Second marriage or first: put a prenup on your wedding checklist

In partnership with Octopus MoneyWelcome back to our 3-part mini-series on The Divorce Podcast, on finance before, during and after divorce. This is part 2.The two biggest things that come up in the middle of a divorce? The family home and pensions – and neither is as simple as it first looks.Kate is joined again by Molly Haylett, Chartered Financial Planner at Octopus Money, to unpack the biggest financial decisions you’ll face once you’re in the thick of the process.We talk about:How to get a reliable valuation on the family home, and the difference between selling and transferringWhy mortgage capacity matters as much as the percentage splitThe difference between defined benefit and defined contribution pensions, and why it mattersWhat a pension on divorce (POD) report is, and when it’s worth getting oneIf you missed part 1, go back and catch Molly’s tips for getting organised at the start of the process. Stay tuned for part 3, where we cover rebuilding your finances once your divorce is finalised.The discussions in this podcast, including the adviser's own experiences, are not personal recommendations. Please seek advice from an authorised adviser familiar with your circumstances before taking action. This podcast provides general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. Octopus Money is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This content is intended for UK residents only and is based on UK regulation as of the date of recording.About Octopus MoneyOctopus Money is on a mission to make investing and money advice accessible to all – because we believe everyone deserves to feel confident about their future. You can get in touch with them to find out more on their website.More divorce resourcesReady to get clear on your finances?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.Want ongoing support through separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on finances and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a dedicated chapter on navigating finances during separation, including reaching financial agreements based on your real needs (not just 50/50 splits) and guidance on commonly overlooked assets like pensions. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#Finances

In partnership with Octopus MoneyWelcome to our 3-part mini-series, packed with helpful tips on finances before your divorce process begins, during it, and how to start rebuilding afterwards. Before you can split anything fairly in a divorce, you need to know exactly what you've got – and not all pounds are equal, whether they're sitting in cash, property or a pension.Kate is joined by Molly Haylett, Chartered Financial Planner at Octopus Money, for tips on how to get your finances organised at the start of your divorce process.We talk about:Why getting a clear picture of your financesWhat people most commonly forget to includeThe biggest financial mistake people make at the start of divorceThis episode is for anyone at the start of their divorce process who wants to feel informed and in control before the bigger financial decisions begin.Tune in next week to learn about finance during the divorce process.The discussions in this podcast, including the adviser's own experiences, are not personal recommendations. Please seek advice from an authorised adviser familiar with your circumstances before taking action. This podcast provides general information only and does not constitute regulated financial advice. Octopus Money is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This content is intended for UK residents only and is based on UK regulation as of the date of recording.About Octopus MoneyOctopus Money is on a mission to make investing and money advice accessible to all – because we believe everyone deserves to feel confident about their future. You can get in touch with them to find out more on their website.More divorce resourcesReady to get clear on your finances?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.Want ongoing support through separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on finances and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a dedicated chapter on navigating finances during separation, including reaching financial agreements based on your real needs (not just 50/50 splits) and guidance on commonly overlooked assets like pensions. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#Finances

If you're divorced and thinking about marrying again, you already know why the money conversation early on is so important. Watch the full episode on YouTube.Kate is joined by Andrew Bowker, co-founder of wedding booking platform Wedissimo, to talk about why honest conversations about money are the foundation of any relationship – and why prenups exist to have that conversation properly, not to plan for failure.In this episode, we cover:Why people remarrying after divorce approach money and prenups differentlyWhat a prenup is actually forWhy agreements like these need revisiting as life changesWhy younger generations find it easier to talk about moneyThis episode is for anyone remarrying after separation or divorce, or anyone who wants to have a better money conversation with their partner from the get-goAbout WedissimoWedissimo is a UK wedding booking platform that makes it easy for couples to find, compare and book wedding suppliers online. Since launching, Wedissimo has helped thousands of couples book everything from photographers to celebrants, giving Andrew a unique perspective on how modern couples plan their weddings and prepare for marriage.Sources mentioned in this episodeThe £26,000 average cost of getting married: Financial Times, "The wedding racket: how tying the knot became so expensive," 26 April 2025.Generational attitudes to talking about money (baby boomers 50%, Gen Z 17% say it's vulgar to discuss): YouGov, "Is it vulgar to talk about money?"The UK government's prenuptial agreement proposals, including the 28-day pre-wedding signing requirement: "A Fairer End to Relationships," a government consultation that ran 5 June–14 August 2026. The consultation has now closed and a government response is pending.The UK's top 1% of households by wealth: Office for National Statistics, Wealth and Assets Survey, with a net wealth threshold of around £3.1 million (Round 8, April 2020–March 2022, published January 2025) to £3.6 million (April 2018–March 2020 round). More amicable resourcesWhether you're moving in together, getting married or getting divorced, amicable helps you navigate change together. Book a free 15-minute consultation for expert legal, financial and practical support.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#LifeAfter

