Divorce financial planning services that protect your future
When you're in the middle of a divorce, you're expected to make permanent financial decisions during one of the most overwhelming times of your life. Our divorce planning services give you the clarity, analysis, and advocacy you need to make choices you won't regret.
Why divorce financial planning makes all the difference in a complex asset divorce
Most divorce attorneys are exceptional at the legal work—but they’re not financial experts. Their role typically does not include running 20‑year cash‑flow projections, valuing complex assets, analyzing tax implications, or advising you on decisions like keeping the house versus liquidating investments.
That’s where a CDFA® becomes essential. We focus on the financial details that shape your long‑term stability, not just the legal outcome. We work alongside your attorney to make sure the legal and financial pieces come together smoothly, giving you a fully coordinated plan for your future.
Comprehensive Divorce Financial Planning from Start to Finish
Our divorce settlement consulting service provides everything you need to navigate the financial side of divorce with confidence. Whether your case involves complex asset divorce situations or you simply need an expert in your corner, we guide you through every financial decision from initial strategy to final implementation.
Settlements look very different on paper than they do in real life. We make sure you understand exactly what you're agreeing to before you sign.
What’s Included:
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We analyze proposed settlement offers to help you understand the real financial impact for years to come. We review all proposed asset divisions, identify potential risks or unfair provisions, compare multiple scenarios side-by-side, and provide clear recommendations on what to accept, counter, or reject.
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For complex asset divorce cases involving businesses, professional practices, stock options, pensions, or real estate portfolios, we provide specialized valuation analysis. This includes business valuation and marital portion calculations, pension valuation and QDRO review, stock option analysis, real estate portfolio assessment, executive compensation evaluation, and trust considerations.
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We project what your post-divorce financial life will actually look like under different settlement scenarios. This includes monthly cash flow analysis, housing affordability assessments (keep the house vs. sell), spousal and child support modeling, and planning for major expenses like college funding and healthcare.
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If needed, we’ll attend mediation sessions as your financial advocate, serve as an expert witness in court proceedings, prepare financial exhibits and documentation, provide deposition and trial testimony, and collaborate with your attorney to strengthen your position. Having a CDFA® present changes the dynamic. We ask the right questions and challenge unfair proposals in real-time.
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After your divorce is finalized, we help you execute the agreement and transition into your new financial life. This includes coordinating asset transfers, reviewing beneficiary designations, providing guidance on insurance and benefit transitions, creating your initial post-divorce budget, and offering a pathway for ongoing wealth management.
What to expect when you work with a CDFA®
Step One:
Free Intro Meeting
We'll talk about your situation, your concerns, and whether divorce financial advisor help is the right fit. This is a no-pressure conversation intended to create clarity for what your next step should be.
Step Two:
Financial Discovery
We gather information about your assets, income, expenses, and goals. Then we analyze the full financial picture and identify opportunities and risks.
Step Three:
Settlement Consulting
Whether you're in mediation or headed to court, expect support with settlement analysis, advocacy at negotiations, and planning for your post-divorce financial life.
Is divorce financial planning right for you?
We work with clients throughout Michigan and Ohio, offering both virtual and in-person consultations.
Our divorce settlement consulting service is especially valuable if:
You have complex asset divorce situations involving businesses, pensions, stock options, and/or multiple investment portfolios
You're worried about whether proposed settlements are actually fair
Your spouse controlled the finances, and you need someone who can level the playing field
You want to understand the long-term implications before signing anything
You value having a financial expert in your corner throughout the process
What makes our divorce planning services different
We’re not just crunching numbers
We start with what matters to you emotionally and build financial strategies around those priorities. This is about your life, not just your assets.
We think beyond the divorce settlement
We create options for continued wealth management and financial planning support after the divorce is settled.
We have specialized expertise
With more than two decades of experience and hundreds of division scenarios behind us, we bring efficiency, creativity, and steady progress to even the most complex financial resolutions.
We show up as your advocate
Whether that means being present at mediation, serving as an expert witness, or simply asking questions your attorney might not think to ask—we're in your corner.
“Kristen made me feel seen and heard. She also demonstrated financial know-how early. Kristen made me feel respected and has served me well financially. I'm grateful to have her in my world.
— M.H.
Common Questions About Divorce Planning Services
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A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) is a financial professional with specialized training in the financial aspects of divorce. We're trained in family law, asset division rules, tax implications of divorce settlements, and negotiation strategy. Unlike general financial advisors, CDFAs specifically understand how to analyze settlement proposals, value marital assets, and project long-term financial outcomes for divorcing clients.
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Yes, many women come to us before filing to understand the financial implications of divorce. We can help you see what your post-divorce financial life might look like, identify what assets and accounts exist, and understand your options. This pre-filing consultation helps you make an informed decision about whether and when to move forward. We keep everything confidential and can help you prepare strategically before any legal action begins.
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Yes, your attorney handles the legal side of divorce, but they're not financial experts. We handle the financial analysis that informs those legal decisions. We analyze settlement proposals, run long-term projections, value complex assets, and identify financial risks your attorney might not catch. Most attorneys welcome CDFA® involvement because it strengthens their client's position and ensures nothing gets missed financially.
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The CDFA® / CFP® combination is powerful because we understand both divorce-specific financial strategy and comprehensive wealth management. We can analyze your settlement through two lenses: what's fair today and how it impacts your financial security for decades. This dual expertise helps us model retirement scenarios, tax implications, and estate planning considerations that single-credential professionals might miss. Attorneys value this because it creates bulletproof financial testimony and strategy.
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The earlier, the better. Ideally before settlement negotiations begin, so we can help you understand what to ask for and why. But we can add value at any stage of divorce. Even if you're already in mediation or headed to trial, we can review proposals, identify unfair provisions, and provide expert testimony. It’s too late to hire us if your settlement is already signed and finalized.
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Absolutely. We collaborate with your legal team and often communicate directly with your attorney to coordinate strategy. We provide financial analysis and expert testimony that strengthens your attorney's legal arguments. Most attorneys appreciate having a financial expert on the team because it allows them to focus on the legal strategy while we handle the complex financial modeling, asset valuation, and long-term projection work.
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We work on an hourly basis with a $2,500 initial engagement minimum. Most clients invest between $2,000 and $6,000 total depending on case complexity. Simpler consultations may be less, while high-conflict cases involving extensive litigation support may be more. We're happy to discuss budget considerations during your free consultation.
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Even in amicable divorces, divorce financial planning helps ensure fairness and prevents costly mistakes. Just because you're getting along doesn't mean the settlement is equitable or that you understand the long-term implications. Mediation works best when both parties have clear financial information. We help provide that clarity so your amicable process leads to a settlement that actually works for your future.
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Divorce settlement consulting requires specialized training in family law, asset division rules, tax implications of divorce, and negotiation strategy. As CDFA® professionals, we're specifically trained in these areas. Most financial planners lack this specialized expertise and can't provide the advocacy you need during settlement negotiations.
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We don't provide full forensic accounting services, but we review tax returns and financial documents to identify potential red flags. We analyze the last several years of tax returns, paychecks, bank statements, and investment accounts to look for undisclosed accounts or hidden assets. If we identify serious concerns about hidden income or fraud, we'll recommend bringing in a specialized forensic accountant for deeper investigation.
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Not always. We review your financial documents first and can often identify discrepancies or hidden assets without a full forensic investigation. If your spouse owns a business, has complex income sources, or you have reason to suspect hidden assets, a forensic accountant may be valuable. We'll let you know if we think forensic accounting is necessary for your case and can recommend qualified professionals.
Ready to understand what your post-divorce financial life can look like?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your situation and learn how our divorce planning services can help you navigate this transition with confidence.