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Published July 2021, Updated May 2025
I'd love to invite you on a journey.
But this isn't just any journey – it's likely one of the most complex, emotionally charged, and financially significant transitions you'll ever navigate. As someone who has walked this path both personally and professionally, I understand that when you're facing an Illinois divorce, especially a high net worth divorce, you need more than just emotional support. You need a strategic partner who understands the business side of divorce.
My Story: From Coffee Shop Owner to Divorce Strategist
Let me share something personal with you. Years ago, my first husband and I were young entrepreneurs who had just opened a small coffee shop called Eli's in Morton, Illinois. We also owned rental property together. We thought we had it all figured out – business partnerships, shared investments, intertwined finances. Sound familiar?
When our marriage ended, I quickly discovered that divorce isn't just about dividing a checking account. It's about unraveling complex business structures, understanding asset valuations, protecting investment properties, and making strategic decisions that will impact your financial future for decades to come. That experience taught me something crucial: divorce is a business transaction wrapped in emotional complexity. That's exactly why I've dedicated my career to helping high-achieving professionals navigate Illinois divorce with the strategic mindset it requires. I've worked with clients worth tens of millions of dollars, and I understand that your perspective and needs are different from someone going through a simple dissolution. Why High Net Worth Divorce in Illinois Requires a Different Approach
If you're searching for "coaches near me" to help with your Illinois divorce, you've probably already realized that most divorce support focuses on the emotional aspects. While emotional support matters, when you have significant assets, business interests, or complex financial structures, you need someone who thinks like a strategist, not just a counselor.
Here's what I've learned from working with successful entrepreneurs, executives, and high-earning professionals: you didn't build your wealth by making emotional decisions, and you shouldn't dissolve your marriage that way either. Whether you're dealing with:
The "Choose Your Own Adventure" Approach to Strategic Divorce
I always tell my clients that I want them to think of their divorce like a "choose your own adventure" story. YOU get to decide where this journey takes you. My role is to help you understand all your options, see around corners you might miss, and make informed decisions that align with your long-term goals.
Here's how I think about it: Steering a divorce is like steering a cruise ship. It's much easier to get going in the right direction from the start and stay on course than it is to turn that massive ship around later. That's why I encourage clients to ask me lots of questions and keep me informed every step of the way. The more I know about your situation, your concerns, and your goals, the better I can help you navigate toward your desired destination. What Makes Working with an Illinois Divorce Strategist Different
We'll start by talking about where you want to go. I might make suggestions based on my experience with similar cases, but ultimately, YOU get to decide your priorities. Do you want to minimize time in court? Protect your business interests? Ensure financial security? Maintain relationships for co-parenting? Keep proceedings private? We'll identify your primary objectives first.
Once your destination is determined, I'll share resources to make the journey easier and more cost-effective. This includes financial strategies to protect your assets, ways to reduce attorney fees by being a more prepared and strategic client, and connections to well-vetted professionals who specialize in high net worth Illinois divorces. I'll connect you with the RIGHT legal team for your specific situation. Not all attorneys are created equal, especially when it comes to complex financial matters. I have extensive connections throughout Illinois with attorneys who specialize in high-asset divorces, business valuations, and complex custody arrangements. More importantly, I'll teach you how to be a credible, prepared client so you maximize the value of every billable hour. We'll talk regularly throughout the process to ensure you're still on the right path. I'm available for texts, emails, and scheduled calls because I know that questions and concerns don't follow a 9-to-5 schedule. If there are unexpected hold-ups or complications, I can intervene directly with your legal team to keep things moving forward. 
Why Entrepreneurs and High Achievers Choose Strategic Divorce Coaching
I especially love working with entrepreneurs because they tend to be tenacious – they don't give up easily, and they understand the value of strategic thinking. If you built a successful business or climbed the corporate ladder, you already have many of the skills needed to navigate divorce strategically. You just need someone who can help you apply that business mindset to your personal situation.
The entrepreneurs and executives I work with appreciate that I help them separate emotion from logic. Don't get me wrong – I understand you're probably feeling nervous, angry, embarrassed, or worried about being lonely. Those feelings are completely normal, and we can work through all of that. But when it comes to making decisions about asset division, custody arrangements, or settlement negotiations, logic needs to lead. 
Comprehensive Support for Complex Illinois Divorces
Depending on your situation, I offer different levels of support:
For most high net worth Illinois divorces, I recommend my year-long strategic coaching package. Most of the heavy lifting in divorce happens in the first year after filing, and having consistent support during this time can save you tens of thousands in attorney fees while helping you achieve better outcomes. For particularly complex situations – like contested business valuations, difficult custody battles, or cases involving narcissistic spouses who weaponize the legal process – I offer extended three-year support. High net worth divorces often take longer due to their complexity, and you want consistent strategic guidance throughout the entire process. If you're still in the "considering divorce" phase, I also offer educational resources and one-time clarity sessions to help you understand what lies ahead before you make any irreversible decisions. 
The Reality of High Net Worth Divorce in IllinoisLet's be honest about what you're facing. A complex Illinois divorce with significant assets will likely cost six figures and take 12-24 months (or longer) to resolve. The decisions you make during this process will impact your financial security, your children's future, and your personal freedom for decades to come. You can't afford to wing it. You can't afford to let emotions drive major financial decisions. You can't afford to work with professionals who don't understand the unique challenges of high-asset divorces. I Point Out the Blind Spots of Divorce
In my years of experience with Illinois divorces, I've seen the same mistakes repeated over and over. High-achieving professionals often assume they can handle divorce the same way they handle business negotiations, but family law has its own rules, timelines, and strategies.
I help you see around corners you might miss:
I Help You Avoid the Cliffs
There are costly mistakes that can derail your divorce or create problems for years to come. My job is to help you avoid these divorce pitfalls:
I Have the First Aid Kit When You're Wounded
Even the most strategic approach to divorce involves emotional challenges. When you're dealing with betrayal, financial stress, co-parenting conflicts, or just the sheer exhaustion of a complex legal process, you need someone in your corner who understands both the business and human sides of divorce.
I'll be with you every step of the way. Think of me as your trail guide through the Illinois divorce process. This is YOUR journey, but it's a path I've walked personally and guided hundreds of clients through successfully. 
Ready to Begin Your Strategic Divorce Journey?
I know you probably feel nervous. Maybe you're angry and didn't even choose this path. Perhaps you're embarrassed about having to go through this process, or worried about what life will look like on the other side.
We can work through all of that – together. If you're facing a high net worth divorce in Illinois and you're ready to approach it strategically rather than emotionally, I'd love to talk with you about how I can support your journey. Whether you're in Chicago, Springfield, Rockford, or anywhere else in Illinois, I work with clients throughout the state who are ready to take control of their divorce process. Remember: this is YOUR journey. You get to decide where it leads. My job is simply to help you navigate there with your dignity, your financial security, and your future intact. Ready to start steering your divorce in the right direction? Let's talk about which strategic approach makes the most sense for your unique situation.
Katie VandenBerg is a CDC Certified Divorce Coach. She has coached hundreds of clients all over the United States for the past 5 years.
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