Securing your financial future in the wake of a divorce can be a stressful and confusing undertaking. Financial issues and property division can be complicated in a divorce, but it is well-worn territory for the team at Banks Carroll Group at Morgan Stanley, who have a combined experience of nearly 50 years. As the only female advisors in the Greater Gainesville area with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA™) designation, Ashley Banks and Donna Carroll are uniquely equipped to minimize the financial burden of divorce while handling the emotional stresses that it comes with.
A relative newcomer to the family law arena, the CDFA™ Certification bolsters Banks and Carroll’s ability to aid in financial decisions and work together with clients and their divorce attorney toward a settlement that fully addresses any individual needs and goals. Using this specialized knowledge, the duo empower their clients to make educated choices throughout the process, navigating both short-term decisions and longterm effects of the divorce settlement, including details of tax liabilities and benefits.
The process begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s current situation and major life events and their impact. The pair then work with clients to develop specific strategies for income, overall budgeting and lifetime goals, resulting in an asset allocation strategy for the client that is customized to match their new goals and objectives. With a pending divorce, “it really helps put the client’s mind at ease to have us reassure them on these important financial decisions,” said Banks.
The pair are deeply devoted to educating their clients about finances, and find great reward in empowering clients to succeed in their financial future. Sometimes, Carroll said, women in particular aren’t aware of their finances during their marriages, and as a result they are left in the dark financially during a divorce. That’s why education and empowerment is the group’s motto. “That comes first,” explained Carroll.
Along with the CDFA™ Certification, Banks is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), allowing the team at Banks Carroll to be a complete resource for individuals needing financial direction before, during and after a divorce.
Outside of the work they do for clients, Banks and Carroll are committed to bettering the community for everyone. Banks serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Alachua County and is an auxiliary board member of the Children’s Home Society along with Carroll. Carroll also serves on the advisory board for Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida. Both are also involved with the Women’s Giving Circle, in addition to affiliations with the Association of Divorce Financial Planners, the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Leadership Gainesville Alumni Association and the United Way Small Business Leadership Council.
Contact Us: Morgan Stanley Banks Carroll Group
4965 NW 8th Ave
Suite A
Gainesville, FL 32605
Tel:352-392-9300
Toll-Free: 888-236-9049
Fax: 352-335-6089
Ashley Banks– [email protected]
Donna Carroll– [email protected]
morganstanley.com/fa/bankscarrollgroup