When expert planning meets emotional intelligence.

At Altman Advisors, we don’t just manage money. We help people navigate life’s major transitions with clarity, care, and confidence. Recently, one of our client families faced a deeply personal challenge: a long-term domestic partnership was coming to an end. Though there was no legal marriage, the emotional and financial complexity of the situation required thoughtful mediation and sound planning. They had shared assets, a home, and intertwined financial lives. Both were committed to an amicable separation and a fair split of assets without costly legal entanglements. 

Step One: Housing Stability

The first challenge was securing a new home for the partner who would be moving out. We helped him secure a mortgage for a new condo at a competitive rate through our lending partners, allowing for a smooth transition to independent housing. Because he remained fully invested with us, we preserved the integrity of his portfolio while helping him move forward with confidence.

Step Two: Fair and Thoughtful Division

Next, we worked with the couple to divide their assets 50/50, even though their accounts weren’t titled evenly. One party had significantly more in retirement assets, so we rebalanced by allocating more from the joint taxable accounts to achieve true equity. We explained the rationale behind each move, and both parties agreed to the plan without friction or confusion.

Step Three: Home Buyout, Handled Simply

The partner who remained in the original shared home wished to buy out the departing partner’s equity. We proposed a straightforward solution: obtain two independent appraisals, average the values, and proceed with the buyout. No drawn-out negotiations. No legal wrangling. Just a fast, fair agreement.

Then came the buyout transaction itself. Instead of taking on a new mortgage, we arranged financing through Altman Advisors’ institutional margin rate, allowing the remaining partner to borrow directly against assets held in their portfolio. The result: no underwriting costs, no added complexity, and significantly lower interest than a traditional loan.

Step Four: Multi-Generational Support

In this case, the client remaining in the home was a second-generation client, someone whose parents also work with Altman Advisors. Knowing she was short on the final buyout amount, we contacted her father (with her permission) and coordinated an interfamilial gift to cover the rest. Within 24 hours, the funds were in place. She didn’t even have to ask—her father was glad to help. We coordinated everything. That’s the power of deep, multigenerational relationships.

Step Five: Lower Rates, Smarter Leverage

The partner who had purchased a new condo earlier used the buyout proceeds to pay off half his mortgage. We refinanced the remainder using the same financing solution, reducing his interest burden and giving him more financial flexibility. The new structure left him with a smaller balance at a lower rate, and a variable structure well-positioned for a declining interest rate environment.

The Outcome: No attorneys. No drama. No delays. Only thoughtful planning and the best interests of both parties.

The entire separation process—asset division, home purchase, buyout, and refinancing—was completed in less than 40 days. Both clients remained in strong financial positions. Both felt heard, respected, and supported.

At Altman Advisors, we deliver expert planning, thoughtful communication, and real results. That is what it means to have a financial partner who sees the full picture, especially in life’s most difficult and delicate moments.