Monthly Member Meeting | Supporting Financial Abuse Victims Through Divorce

Approved for:
1 General CLE Credit
1 Mental Health and Wellness Credit
1 Marital and Family Law Certification Credit

FL Bar CLE approved exclusively for NADP members. Reciprocity may be available in your state—be sure to verify requirements.

Description:
This presentation aims to shed light on the often-overlooked issue of financial abuse, which occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases. We will:

1. Define Financial Abuse: What it is and how it manifests in relationships.
2. Identify Symptoms: Common signs that clients may be experiencing financial abuse.
3. Equip Professionals: How to recognize financial abuse and provide supportive, trauma-informed guidance to clients.

Using real-life examples, we will illustrate how financial abuse impacts individuals and share practical examples of how professionals have supported clients to navigate these situations. These cases will highlight strategies that helped couples find a path toward a fair and equitable resolution, empowering both parties to move forward.

Key Takeaways:

• Compassionate lawyering for victims of financial abuse means creating a safe, supportive space, listening actively, validating their experience, and offering clear guidance while being mindful of financial constraints.
• Mediation can retraumatize financial abuse victims due to power imbalances, fear, and lack of financial knowledge. It’s important to recognize these risks and watch for continued manipulation by the abuser.
• A trauma-informed mediation approach in financial abuse cases focuses on safety, empowers the victim, supports long-term well-being, and allows a flexible, pressure-free process.
• Attorneys attending this presentation will gain valuable insights into the intersection of financial abuse in divorce cases and the ethical duty to act in the client’s best interest. The session will equip legal professionals to better understand the multifaceted nature of financial abuse, recognize its often-subtle manifestations, and navigate the legal complexities involved in equitable asset division and support. The emphasis on trauma informed practices and compassionate client interaction will provide practical strategies for building trust, avoiding re traumatization, and ultimately achieving more just and supportive outcomes for vulnerable clients.

Speakers Bio: 

Shari M. Reffsin, CFP®, CDFA, CLTC
845-474-8430 / [email protected]
With over 25 years of experience as a Certified Financial Planner™, Shari is an advocate for empowering women to become financially independent and lead their best lives through education and thoughtful planning. As the founder of Reffsin Financial, she specializes in guiding women through life transitions such as divorce, widowhood, or career changes, helping them find clarity and confidence in their financial future. Shari strives to understand her clients’ needs and wants, as well as their relationship with money and finances, using a non-judgmental approach. She is also passionate about finding ways to improve the divorce process, ensuring clients achieve the best possible outcome with a plan to meet their most important financial goals. Shari became a CDFA® professional in 2008 and is a founding leader of the Rockland chapter of the National Association of Divorce Professionals. In her spare time, Shari loves yoga, reading, and spending time with her husband and family (especially her two grandsons).

Jennifer Colonna, MSW, LCSW
862-505-3741 / [email protected]
Jennifer Colonna (LCSW) is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, specializing in the financial abuse of women in middle and upper-income families. Through collaboration, Jennifer seeks to eliminate silos across the fields of law, finance, and mental health, while raising awareness, educating professionals and offering consultation. Having earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Ms. Colonna established “The Partnership for Marital Equity, LLC” in 2022, to aid in the recovery of victims of financial abuse and to educate young people, as well as couples, during and before marriage, as a means of prevention. Jennifer incorporates qualitative research in her work with clients and offers a psycho-educational group for couples, termed “The Marriage Bank” guiding men and women to build a strong relational foundation of awareness, communication and financial infrastructure to reduce financial conflict in their relationships. In the year ahead, Jennifer aims to establish the “Financial Abuse Victims Fund” to offset attorney fees so often accrued by financially constrained spouses during contentious divorce proceedings.

Renee E. Turner, Esq.
631-604-8248 / [email protected]
Renee Turner is a compassionate and skilled family law attorney, dedicated to guiding clients through some of life’s most challenging and emotional times. With over 12 years of experience, she has built a strong reputation for excellence in the legal community, consistently surpassing client expectations with trusted advice and unwavering support throughout their legal journey. Specializing in family and matrimonial law, Renee takes a thoughtful, strategic approach to each case, focusing on both legal solutions and emotional well-being. Whether navigating complex divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, or property division, Renee is committed to helping clients find amicable solutions whenever possible while providing clear and comprehensive legal counsel. She understands that family law matters are deeply personal and can be overwhelming, often affecting clients on multiple levels. She blends her sharp legal expertise with a sincere sense of empathy, ensuring clients feel heard, supported, and well-informed at every step. Through every phase of the legal process, Renee remains a trusted advocate and ally working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome with her client’s emotional and financial well-being at the forefront while providing the care, attention, and results they deserve.

**Guests are welcome to attend one Monthly Member Meeting. To attend again, we invite you to join our association**