Meet Marya Carey Pleasant

I'm a CFP®, CDFA®, Certified Divorce Coach, and breast cancer survivor. I specialize in something most financial professionals won't touch: helping women navigate divorce while fighting cancer.

Why? Because in 2019, I sat in that same position. Cancer diagnosis. Treatment decisions. Financial uncertainty. The overwhelming feeling that I was supposed to handle everything even though I could barely get through each day.

I survived. Now I help other women do the same, without losing their financial future in the process.

Why This Work Matters

The statistics are stark: 140 out of 1,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer end up divorcing, compared to just 20 per 1,000 in the general population. When you're fighting for your life, your marriage often doesn't make it.

But here's what nobody talks about: the financial devastation that follows. Women lose an average of 41% of their household income after divorce. Add cancer treatment costs averaging $150,000 to $500,000, and you've got a perfect financial storm.

I created my practice because I couldn't find anyone who understood both battles. Cancer support groups don't know divorce law. Divorce attorneys don't understand treatment schedules. Financial planners haven't lived through chemo brain while trying to make life-altering decisions.

I've done all of it. And I've spent 20+ years as a financial professional helping women navigate major life transitions.

My Approach

Direct, Not Delicate

I won't sugarcoat reality or waste your time with generic advice. You're already exhausted. You need someone who tells you the truth and gives you clear options.

Strategic, Not Emotional

While others focus on "winning" or being right, I focus on outcomes that protect your health and financial future. Sometimes the smartest strategy is letting go of battles that don't matter.

Comprehensive, Not Cookie-Cutter

Your situation isn't normal. Cancer changes everything about how divorce works: your timeline, your energy, your priorities, your financial picture. My guidance accounts for all of it.

What Makes Me Different

Lived Experience

I've sat in that hospital gown. I've felt the fear of wondering if you'll live to see your kids graduate. I know what it's like when your spouse becomes another person you have to take care of while desperately trying to care for yourself.

Unique Credentials

The combination of CFP®, CDFA®, and Certified Divorce Coach gives me perspective most professionals don't have. I understand the financial implications, the legal strategy, and the emotional reality.

Proven Results

One client saved $47,000 by understanding pension valuations. Another avoided foreclosure by running the real numbers on keeping her house. A third shortened her divorce from 18 months to 3 months with proper guidance.

I don't just help you get through divorce. I help you protect the financial future you'll need for whatever comes next.

My Story

Fall 2019. I was launching my divorce-focused financial practice. My house was full—two stepdaughters and their families living with us, five kids under 10 running around.

Then Dr. Mary called with my biopsy results.

I had to stop her mid-sentence. "Can you dumb this down for me? Are you telling me I have cancer?"

"Yes."

I didn't tell anyone that night. Or the next morning. I needed time to process what this meant—not just for my life, but for everyone depending on me.

That's when I learned the hardest lesson: you can't do everything, even when you're used to handling it all.

Between my husband's medical issues (we maxed out our out-of-pocket expenses before my diagnosis) and my cancer treatment, what was billed to insurance exceeded a million dollars. Each chemo treatment alone cost $35,000.

I survived. But I came out different. More focused. Less willing to waste time on things that don't matter. Determined to use my expertise to help other women facing the same impossible situation.

How I Help

I work with women at the intersection of cancer and divorce who need:

Financial clarity about their true cost of living, asset protection, and post-divorce security
Strategic guidance on which battles to fight and which to let go
Health insurance planning to avoid gaps in critical medical coverage
Negotiation preparation to walk into mediation with confidence instead of confusion

Everything I do is designed around your energy limitations, treatment schedule, and the reality that you're fighting two battles simultaneously.

What My Clients Say

"You were such a help and a comfort to me through the process, and I am endlessly grateful. I appreciated how warm and kind you were, and how professionally you handled tense moments. We have a rock solid agreement we've been able to abide by beautifully. Rob and I have such a better relationship divorced than married, and Olivia has two happy, healthy parents." — Sarah M.

"After hiring a lawyer and being frustrated with the process, I contacted Marya to get everything finished quickly. What would have dragged on for months ended up being done in about 10 days. Highly recommend if it's in your budget to do so." — Jennifer L.

"Marya brought up financial issues I had never considered. Her suggestions helped me come to mediation prepared and knowledgeable, shortening the time needed to reach agreement." — Lisa K., Family Law Attorney

Stop Spinning. Start Planning

You can figure this out alone, or you can work with someone who's made it their mission to guide women through exactly what you're facing.

Either way, you're going to get through this. The question is whether you want to struggle through it or handle it with confidence.

Right now, you probably don't even know what questions to ask, let alone what your options are. That's exactly why we start with a conversation, not a commitment.

In 30 minutes, I'll help you get clear on: