
Getting started with Hightower Signature Wealth is simple. Complete our online contact form with some basic information about yourself and what you are looking for, and we’ll connect you with an advisor who can discuss your needs and financial priorities. That initial conversation is an opportunity to learn more about our approach, ask questions, and determine whether working with a Hightower Signature Wealth advisor may be a good fit.
Your first conversation is an opportunity for us to learn more about you, your financial circumstances, and what you hope to accomplish. An advisor may ask about your goals, current investments, family considerations, business interests, and other priorities that could influence your financial plan. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask questions, learn about our approach, and discuss what working together could look like.
