Divorce Support Services

Top Five Reasons for Hiring a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst^®

1) Financial analysis conducted early in the divorce process can save time.

The average length of the U.S. divorce process is one year. In the beginning stages of the process, both parties spend a great deal of time trying to get a clear understanding of the financial aspects and terminology of the separation. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst^® (CDFA™) professional can explain all financial aspects of the pending decisions and help to empower their client to make educated decisions throughout the proceedings.

2) A CDFA™ may be able to help their client save money during the divorce process.

By using a CDFA professional, you can have a clearer view of your financial future. Only then can you approach a legal settlement that fully addresses your financial needs and capabilities. A legal settlement that floats back and forth between attorneys, without the client having a clear understanding of all financial ramifications, can be detrimental, time consuming and expensive. CDFA professionals can educate their clients by providing a thorough knowledge and understanding of the often-complicated financial decisions.

3) A CDFA™ can help his/her clients understand the long-term financial pitfalls related to divorce agreements.

Working with a client and their attorney, a CDFA professional can help calculate how much money the client will need. Developing a long-term projection of the client's financial situation is far better than a short-term snapshot. Financial decisions must be made that not only take care of immediate family needs, but retirement needs as well.

4) CDFA professionals can assist their clients with developing detailed household budgets to help avoid post-divorce financial struggles.

A CDFA professional can help clients think through what the divorce will really cost in the long run and develop a realistic monthly budget during the financial analysis process. Expenses such as life insurance, health insurance and cost of living increases must be taken into consideration when agreeing on a final financial settlement.

5) Using a CDFA professional can reduce the amount of apprehension and misunderstanding about the divorce process.

Misinformation and misconceptions about the divorce process can be detrimental. Many have false expectations that they will be able to secure a divorce settlement allowing them to continue with their accustomed style of living.

Who do CDFAs™ help?

CDFA professional's help clients determine the short-term and long-term financial impact of any proposed divorce settlement. They also provide valuable information on financial issues that are related to the divorce, such as tax consequences, dividing pension plans, continued health care coverage, stock option elections and much more. CDFA professional's also help attorneys by helping the client make financial sense of proposals. CDFA professional's give lawyers the tools they need to help prove their case.

Should a divorcing person hire a CDFA™ instead of a lawyer?

Definitely not! We always recommend that any person going through a divorce receive independent legal advice. Our role is to assist you and your lawyer - not to replace your lawyer.

Do CDFAs™ help only men or only women?

CDFAs™ are trained to advocate for men and women. The CDFA™ simply interprets the numbers and helps the lawyer build a strong case that's in the client's best interest.

Why should you hire us?

As more people offer divorce support services, finding the right professional to help isn't always easy. Our specialized education, combined financial services experience and software tools, enhance our ability to provide financial help before and after your divorce.