Somewhere along the way, not spending Roth assets has become an erroneously unspoken rule. But a Roth IRA is one of the most flexible assets an investor can have in their toolkit; it grows after-tax, is not subject to Required Minimum Distributions, and can ultimately be withdrawn tax-free.

You’ve made it through the emotional fatigue of divorce. The settlement is signed, a chapter closed. You may have imagined this moment many times over, or perhaps it is only beginning to settle in now. Either way, one truth stands out: you’re in the driver’s seat now. The financial decisions ahead are yours to make, on your own terms. At first glance, that responsibility may feel heavy as you begin to heal, rebuild and start over—until you realize, you get to start over.

It’s my greatest privilege to work with women at this stage in their financial journeys. It marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter; one that invites space to envision what an ideal day, week, and year might look like. And a foundational part of building this life begins with a thoughtful financial plan.

So what does creating a financial plan after divorce really involve?

At its foundation, the dynamic between a client and a financial planner is a relationship like any other. And like all relationships, those grounded in clear communication and consistency are best positioned to grow and flourish. I spend much of my time thinking about how to tend this garden of trust and partnership with my clients. Herein lies my thoughts on three truths I’ve learned and live by.

Too often, Roth conversions are relegated to a year-end tax task. The reality is that this approach can be costly, because it fails to take advantage of market volatility—particularly the dips and corrections that can create some of the most compelling conversion opportunities.

At a minimum, you should already have a general range in mind for how much you plan to convert over the course of the year.