FAQ

A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) specializes in helping individuals and couples understand the financial side of divorce. A CDFA® works with clients, attorneys, and mediators to organize financial information, explain settlement options, and provide guidance on how decisions made today may impact future financial stability. The process is designed to help clients feel informed, prepared, and more confident during a difficult transition.

A great time to begin working with a CDFA® is as early in the process as possible even before a divorce is officially filed. Many individuals want to better understand their financial situation, options, and potential outcomes before making major decisions.Working with a CDFA® early can help provide clarity around income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and future financial needs. Having a clearer financial picture often helps reduce stress, uncertainty, and costly surprises later in the process. It also allows clients to make more informed decisions and feel more confident as they move forward.

The financial decisions made during a divorce can have a lasting impact on your future. A CDFA® helps clients understand the short- and long-term financial implications of settlement options so they can make informed decisions with greater clarity and confidence.By analyzing assets, income, expenses, taxes, and future financial needs, a CDFA® works to help clients avoid costly mistakes and create realistic financial outcomes. The goal is not only to help clients navigate the divorce process today, but also to support long-term financial stability and peace of mind for the future.

• We begin with an initial consultation to learn more about your situation, answer your questions, and better understand your goals and concerns. During this meeting, we will discuss the information needed and provide a list of financial documents and client information forms to complete.
• Once your documents are gathered and submitted, we organize and analyze the financial information, including income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and other relevant financial details. We then prepare reports, projections, and settlement analyses tailored to your situation.
• After the analysis is complete, we schedule a review meeting to walk through the findings, explain potential settlement scenarios, and discuss the short and longterm financial impact of different options. We work collaboratively with you and when appropriate, your attorney or mediator to help you make informed financial decisions throughout the process.

Yes. Attorneys focus on the legal aspects of divorce, while a CDFA® focuses on the financial side. A CDFA® helps analyze settlement options, future financial impact, cash flow, taxes, and long-term planning so clients can make informed financial decisions throughout the process.

Yes. Many clients come into the process feeling overwhelmed or unfamiliar with the household finances. A CDFA® helps organize and explain the financial picture in a clear and understandable way so clients feel more informed and confident.

Many people focus only on immediate assets and overlook long-term impacts such as taxes, retirement savings, future cash flow, insurance, or affordability. A CDFA® helps clients evaluate both short and long-term financial outcomes before decisions are finalized.

Yes. Post divorce financial planning can be just as important as the divorce process itself. A CDFA® can help with budgeting, cash flow planning, retirement considerations, and adjusting to a new financial reality after divorce.