In golf, the tee shot starts the hole. When the ball lands in the center of the fairway, the player is well positioned for what comes next.
But every golfer knows the score is not determined from the tee box. It is determined by the decisions that follow — the judgment, patience, and strategy applied down the fairway.
Divorce settlements often work in much the same way.
Attorneys dedicate significant expertise and care to negotiating fair outcomes and structuring agreements that resolve complex legal and financial issues. When the settlement is finalized, the legal work has achieved its objective: the assets have been divided and the case has been resolved.
For many clients, however, a new phase begins immediately afterward.
A settlement determines who receives what, but it does not necessarily determine how those assets should work together to support long-term financial stability.
Clients often find themselves asking a different set of questions:
These are not legal questions. They are financial transition decisions.
Just as in golf, the tee shot establishes the position — but the score depends on the decisions that follow.
In practice, a pattern becomes clear. Clients navigating major financial transitions benefit from a structured way to approach the financial decisions that follow. Over the past two decades advising families and individuals through events such as divorce settlements, inheritances, and liquidity transitions, I have seen how often the long-term outcome depends on the financial decisions made after the legal process concludes.
This observation led to the development of the KING Method®, a framework designed to guide financial decisions after significant life events.
The framework organizes decisions into four stages:
Knowledge — understanding the financial landscape and what the settlement truly represents
Intention — aligning financial resources with the client’s goals, priorities, and new life circumstances
Navigation — coordinating decisions across advisors and managing the practical realities of transition
Growth — building a long-term strategy that supports financial independence and stability
The objective is not speed. It is clarity — ensuring that decisions are made in the right order so that a strong starting position leads to lasting stability.
Just as a well-placed tee shot creates opportunity but does not determine the final score, a divorce settlement creates the starting position for the financial chapter that follows.
Thoughtful financial decisions down the fairway are what ultimately turn that position into long-term stability.
Elaine King, CFP®, TEP
Founder, Family & Money Matters™
Advisor to families and women navigating divorce settlements, inheritances, and complex wealth transitions.
