Testimonials
I have been fortunate to work with
many wonderful clients over the years. Each one has come to me unsure of the process and
hopeful that I can steer them through the rough waters ahead of them. I am honored to
share with you their thoughts about my work and me.
What
words best describe Cathy’s work?
Insightful, creative, lighthouse
(meaning someone who can point you back to your inside self to get clarity and guidance) ,
patient, knowledgeable.
Thorough, accurate, clear,
understandable and compassionate
Warm and loving person that
understood what I was going through.
Cathy was non-judgmental but honest
and realistic supporting me in my efforts to try for the easier of paths -- mediation.
However, she has a comforting style that helped me prepare for understanding a combative
approach so that when the time came in my divorce that necessitated me choosing the
adversarial approach,
Would
you recommend Cathy to a friend? If so, why?
Definitely. Divorce is a very
confusing and sometimes speedy process, and there are only so many things one little brain
can handle at a time and it’s easy to make grave errors in judgement and decisions
when you’re in a tight spot or rushed. Cathy was a very honest and trustworthy big
shoulder I could lean on and talk to with questions about the quirkiest things related to
my finances. She had the experience, strength and hope financially to give to me when I
most needed it. I am very grateful for her human and loving sides that I got strength and
comfort from as I was terrified and clueless of the financial part of this divorce.
She has a excellent
understanding of all aspects of the divorce proceedings. She knows what information to
request and is very timely in putting the information together. She gives a realistic
honest assessment and does not take advantage of her clients vulnerabilities.
Cathy is warm and empathetic
while being objective and honest. That is exactly what is needed during this difficult
period. To make it even better she is excellent with numbers, knows the law and is clear
and understandable.
Herein is the core gift of
working with Cathy: she has an innate ability to eloquently articulate the simplest and
most complicated details of our everyday lives and help one feel empowered to make
decisions -- perhaps for the first time -- that truly reflects what one needs. When
working with Cathy I kept having this feeling of a light being turned on; a way of looking
at something that before hadn't been seen. I think Cathy is exceptional at understanding a
woman's needs in a divorce, but I wouldn't limit her abilities to only helping women. Her
unique skills in elucidating and detailing the truth about lifestyle and experiences have
no gender barrier.
In divorce, it is easy to find
skilled professionals to push you through the grueling process. However, it is a rare gift
to find someone such at Cathy Belmonte who will gracefully guide you toward detailing
lifestyle and thus thinking about needs for your family and yourself. All the while,
getting immaculate numbers to show a judge, or an attorney, or a divorcing spouse. Again,
my entire divorce experience shifted upon meeting Cathy Belmonte. She was key in my
understanding the divorce process, my needs, and best of all she has provided ongoing
support in this unfolding experience that is so unique and yet so common to all of us who
have to face divorce.
How
did her services aid you in your divorce process?
She not only knows her numbers
really well but she thoroughly understands the system, the process and has the patience,
insight and creativity to be able to work with people terrified and clueless in a divorce.
She can speak the legal language, the financial language, the human spirit language and
business language and knows how the different arenas function. All of which I needed in a
guide, for me to be able to feel comfortable with the decisions I had to make in my
divorce. She was able to help me translate my goals and needs into numbers.
She worked flexibly, offered
support and guidance, hints and tips, to help me find my own conclusions as to my own
needs. Working with Cathy was not just about putting numbers on a spread sheet to fit into
the standard budget box. Cathy worked in the solution and helped me find creative ways to
fit my needs. She was able to help me translate my goals and needs into numbers. I felt
blessed she was so able to listen to me and help point me back to my path out of my
confusion as I struggled to make sense of an insane money situation in my divorce
I have an excellent
understanding of what the settlement should realistically be. This allows me to react
appropriately to demands.
Cathy was helpful in setting
forth the actual family expenses. In court we did not need to rely on “guesses”,
we had the facts.
Cathy gave me the emotional
support to be able to stand firm for what I would need going forward and yet to be
realistic.
Cathy had the patience and the
wisdom to help me look at how I ran my family's life and decide what was most important.
Submitted by: BS, Schaumburg; AB,
North Shore; CC, Buffalo Grove; JD, Chicago, DG, Long Grove |
