Second Saturday Supports Education, Not Divorce
When speaking with potential future leaders of Second Saturday Divorce Workshops, the perception I see most often is Second Saturday advocates for divorce. I’ve even received pushback from religious organizations that don’t want to partner with my workshop because they think it promotes divorce. I understand how people can assume this since “divorce” is in the name of the program and the workshop speakers often specialize in working with clients going through divorce. However, this could not be further from the truth. Don’t judge a book by its cover or a workshop by its name.
It’s All About Divorce Education
The true mission of Second Saturday is to educate participants about the financial, legal, and emotional implications involved with divorce. Our goal is to provide as much education and knowledge to attendees as possible, so they are equipped to make the decisions that are best for them.
I explain to all of our new leaders that most of the people who attend our workshops are on the fence about whether to pursue a divorce. Many attend wanting to learn the legalities of divorce and are then enlightened to all of the financial decisions that are also involved. They then realize that they have no idea about their family’s financial situation as their spouses have handled all of the financial transactions and investments. It is those who have been kept in the dark (willingly or unwillingly) that we want to support and who we can help the most at a Second Saturday Workshop.
The Most Difficult Decision
Deciding whether to pursue a divorce is one of the most difficult decisions, if not the most difficult decision, a person will ever make. Divorce has a profound impact on both spouse’s finances and emotional health and also impacts their family and friends. What makes divorce even more intimidating is that most participants at our workshops are there for the first time. They have no idea what to expect.
Second Saturday does not promote a pro-divorce agenda. Our job as Leaders and presenters is to enlighten participants about divorce and provide the education and tools they need to understand the challenges they may experience. For example, my presentations include a list of common financial pitfalls to avoid during divorce.
Interestingly, much of the advice we present in our workshops is also helpful for couples who decide to stay together. One of the main causes for divorce is money issues and the financial portion of our workshop presents a wholistic view of where the money goes in a marriage. The house, car, kids, college, bills, etc.… Understanding what it takes to run a household offers our participants a new perspective, one that, if they decide to stay in the marriage, can make them a stronger, more supportive partner.
At the end of the day, I want each participant at my Second Saturday Divorce Workshop to feel empowered, no matter what decision they make. If they do decide divorce is inevitable, they have the knowledge and tools to confidently walk down that path and know they will survive this most difficult situation.
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Melanie Johnson is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) and serves as the National Director of Second Saturday Divorce Workshops. Since 2006, Melanie has continuously led a Second Saturday Divorce Workshop in her home city of Austin. Melanie has owned Divorce Financial Solutions since 2004 and works as an investment advisor for Beck Capital Management, LLC.
