For our Love Issue, we invited three respected voices from our community to share thoughtful insight on relationships, finances, and the foundations of lasting partnership.
When Love and Law Intersect
Alexandra H. LeClair Of Counsel, Spencer Fane LLP
I work with families at some of the most pivotal moments of their lives, where love, finances, and long-term planning intersect. Here, I share some insights to help couples protect what matters most.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LEGAL MISCONCEPTIONS YOU SEE AMONG HIGH NET WORTH COUPLES CONSIDERING DIVORCE?
High net worth couples often assume assets titled in one spouse’s name or income earned by one spouse are separate, or that “fair” means equal. In Arizona, community property rules apply broadly, and poor documentation or commingling can convert separate assets into community property quickly.
HOW CAN COUPLES PROTECT THEMSELVES EARLY?
Long before divorce is discussed, couples should keep meticulous financial records, respect business formalities, avoid commingling personal and business funds, and use well-drafted prenuptial or postnuptial agreements. Planning done during stability is far more effective and far less expensive than planning done in crisis.
WHAT STRATEGIES DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR PARENTS NAVIGATING DIVORCE?
For parents, the top priority is reducing conflict exposure for the children. Both parties must continue to respect each other as that child’s parent. Treat co-parenting like a professional partnership, not an emotional battlefield, and keep children out of financial and legal disputes.
spencerfane.com/professionals/alexandra-leclair
When Love Meets Money
Natasha Palmatier, CFP ®, AAMS ®, Wealth Advisor, RJFS/Founder & President, SWM
I work closely with couples to help them navigate money with intention, transparency, and confidence, especially as life and priorities evolve. Here, I share a few insights to help couples build a stronger financial foundation together.
HOW SHOULD COUPLES APPROACH COMBINING OR NOT COMBINING FINANCES?
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but the key is intention. Some couples thrive with combined finances, others with a hybrid system. What matters most is transparency and agreement. Start with shared goals around bills, savings, investments, and long-term planning. Alignment and communication matter far more than account structure.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST MONEY MISTAKES YOU SEE HIGHER-INCOME COUPLES MAKE?
One of the biggest mistakes couples make is assuming high income equals financial security. It often masks poor habits and leads to spending before planning. Without a shared strategy, high earners risk inefficiency, unnecessary taxes, and misaligned portfolios. Wealth doesn’t replace discipline. It demands it. The most successful couples treat planning as essential, not optional.
WHAT’S ONE SMART FINANCIAL MOVE COUPLES CAN MAKE IN EVERY DECADE?
In your thirties, focus on accumulation through shared habits of saving, investing, and goal setting. In your forties, shift to optimization by refining investments, taxes, and protection strategies. In your fifties, prioritize clarity with retirement and legacy planning. At every stage, couples who revisit their plan together stay more confident and connected.
sunstonewealthmanagement.com
Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors. Inc. Sunstone Wealth Management is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.
A Match Made
Cat Cantrill, CEO of The Scottsdale Matchmaker
I work closely with highly accomplished individuals, matchmaking with intention, clarity, and emotional intelligence as they navigate modern relationships. Here, I share how real matchmaking works and what it takes to build lasting connection.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MYTH ABOUT MATCHMAKING?
The biggest myth is that matchmaking is a shortcut or a purchase order for love. It is not a catalog and it is not instant. A great matchmaker is not selling people. We curate connection.
Matchmaking works best when clients understand the process is collaborative and relational, not transactional. My role is to help them clarify who they are, how they show up in relationships, and what kind of partnership will truly support their life. That often means gently challenging old patterns. When clients arrive open, curious, and willing to grow, the results can be extraordinary.
WHAT’S THE TRUTH ABOUT “GUARANTEED MATCHES?”
Any promise of guaranteed matches is a red flag. A matchmaker can guarantee effort, discretion, and integrity, but no ethical professional can guarantee outcomes between two people. When guarantees are made, they often favor quantity over quality, leading to rushed introductions and poor alignment.
Real matchmaking takes time. It requires vetting, timing, emotional readiness, and mutual choice. I’m transparent about what I can control and what I can’t. Love isn’t a commodity. It’s a relationship between two people with agency, and a reputable matchmaker focuses on doing the work well, not overselling certainty.
WHAT ARE SOME UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS PEOPLE BRING INTO MATCHMAKING?
One of the most unrealistic expectations is that chemistry should feel instant, effortless, and overwhelming right away. Many people confuse familiarity or intensity with true compatibility. Others expect a partner to fit perfectly into their life without any adjustment or growth. I approach this gently but honestly by reframing what a healthy connection actually looks like.
I ask clients to focus less on fireworks and more on how they feel in someone’s presence. Attraction can grow over time, and lasting relationships are built through consistency, not performance. My job is to refine standards, not lower them.
HOW INVOLVED ARE YOU ONCE A MATCH IS MADE?
I stay involved well beyond the introduction. That’s where the real work begins. Early dating can surface excitement, uncertainty, and old patterns, especially for people who are highly accomplished or long single. I offer guidance on pacing, communication, and expectations, always with discretion. My role is to provide clarity, not interference, while empowering clients to build the connection themselves.
scottsdalematchmaker.com
“Many confuse intensity with compatibility. Others expect partners to fit perfectly without adjustment or growth. My job is to refine standards.”