A CDFA™ is someone who comes from a financial planning, accounting or legal background and goes through an intensive training program to become skilled in analyzing and providing advice related to the financial issues of divorce. The CDFA™ becomes part of the divorce team, providing litigation support for the lawyer and client, or becomes a member of a Collaborative Law team. In either event, the CDFA™ will be responsible for:

 

• Identifying the short-term and long-term effects of dividing property.

• Integrating tax issues.

• Analyzing pension and retirement plan issues.

• Determining if the client can afford the matrimonial home – and if not, what might be an affordable alternative.

• Evaluating the client’s insurance needs.

• Establishing assumptions for projecting inflation and rates of return.

• Bringing an innovative and creative approach to settling cases.

 

The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ also:

 

• Provides the client and lawyer with data that shows the financial effect of any given divorce settlement.

• Appears as an expert witness if the case should go to court, or in mediation or arbitration proceedings.

• Is familiar with tax issues that apply to divorce.

• Has background knowledge of the legal issues in divorce.

• Is trained to interview clients so as to:

  • Collect financial and expense data.

  • Help client’s identify their future financial goals.

  • Develop a budget.

  • Set retirement objectives.

  • Determine how much risk they are willing to take with their investments.

  • Identify what kind of life style they want.

  • Determine the costs of their children’s education.