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Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About!

"We will never solve the feminization of power until we solve the masculinity of wealth." - Gloria Steinem. On this podcast, we're going to call out those ways that women are consistently left behind financially. But most importantly, how women can help themselves. Join hosts Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen as they help you navigate the ins and outs of financial independence so that you can be financially fearless. They'll connect you with helpful resources and compelling stories from women all across the country. Whether it's buying a house, preparing for retirement, dealing with divorce, there won't be a single question off the table. Maggie is a partner and Barbara is the founder of Purse Strings, a two-part model that's all about providing women the tools and resources they need to help them learn and understand what they need to know to make good financial decisions. And they help connect women with attorneys, financial planners, realtors, and many other financial professionals who have the expertise and desire to serve the female market. Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About can be your place for tools, resources, education and a place to ask the important questions on your mind (or even better, the - you know - you aren't talking about). Find out more about Purse Strings by visiting https://pursestrings.co/ and we can't wait to connect with you on the podcast!

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Women & Money: The Shit We Don't Talk About!

The Ins and Outs of Mediation with Brian James

February 08, 2024 • Barbara Provost & Maggie Nielsen

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We’re delighted to sit down with Brian James, a seasoned Divorce and Family Mediator based in Chicago with offices across Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin. As the founder and lead mediator at C.E.L. & Associates, Brian brings over two decades of experience to his practice and has dedicated his career to helping families navigate divorce and domestic conflicts.

He’s here today to talk about the mediation process, highlighting its benefits, misconceptions, and how it differs from traditional litigation. Throughout our conversation, he shares some of the unique challenges women might face in divorce, the essential questions they should ask their mediators, and the importance of financial education in navigating divorce with confidence.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

What is mediation and how is it different than hiring an attorney?
The typical timeframe for mediation + how Brian works with families to navigate finances during this process
The questions that women should ask when consulting with a mediator
Managing client expectations during the mediation process + avoiding emotional decisions that might lead to regret
When is it better to work with an attorney?
What working with Brian looks like, typical costs of mediation, and Brian’s advice for our listeners

Learn more about Brian

Brian James, a seasoned Divorce and Family Mediator, established C.E.L. and Associates, Inc. in 2005, serving Chicagoland and Southeastern Wisconsin.

Brian holds a B.S. in Sociology from Northern Illinois University (1994) and received Mediation and Conflict Resolution training at Northwestern University.

For a decade, Brian worked in the Criminal Justice System, aiding domestic violence and divorcing families in resolving conflicts and facilitating healing post-life-altering events. His approach to mediation is client-driven. By aiding his clients with the resolution of their divorce issues outside of the courtroom, Brian helps create a win/win situation for all parties in a divorce.

His mediation style not only resolves immediate issues but equips clients with conflict-resolution skills for the future, emphasizing problem-solving, empathy, and informed decision-making.

Brian recently celebrated 27 years of marriage to his wife Cindy. They have two boys, Connor, age 25 forever, and Evan, age 22. Connor and Evan are the C. and E. in C.E.L. & Associates, Inc.

Get in touch with Brian

Brian on Purse Strings

https://pursestrings.co/professional/mediator/illinois/libertyville/brian-james/

C.E.L. & Associates, Inc.

https://www.yourdivorce.org/

Brian on social media

https://www.facebook.com/CELandAssociates

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-james-1336ba2/

Join the Purse Strings Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/pursestringsco/

To learn more about money and access additional episodes, visit us online: https://pursestrings.co/

People on this episode

Barbara Provost

Host

Maggie Nielsen

Host