Divorce is one of the most financially significant events a person can experience. For business owners, high earners, and professionals, it’s not just about dividing assets, it is about securing a financial future that remains stable long after the divorce papers are signed.
Many people assume they can rely on their financial advisor or CPA to guide them through this process. While these professionals serve valuable roles, they are not divorce financial strategists. This is where a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) comes in. Unlike traditional financial advisors who focus on investment management or CPAs who specialize in tax strategy, a CDFA® ensures that your divorce settlement aligns with your long-term financial stability rather than leaving you vulnerable to post-divorce financial pitfalls.
The Role of a CDFA® (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®: A Financial Guide Through Divorce
Divorce is more than a legal process, it is a financial restructuring of your life. Every decision, from how assets are divided to whether spousal support makes sense, has long-term implications. A CDFA® is trained to help clients understand how different settlement options impact their financial future.
A CDFA®’s expertise includes:
Evaluating the tax consequences of asset division.
Analyzing liquidity concerns (cash flow now vs. later).
Projecting long-term financial stability based on different settlement scenarios.
Preparing lifestyle analyses to ensure post-divorce financial security.
Serving as an expert witness in court regarding financial matters.
Separate property or hidden account tracing.
Providing clarity in financial negotiations to prevent emotionally driven decisions.
Unlike financial advisors who primarily focus on growing your investments or long-term financial planning, or CPAs who concentrate on reducing your tax liability, a CDFA®’s primary objective is to help you make informed financial decisions during divorce negotiations.
How a CDFA® Differs from a Financial Advisor and CPA
Many people assume that financial advisors, CPAs, and CDFA®s perform similar roles. While there is some overlap, their functions in a divorce setting are vastly different.
Financial Advisors: Wealth Management and long-term financial planning, Not Divorce Strategy
Financial advisors are investment professionals who help individuals grow and manage their wealth. They specialize in:
Portfolio management
Retirement planning
Tax-efficient investing
Long-term financial growth
However, financial advisors are not divorce specialists. They do not analyze settlement structures, assess tax consequences of asset division, or project financial stability after divorce. Their focus is on what to do with your assets after divorce, not how to divide them strategically during divorce.
CPAs and Business Valuators: Tax Strategy, Not Settlement Planning
A CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and a business valuator provide specialized tax and valuation services during a divorce. Their expertise is valuable but limited to:
Business valuation (determining the worth of a company)
Tax strategy for asset division
Forensic accounting (tracing hidden assets)
While a CPA can help minimize tax liabilities, they do not provide long-term settlement planning, nor do they ensure that your divorce agreement is structured in a way that supports your post-divorce financial stability.
The Risks of Other Professionals Doubling as a CDFA®
Some professionals, such as financial advisors or CPAs, obtain a CDFA® designation and attempt to provide divorce financial planning in addition to their primary role. While this might seem convenient, it can present serious conflicts of interest and limitations in expertise. Here’s why:
Divided Focus – Financial advisors and CPAs have their own primary responsibilities, and divorce financial planning requires specialized, dedicated attention. A generalist approach may result in oversights or miscalculations.
Conflict of Interest – If a financial advisor is also managing your investments, they may have a vested interest in steering asset division decisions in a way that benefits their management fees rather than your long-term financial security.
Lack of Divorce-Specific Training – While financial advisors and CPAs are highly skilled in their respective areas, divorce settlements require expertise in lifestyle analysis, liquidity planning, and emotional decision-making, all areas where a dedicated CDFA® excels.
A true CDFA® focuses solely on the complexities of divorce financial planning, without the distractions of investment management or tax preparation. Working with a dedicated CDFA® ensures you receive unbiased, divorce-specific financial guidance rather than a one-size-fits-all financial approach.
Making the Right Financial Decisions in Divorce
Divorce is often driven by emotions, fear, anger, resentment, but financial decisions should never be made emotionally. This is where a CDFA® adds strategic value. Instead of reacting impulsively, a CDFA® helps clients approach settlement negotiations logically by answering key questions:
Which assets provide long-term security versus immediate liquidity?
How will different settlement options impact future cash flow?
What are the tax consequences of accepting certain assets over others?
How can we structure spousal or child support to maximize financial benefits?
But before answering these questions, one of the first things I ask my clients is this:
👉 “What do you truly want, and what do you need to accomplish it? Forget your spouse. Forget what they will say or do. Focus only on your goals and your future.”
Too often, people make financial decisions in divorce based on fear, guilt, or assumptions about their spouse's reactions. But when you remove your ex from the equation and focus solely on your financial security and future goals, the right choices become clearer.
This shift in perspective is critical—it allows you to make financial decisions from a place of strategy rather than reaction.
(Stay tuned for an upcoming article where I will dive deeper into this concept!)
A CDFA® is Your Divorce Financial Strategist
If you are a business owner, doctor, or high-earning professional navigating divorce, hiring a CDFA® is one of the most critical financial decisions you can make. While financial advisors and CPAs play important roles in managing your wealth and tax strategy, a CDFA® ensures that your settlement sets you up for long-term success.
A divorce settlement is not just about numbers, it is about ensuring financial stability, long-term security, and strategic decision-making. If you are facing divorce and need financial clarity, let’s talk. The right support today can prevent costly mistakes in the future.
By Gabriella E. Martinelli, Divorce Financial Strategist.
About me: I am the founder at Ever After Wealth® and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Certified Divorce Specialist® as well as a Nationally Certified Mediation Professional®
To learn more about our firm, visit our website www.everafterwealth.com or reach out to me directly at gabriella@everafterwealth.com.
Disclaimer-- To prevent any potential conflict of interest, Gabriella neither manages assets nor offers investment advice. She does not engage in selling financial products and operates solely as a consultant.
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