If you've ever wondered whether heartbreak gets easier with age, or just different, this episode might surprise you. Watch the video version here. Kate is joined by Jemma Sbeg, host of The Psychology of Your 20s podcast and author of Person in Progress, to compare notes on breakups and grief across every life stage - from a first heartbreak in your twenties to divorce after twenty years together.We talk about:Jemma's 'three waves' model for processing a breakup, and why healing isn't a straight lineWhat's genuinely different about heartbreak in your twenties versus later in life - and what stays exactly the sameWhy talking through the 'what ifs' with a partner can build a stronger relationship, not undermine itHow making something creative out of heartbreak can turn it into one of your most valuable experiencesThis episode is for anyone who's been through a breakup or separation, at any age or stage - and anyone who's ever wondered if it really gets easier.Meet Jemma SbegJemma is a host of a groundbreaking, globally recognized podcast, The Psychology of Your 20s, author of Person in progress and mental health advocate.The Psychology of your 20s begun back in 2021 after Jemma went through her first real heartbreak and was looking for a guide to all the confusing and chaotic feelings she was experiencing. It wasn't just the break-up, there were so many other experiences she was having as a 20-something that she wished she had some explanation for. Nobody would give her the straight up science, and all the self-help content she found seemed to just be opinions based. And so, The Psychology of your 20s was born with our first ever episode, fittingly titled 'The Psychology of Imposter Syndrome' which remains our most downloaded episode to date. To hear more from Jemma, listen to The Psychology of your 20s wherever you get your podcasts or yoiu can watch it on Netflix. You can also follow Jemma on Instagram and Substack. More divorce resourcesNeed expert help right now?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on on healing after heartbreak and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#EmotionalJourney

Pensions are often the biggest asset in a marriage – sometimes bigger than the family home – yet they're the one most people overlook when they separate.Kate is joined by Josh Gordon, Head of Digital Retirement at Octopus Money, to bust some of the biggest pension myths in divorce.We talk about:The myth that a pension in your name is yours aloneWhat a PODE (Pension on Divorce Expert) report is, and how it helps you understand what your pensions are really worthCompounding explained – and why the years matter as much as the amountWhy your pension might actually be more valuable than the houseThis episode is for anyone who's tempted to leave pensions until last – and wants to make sure they're not leaving value on the table.amicable and Octopus Money have co-created the PODE product discussed.Meet Josh GordonJosh is Head of Digital Retirement at Octopus Money. He’s spent over 20 years working in financial services. As a Chartered Financial Planner, Josh helps people going through divorce understand what their pension assets are really worth, and what a fair outcome looks like. Working with individuals, solicitors, and mediators across England and Wales, providing independent PODE reports in plain language, with no surprises on cost. Josh believes the process of getting expert pension advice during divorce should be straightforward and transparent, not another source of stress. Part of the Octopus Money family, his team combines genuine financial expertise with the kind of clear communication that people going through a difficult time actually need.Learn more about PODE reports here.SourcesOffice for National Statistics, Divorces in England and Wales, 2019: Average age at divorce: 42 for women, 45 for men, as cited from ONS data by Stowe Family Law.More divorce resourcesNeed expert help right now?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on on healing after heartbreak and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes a dedicated chapter on navigating finances during separation, including reaching financial agreements based on your real needs (not just 50/50 splits) and guidance on commonly overlooked assets like pensions. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#Finances

