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Published on:

25th Apr 2023

What is a Grey Divorce?

Today we are joined for a second time by financial coach and CPA Linda Lingo. Linda is here to talk about grey divorce. She provides some wonderful tips about navigating grey divorce, things to consider with retirement, pension, and spousal maintenance, as well as the importance of having a solid team behind you. We also touch on the increase in the grey divorce age range and why that may be. Tune in today to gather some great insight about managing a grey divorce. 


In this episode:

[00:50] Linda provides an overview of her background. [6:13] What is a grey divorce? [7:57] What is causing a higher divorce rate with 65+? [9:01] Why are women 2x more likely to file for divorce than men? [12:07] Linda gives advice about going through a grey divorce from her personal experience as well as working with clients. [13:50] How does spousal maintenance work post-retirement? [20:36] How does someone approach pension in divorce? [22:13] If there is alimony or spousal support for a set number of years, why should you get a life insurance policy?


Key Takeaways: 

1 in 10 people getting divorced now are 65 and over. When dividing the assets up, it’s important to remember that retirement/401K are pre-tax; if you are balancing it with something that is post-tax, they are not equal. If you are getting spousal support or alimony, the person paying the support should get a life insurance policy for that set amount of time so that should anything happen, they still get their money. The person who receives the support needs to be listed as the beneficiary/owner of the policy.  


Quotes: 

“It's a term that refers to adults 50 and older going through a divorce. Typically it's a longer-lasting marriage that they are now getting divorced.” - Linda Lingo 

“I think women are now realizing that there is life after marriage.” - Linda Lingo

“The number one mistake I see women making is wanting to keep the family home, and it's usually for sentimental reasons. You have to take out a pretty large home equity line of credit or loan against the property in order to pay him for his half of the house, and then all the sudden you have a mortgage. And then the question is, do you need this big house? I mean, who needs a four-bedroom house if it's just you?” - Linda Lingo


Guest Bio: 

I started this business to provide tools and resources that help women gain clarity and confidence in their finances so they can move forward with their lives.

I want to empower women with smart money strategies so they can create a stress-free approach to money.

With over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, I have accumulated the knowledge and skill to understand your financial needs. More importantly, I have experienced most of these life events, thus giving me a first-hand understanding of what you are going through.

With my compassion and guidance, I will provide the right tools needed to make wealth a part of your everyday vocabulary.


Resources: 

Linda Lingo’s Website

Your Gray Divorce, 6 Critical Financial Steps to Go from Surviving Your Divorce to Thriving in Your New Life.

Lesa Koski Website

Lesa’s Online Courses
To receive real-time alerts that your child is safe and to receive $50 off your Soberlink device, visit ⁠https://www.soberlink.com/partners/different⁠ The Onward app was made for divorced parents to help track, share, and split their children's expenses. Download The Onward App today for iOS or Android!

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About the Podcast

Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski
Real conversations for women over 40 about faith, fitness, and fresh starts
Mindset, movement, and faith after 40—because midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s your comeback.

Welcome to Doing Life Different with Lesa Koski, the podcast for women over 40 who are ready to rewrite the rules, reclaim their joy, and rediscover their purpose. Whether you're navigating divorce, rediscovering your health, deepening your faith, or learning how to have fun again—you’re in the right place.

Host Lesa Koski—wife, mom, coach, and seasoned mediator—brings real talk, relatable wisdom, and expert interviews to guide you through midlife reinvention with grace and grit.

In each episode, you’ll get practical tools and empowering conversations on:

Mindset & personal growth

Faith & spiritual connection

Fitness, movement & health

Divorce, marriage & relationships

Fun, purpose & starting fresh in the second half of life

This isn’t just self-help. It’s soul-level transformation. Get ready to do life different—because your next chapter starts now.

Lesa also explores the emotional and physical changes that often accompany midlife and major life shifts. From navigating the impact of menopause on your health, marriage, and mood, to dealing with the loneliness that can come after divorce or empty nesting, you’ll find honest conversations that don’t shy away from real-life challenges. And for those of you in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you’ll discover what it means to truly build a better life after 40.

Health and wellness are deeply integrated into this journey. Lesa shares insights on the benefits of rest, joy, nutrition, fasting, protein, and bone health, along with the power of movement, community, and exercise to support mental clarity and physical strength. You’ll learn how to take care of yourself with intention—because healing isn’t just emotional, it’s also biological.

Mindset work and self-coaching are recurring tools offered in episodes to help you reframe your story and shift from fear to freedom. And through it all, the show honors the role of faith, spiritual surrender, and letting God lead you through every season. Whether you're leaning into your relationship with God for the first time or deepening a lifelong practice, you’ll hear how surrender can bring peace even in the hardest moments.

You’ll hear real stories from people who have done divorce differently, saved their marriages, or found new love and purpose on the other side. Lesa also brings in conversations about marriages that have stood the test of time, co-parenting through complex seasons, and the realities of parenting after separation while maintaining stability for your kids.

This is a podcast about thriving through Cancer, taking back your life, rewriting your future, and trusting that you’re not starting over, you’re starting better. If you’re craving practical advice, soul-level encouragement, and real conversations about creating a healthy, joyful, purpose-driven life, you’ve found your community.

Subscribe now and join Lesa Koski for weekly episodes that will help you grow stronger in your relationships, your health, and your faith, no matter where you’re starting from.

About the Host:
I’ve spent over 25 years helping families navigate amicable divorce as a lawyer and mediator, always focused on protecting what matters most—your kids and your peace of mind. But my mission has expanded. Today, I support women over 40 not just through endings, but in building stronger relationships—and sometimes even saving their marriages. I’m a breast cancer survivor, a cowgirl at heart, a wellness advocate, and a follower of Jesus. My life and faith fuel my passion for helping women thrive.

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Lesa Koski