Frequently Asked Questions

  • In addition to being Certified Divorce Financial Analysts®, we are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals and tax professionals. This breadth of knowledge enables us to bring a broader financial perspective to our work. Our work with divorced individuals also gives us unique insight into how financial decisions made during divorce impact individuals in the following years.

  • Our job is to help you understand the financial components of your divorce. We strive to help our clients understand the financial pros and cons of different settlement scenarios and how each scenario may help you to achieve your financial goals. While we won't tell you what to ask for in your settlement, we will help you to understand the pros and cons of different settlement scenarios so that you can make an informed decision. We can also help you to avoid common financial mistakes that people make during divorce.

  • We can work either way. The circumstances of your divorce will dictate what makes sense for your situation. When both spouses are our clients, we work as a “financial neutral.” This means that all the information shared by one spouse is available to the other.

  • No. Only an attorney can tell you how much spousal maintenance a spouse might be entitled to pay and/or receive. Our job in your divorce is to illustrate for you how various amounts paid or received will impact your finances and to help you avoid common financial pitfalls.

  • Our hourly rate is $300.00 per hour. We require an upfront retainer of $3,000 and as we complete work for you, we draw down the retainer. When the retainer runs low, we will ask you to refill it.

  • Every divorce is different, which makes it difficult for us to estimate how much your total fee will be. Several factors impact the fee. These factors include the complexity of your financial situation, how drawn-out negotiations may be between you and your spouse, and the efficiency with which you can provide the financial information we request. That said, expect to spend at least $4,000 on our services.

  • There is an old adage that you get what you pay for and divorce financial advice is certainly one example. Beware of CDFA® professionals offering to work for free. It’s likely he or she will work for free now with the expectation of managing your money after the divorce. The more money under management, the greater the fee will be for the CDFA® professional. This presents a conflict of interest - what is in the best interest of the CDFA® professional (that the client’s settlement includes the largest possible amount of investable assets) may not be what is in your best interest.

    Avoid this conflict of interest and work with a CDFA® professional who charges fees for divorce financial advice.