Ten years on from her divorce, actor and comedian Sally Phillips can look back with humour, honesty and hard-won perspective on her divorce and the life she's built since.In this episode, Kate is joined by Sally Phillips – star of 'Miranda', 'Veep' and the 'Bridget Jones' films, and co-creator of the Emmy-winning 'Smack the Pony' – for a warm and often very funny conversation about separation, starting again and everything she's learned along the way.We talk about:How Sally knew her marriage was 'on the skids' – and why she avoided facing it Separating as a parent of neurodivergent childrenDiscovering she was going through perimenopause during her divorce – and the difference it might have madeFinding love again – and what makes a relationship work second time round What Sally learned about herself, resilience and building a life on the other sideWhether you're at the start of a separation or years down the line, this is a conversation full of hope, honesty and laughter.Meet Sally PhillipsSally Phillips is an English actor, writer, comedian, producer and director, and an executive producer at Captain Dolly. She's best known for TV comedies including I'm Alan Partridge, Jam and Jerusalem, Miranda and Veep, the Bridget Jones films, and shows like Taskmaster and QI.She began in the Oxford Revue and went on to co-write and develop the ground-breaking female-led sketch show Smack the Pony, which won two international Emmys. Her many credits since include Green Wing, Friday Night Dinner, Breeders, Channel 4's Big Mood and the BBC's We Might Regret This, alongside film roles in How to Please a Woman, Off The Rails and Pride Prejudice and Zombies.Sally has three neurodivergent children. Her son, who has Down syndrome and autism, is a self-advocate, and together they made the award-winning 2016 documentary A World Without Down's Syndrome? She's a joint patron of the Down's Syndrome Association with Olly, and a patron of The Brentford , Brentford FC’s Down Syndrome Team, and Josephine and Jack, a charity that provides sex and relationship advice and education to adults with learning disabilities.You can catch Sally in Austin second series and The Hairdresser's Mysteries on BBC iPlayer. More divorce resourcesFeeling ready to take practical steps forward?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on emotional wellbeing and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#SeparationStories

If you're wondering whether things really do get better after divorce, this episode is proof that they can - one step at a time.Kate is joined by Michelle Lynne, a Canadian concert pianist and singer, who shares how she found her way back to herself after a painful divorce, and turned that journey into her debut album.In this episode, we cover:How Michelle found her way back to herself after divorceHow a creative outlet can help you sit with grief instead of rushing past itWhy it's ok to tell people what you actually need from themWhat it took to turn Michelle’s experience into her debut album, One Step at a TimeThis episode is for anyone who feels lost after a relationship ending and looking for a creative way to process a difficult season.Trigger warning: this episode touches on poor mental health, including thoughts of suicide, alongside grief and divorce-related trauma. If any of this feels close to home, please take care while listening - support is available from Mind, Samaritans, or your GP. Meet Michelle LynneCanadian pianist, singer and speaker Michelle Lynne is known for her dynamic, communicative performances and her ability to forge warm, personal connections with audiences. Appearing frequently as a chamber musician, collaborative pianist, and educator, she is currently on tour in Europe and has performed for over 250,000 people, most recently in the Eiffel Tower. Her debut album One Step at a Time released Nov 2025, and was born out of her own journey through a painful divorce.You can find out more about Michelle on her website and make sure to follow her on Instagram and you can listen to her debut album One Step at a Time on Spotify. More divorce resourcesNeed expert help right now?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on healing after divorce and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#LifeAfter

