preparing
Facing the Financial Uncertainties of Divorce
Divorces are about the past. Divorce financial planning is about the future. A divorce financial analysis looks at the current situation, as well as the years following the divorce to see how the parties can expect to fare. Will one ex-spouse enjoy a comfortable lifestyle while the other barely scrapes by? A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ can help you answer crucial questions:
“How can I be confident that I will be financially secure after my divorce?”
Now, perhaps more than at any other time in your life, you need to think clearly about money and your financial future. You will be making decisions that will affect the quality of your lifestyle and that of your children, for the rest of your life.
An Attorney can help you understand your legal rights and opportunities. A Therapist can help you understand your emotions and move on to the next phase of your life. A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ can best help you evaluate and plan for the short and long-term financial consequences of your separation or divorce.
As a Certified Financial Planner® since 1993, and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™, Adrienne Rothstein Grace’s extensive experience allows her to offer an objective perspective backed by sound financial advice. She works to help each client avoid common critical mistakes that can occur through the emotional process of dividing assets between spouses and works to help create a settlement that will withstand the test of time. No matter where you are in the divorce process, Adrienne and her team of professionals can assist you in navigating the uncertain path of divorce and help guide you to financial security.
“What is the Process?”
Besides being emotionally draining, divorce is financially unsettling as well. Dividing income and assets into two households can be a challenging process. Financial Planners have traditionally worked with individuals after divorce, helping them build new lives and plan for their future. By being uniquely qualified to make long-term financial projections, Divorce Financial Planners integrate the methodology of financial planning directly into the divorce process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™? I thought my lawyer handled the financial issues too.
Lawyers are professionals trained to advise and protect people’s legal rights and they must know in depth all areas of the law in which they practice, in order to represent their clients adequately. It is not really fair or reasonable to expect that they will also have the depth of knowledge in taxes, pension distributions, insurance issues, or financial planning which will assure that all your concerns about how you will be able to live after the divorce are addressed appropriately.
Won’t it cost more to hire a CDFA™ as well as an attorney?
Yes, it probably will, but not as much as you might think. CDFA™s generally charge somewhat less than attorneys so that the amount of professional time spent analyzing your finances may cost less. To the extent that a CDFA™ can show you ways to save money, you may be able to save more than you pay for the cost of the CDFA™’s services
Do you work with me alone or with me and my spouse?
We work on either basis, depending upon your circumstances. When divorcing spouses have an amicable relationship, we can work with a Mediator, or in a Collaborative Law situation to help them work out their financial issues, while they look to their attorneys for legal advice. In such a situation, we act as a “Financial Neutral”. In an adversarial situation, we advocate for the spouse who has hired us.
Should I hire a CDFA™ instead of an attorney?
Absolutely not! The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts highly recommends that any person considering a divorce should hire an attorney. The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ assists the attorney, not replaces the attorney.
Who does the CDFA help?
CDFA™’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™’s also help attorneys by helping the client make financial sense of proposals. CDFA™’s give attorneys the tools they need to help prove their case.
If you have any questions or would like to talk with Adrienne confidentially, you can contact her directly at
adrienne@adriennegrace.com or 716-817-6425,
or schedule a free Financial Clarity session by clicking here.
