From Divorce To Control: How Women Rebuild Finances With Support, Systems, And Compassion

Send us Fan MailMoney gets messy when life changes. Divorce, loss, and career pivots can turn confident spenders into second-guessers who feel stuck. We sit down with Cindy Locker and Carol Van Fossen of Next Chapter Finances to unpack a kinder, smarter way to rebuild control: start with the real numbers, get clear on your goals, and make a plan that lets you spend without guilt.Carol shares how she moved from managing her family’s money to feeling “clueless” after major life shifts, then back to confident through structure and support. Cindy brings an accountant’s eye for detail, translating statements and cash flow into choices you can actually live with. Together, they show how a compassionate process—gathering data, naming priorities, and scheduling regular check-ins—turns chaos into clarity. No shame. No overwhelm. Just honest math and aligned tradeoffs.We cover what a first engagement looks like, from mapping income and expenses to identifying leaks that don’t add joy, then redirecting dollars to what does: a vacation, a safety net, a child’s milestone, or retirement. You’ll hear why starting today beats waiting for the first of the month, how frequent touchpoints keep progress on track, and how their work bridges clients to financial planners, CPAs, attorneys, and insurance pros with everything organized and ready. If you’ve ever wondered whether your spending matches your values—or wished you could feel good about your choices—this conversation lays out a path.If this resonates, connect with Next Chapter Finances through the link in the show notes to book a free consultation. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs it, and leave a review to help more women find their financial footing.For more information contact Cindy or Carol:Cindy Locker: [email protected] Carol Van Fossen:[email protected]://www.nextchapterfinances.comhttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556088472295Hi and welcome to Thrive and Decide. I’m your host Sarah Thress. This podcast is intended to help women who are going through a divorce, continplating divorce or have lost a spouse feel seen, heard, understood and not alone. All the beautiful souls who share on here are coming from a place of vulnerability and a common belief that sharing your story will help others. You will also hear from industry experts on what to do and not do while going through a divorce. Sarah [email protected] and Decide Facebookhttps://www.instagram.com/thrive_and_decide/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559936633799https://www.facebook.com/SarahThressRealtor/https://www.instagram.com/sarah_thress_realtor/Real Estate Podcast Come To Find Out:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/come-to-find-out/id1704949604Real Estate First Time Home Buyers course: https://sarahthress.graphy.com/