If you're navigating work travel while co-parenting, this episode will help you plan around it without the guilt, or the arguments.In this episode, Kate Daly shares practical advice on how to plan childcare, communicate with your co-parent, and build a support network so work travel doesn't disrupt your co-parenting relationship or your children's routines.In this episode, we cover:Why work travel feels different once you're co-parentingHow to agree a parenting plan for travelWhy your co-parent isn't your default childcare, and what to do insteadKeeping your co-parent in the loop and staying connected with your kids while you're awayThis episode is for co-parents whose work involves travel, or anyone working out childcare arrangements beyond the usual routine.More divorce resourcesNeed expert help right now?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Or explore our Separating with Children Service – a 90-minute joint session with a Co-parenting Specialist tailored to your family’s needs.Want ongoing support through separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on co-parenting, with practical guidance on supporting your children's wellbeing, talking to them in age-appropriate ways and building a cooperative co-parenting relationship that reduces conflict. Find it on Amazon today.Want to stay organised as co-parents?Download our free Parenting Plan template to help you and your co-parent agree on shared goals, routines and decision-making – with your children at the centre.Try the amicable co-parenting app free for 3 months to share calendars, track expenses and communicate clearly. Open this link on your phone, install the app, create your account, select 'I have a promo code', enter PODCAST and press ‘apply’.#Coparenting

What do you show your children when you decide your marriage has to end?Kate is joined by Buzzy Randall, a hospitality consultant, to talk about how she chose to model strength, honesty and self-worth for her daughters throughout her divorce.We talk about:Why being a role model to your children throughout your relationship and separation mattersShowing up honestly for your kids, including the moments you don't have it all togetherThe shame and stigma that can surround divorce, especially when infidelity's involvedWhy having someone else who's been through something similar can make all the differenceRebuilding your self-identity, confidence and ability to make decisions for yourself⚠️ Trigger warning: this episode touches on infidelity and the emotional impact of divorce and separation. This episode is for anyone thinking about what their separation is teaching their children. You're not alone in this – if this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it right now.Meet Buzzy RandallBuzzy is a hospitality consultant, entrepreneur, classically trained chef, and currently a Masters Psychology student at the University of Leicester. With more than twenty years' experience in hospitality, including senior creative and operational roles within luxury hotels and events, she has built a career around creating meaningful experiences and supporting people to thrive.Following her own experience of divorce after an eighteen-year marriage, Buzzy became passionate about conversations around separation, resilience, identity and rebuilding life after significant change. Through her writing, podcasting and studies in psychology and counselling, she explores how people navigate loss, rediscover themselves, and create fulfilling new chapters.To hear more from Buzzy follow her on Instagram and listen to her podcast The Big D.More divorce resourcesNeed expert help right now?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation. Or explore our Separating with Children Service – a 90-minute joint session with a Co-parenting Specialist tailored to your family’s needs.Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on co-parenting and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on co-parenting, with practical guidance on supporting your children's wellbeing, talking to them in age-appropriate ways and building a cooperative co-parenting relationship that reduces conflict. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#SeparationStories

If you've seen the headlines about 'divorce rings' and wondered whether they're a passing trend or something more meaningful, this episode is for you.In this in-brief episode, Kate unpacks what's really behind the rise of divorce rings – and why they're about a lot more than jewellery.In this episode, we cover:What a divorce ring actually isHow reclaiming choice and identity plays into the trendThe difference between behaving amicably and feeling amicable, and why that gap is completely normalKate's own way of marking the end of her marriageThis episode is for anyone going through separation or divorce who's looking for their own way to mark this chapter, and for anyone curious about why this trend is getting so much attention.More divorce resourcesFeeling ready to take practical steps forward?Book a free 15-minute consultation with an amicable expert for guidance on the legal, financial, emotional or co-parenting aspects of separation.Want ongoing support as you rebuild after separation?Join amicable space for bonus podcast episodes, exclusive webinars and articles on emotional wellbeing and an interactive community where you can share questions and get expert advice from amicable specialists. Start your free trial here.Kate’s book amicable divorce includes dedicated chapters on emotional readiness and timing, navigating separation with kindness and rebuilding your identity and moving forward with confidence. Find it on Amazon today.Got a question for a future episode?Share your thoughts at [email protected] or through direct messages on Instagram.#LifeAfterDivorce