What does a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® or CDFA® professional do?

The role of the CDFA® is to help both client and lawyer understand how the financial decisions made today will impact the client’s financial future, based on certain assumptions. 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 expertise related to the financial issues of divorce. A CDFA® professional helps divorcing clients navigate financial issues with an eye towards current and future consequences.
Top Five Reasons for Hiring a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® during the Divorce Process.
- Financial analysis conducted early in the divorce process can save time and reduce anxiety.
- A CDFA can help his/her clients save money during the divorce process.
- A CDFA can help his/her clients to avoid long-term financial pitfalls related to divorce settlements.
- CDFA professionals can assist their clients with developing detailed household budgets to help avoid post-divorce financial struggles.
- Using a CDFA professional can reduce the amount of apprehension and misunderstanding about the divorce process.
CDFA professionals helps divorcing clients understand:
- The short-term and long-term financial impacts of different settlement proposals
- Personal vs. marital property
- Valuing and dividing property
- Analyzing pension and retirement plan issues
- Spousal and child support
- Determining if a client can afford the matrimonial home – and if not, what might be an affordable alternative
- Tax problems, liabilities, and solutions
- Evaluating the client’s insurance needs
CDFA® professional abilities are:
- Strong financial knowledge to work with complex divorce issues, such as splitting investments accounts, analyzing asset values and regulations, finding hidden assets, and organize insurance for support payments
- Collect, arrange, and prepare financial information for you and your client, including marital balance sheets and income statements
- Identifying the short-term and long-term effects of dividing property
- Create substantial case exhibits in the form of spreadsheet and graphs
- Give you professional support to know you’ve covered all the financial “bases”
- Provide a rock solid personal financial analysis for your client

Benefits of incorporating a CDFA professional include:
- Easier and faster case preparation as the CDFA® professional does the detailed financial work for you
- Budgeting is done for you
- Use of divorce software that can be shared with attorneys for faster decision making
- Reduced liability by having in-depth financial research and material to support your case
- Reliable, expert witness testimony. If your case goes to court, a CDFA® professional, who is well acquainted with the case since day one.
- Bringing innovative and creative approach to settlement options
- Adding a neutral, non-legal party to help clients overcome stress, anxiety, and fear about the legal process
- Help you achieve the fairest, most financially equitable divorce settlement possible for your client
What is the value of a CDFA® professional?
Family law is complicated, and so are the finances related to it. A CDFA professional knows how to navigate the finance questions and requirements of divorce proceedings, allowing you to focus on the law. The earlier you and your client hire a CDFA professional, the more you can focus on your expertise and the law for your client.

Why Women Often Miss Out on Retirement Assets in Divorce – And How to Avoid Costly Mistakes
With the right approach, women can emerge from divorce financially empowered and ready for the next chapter.
Read Article

5 Essential Financial Divorce Tips for a Smooth Transition
In this comprehensive guide, we'll share five essential financial tips to help you navigate your divorce with confidence and clarity, focusing on understanding the financial implications, organizing your finances, and planning for your future.
Read Article

Divorce Planning: Navigating the Process with Confidence
At MJT & Associates, we understand the unique challenges faced by individuals going through a divorce, and we're here to help you take control of your financial future during this critical time.
Read Article

Navigating the Tangled Finances: Expert Financial Advice to Guide You Through Divorce
Going through a divorce is undoubtedly one of life's most challenging experiences. It not only takes a toll on your emotional well-being but also throws your finances into disarray. If you're finding it difficult to navigate the tangled web of financial concerns during divorce, worry not - expert financial advice is here to guide you through.
Read Article