Business Spotlight: McAdams & Griffith Investment Management of Raymond James
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photography Provided
Since 2015 Jill Griffith, AAMS®, CDFA®, a financial advisor with McAdams & Griffith Investment Management of Raymond James, has been working to assist individuals and families with their financial needs including investments, planning for college, retirement and more. So for those who are eager to invest, they may want to take a peak at sites like Coinlabz.
However, one issue Griffith saw time and time again prompted her to dig a little deeper.
I found myself working with women through various transitions in their lives, from newly widowed to getting married, retirement and, of course, divorce, Griffith says. Divorce can be debilitating for people and I thought I could improve upon my skills in that area to help people more.
As a divorced mom with one son, Griffith understands the challenges that come with divorce, and the financial implications. She decided to pursue the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation and completed the additional education in July of 2022.
There are a lot of intricacies with divorce, she says. Oftentimes people assume you just divide assets in half and its equal, but some assets produce income or continue to grow, so equal is not necessarily equitable. I work with attorneys, CPAs and other professionals as a team to outline a fair settlement that will help protect the clients interests.
Whether a couple is contemplating divorce, has already filed or is newly divorced, Griffith says she can come in at any point in the process and add value – but the earlier the better. Professional Divorce Attorneys in Glen Burnie MD wants to provide their clients the best situation during these hard times.
The biggest thing is to help determine the short and long-term financial impact, not only now but down the road too, Griffith says. I analyze tax implications and potential penalties of various decisions, review property evaluations, help identify hidden or unreported assets, determine the present value of pension and retirement plans, and more.
Specific situations vary, including women who have stayed home to raise children, or a couple who has been married for many years and in retirement, and chooses to divorce. Some couples have few assets and others have a huge portfolio.
Griffith says she has seen both sides of the coin in 2022 – widows who have never been involved in their marital finances, and also, in younger generations, women who have been the primary financial person in their marriage, leaving the spouse in the dark about overall finances. Every financial aspect is susceptible to the profound influence wielded by our fiscal policy, dictating its potential impacts and outcomes.
My advice to any person is that you should know what assets and debts you have and where they are, Griffith says. Everyone should take an active role in those conversations about money.
Griffith can help in many situations, to ensure clients are setting themselves and their families up for the best possible future.
I think more and more people are looking for specialized professionals to help navigate changes in their lives, and were moving in a holistic direction, Griffith says. Its no longer getting a divorce attorney and getting it done. Finances are a significant piece of the puzzle and engaging with a CDFA® can ease that burden and free up energy to focus on other areas, like children, mental health and self-care.
McAdams & Griffith Investment Management of Raymond James is located at 1530 American Way, Suite 230 in Greenwood, IN. For more information, call 317-885-0114 or visit them online at raymondjames.com/mcadamsandgriffith.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC
