Divorce season is in full swing, and for many listeners, that means overwhelm, fear, and financial uncertainty. Susan Guthrie welcomes back two of her favorite returning experts, Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan of My Divorce Solution, to talk about what truly matters in the earliest days of divorce: financial clarity before legal action.

Divorce may be a legal process, but in the beginning, it feels emotional and financial. Fear can drive rushed decisions. Anger can fuel unnecessary conflict. And too often, people hire attorneys before they understand what they actually own, owe, or need. Karen and Catherine specialize in helping individuals slow down, gather the facts, and understand what is truly in the marital “pie” before anyone starts slicing it up.

Through their structured preparation platform and signature MDS Financial Portrait™, they help people turn panic into power and confusion into confidence. This conversation is about avoiding early mistakes, preventing unnecessary legal costs, and building a foundation that supports smart, informed decisions from day one.

What You’ll Learn

• Why divorce should often begin with financial clarity, not immediate legal action
• How emotional agreements like “you keep the house, I’ll keep my retirement” can create long-term financial damage
• What really happens when couples rely on spreadsheets without full documentation
• The difference between financial literacy and financial empowerment during divorce
• How understanding the financial impact of decisions allows you to pivot confidently during negotiations
• Why assembling the right professional team depends on first understanding the complexity of your financial picture

Episode Blog Article:  What Is the #1 Financial Mistake Before Filing for Divorce?

Free Episode Resource: Before You File: Divorce Financial Readiness Checklist

About the Guests 

Catherine Shanahan, CDFA
After 25 years in the financial industry, having raised five children and endured her own experience with divorce, Catherine became a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), trained Mediator and Daily Money Manager(PDMM). Catherine is collaboratively trained and was a member of the Bucks County Collaborative Law Group. She is a member of the  American Association of Daily Money Managers (AADMM) the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, and the Association of Divorce Financial Planners (ADFP). Catherine is fully dedicated to helping clients understand and navigate all aspects of divorce including planning a secure financial future post-divorce. 

Karen Chellew, Legal Liaison 
For over 30 years, Karen has worked in the legal field as a paralegal and business manager. During her career, she served as an affiliated member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and President Elect of the ALA (Association of Legal Administrators). Karen now serves clients and the professional team in her role as legal liaison. She is also a certified QDRO Administrator, Founder and President of Sisters U Foundation, and an Auditor of East Rockhill Township. As the mom of three children and one granddaughter, Karen is extremely passionate about helping women in all that she does.   

My Divorce Solution
Through their professional and personal experiences, Karen Chellew and Catherine Shanahan have created a unique and comprehensive process that greets divorce in a whole new way – a way that empowers those who experience this major life transition. Our mission is simple: to help people move through the divorce process with financial clarity and confidence so they can make the rest of their lives the best of their lives.

The MDS Financial Portrait™ is a compilation of data and financial records utilizing the family’s key and supporting documentation.  The MDS Financial Portrait provides a clear neutral snapshot of the family’s marital and non-marital estate for purposes of determining alimony, child support, and the division of assets and liabilities.  This comprehensive Portrait can then be used by divorce professionals as verification of marital/non-marital assets, and the blueprint when considering various scenarios, alternatives and the resulting implications of any financial decisions.

Our services, specialties and certifications help individuals and couples develop a transparent and comprehensive financial plan that will optimize the outcome of their divorce.  We meet with couples in our virtual office so we can assist you no matter where you live!

Connect with Karen and Catherine of My Divorce Solution

Website: http://mydivorcesolution.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mydivorcesolution

Podcast: https://mydivorcesolution.com/we-chat-divorce-podcast/

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Meet Our Host

Susan E. Guthrie®, Esq. is one of the nation’s leading family law and mediation experts, with more than 35 years of experience helping individuals and families navigate divorce and conflict with clarity and compassion. She is the Immediate Past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, a best-selling author, and a sought-after speaker, trainer, and practice-building consultant.

Susan recently appeared as the featured expert on The Oprah Podcast, where she shared her insights on gray divorce and the changing landscape of relationships. Her expertise has also been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The Washington Post, NewsNation, and NBC’s Chicago Today, among many others.

As the creator and host of the award-winning Divorce & Beyond® Podcast, ranked in the top 1% of all podcasts worldwide with more than 3.4 million downloads, Susan brings together top experts and powerful personal stories to help listeners move through divorce and beyond with confidence, insight, and hope.

Learn more about Susan and her work at susaneguthrie.com.

Divorce & Beyond is a Top 1% Overall and Top 100 Self-Help podcast designed to help you with all you need to know to navigate your divorce journey and most importantly, to thrive in your beautiful beyond!  

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A Smarter, Simpler Way to Navigate Your Divorce

Looking for a clearer and more affordable way to move through your divorce? Check out Hello Divorce. Their guided online platform combines easy-to-follow tools with real legal and coaching support to help you complete your divorce with less stress, less confusion, and far lower costs than a traditional courtroom battle.

They have created a special page just for Divorce & Beyond listeners. Explore your options at hellodivorce.com/susan.

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DISCLAIMER:  THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL ADVICE.  YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR ISSUE OR PROBLEM