Our Mission
Our mission is to serve our divorce clients with the best financial, investment and tax advice prior to, during, and after divorce. We strive to be the most competent financial advisor in our field so that we may provide education, peace of mind, and security for our clients.
Divorce Financial Analysis, Inc. understands how important competent financial advice is to your future when going through a divorce. We are committed to spending the necessary time to help you get through this difficult period of transition, and assist you by developing a strong financial plan for the years ahead.
We provide financial expertise and strategic planning in the settlement process to help you better understand the financial consequences and outcome that are a result of divorce. We work to represent your interest to gain the best property settlement, alimony, and child support possible.
Divorce Financial Analysis, Inc. understands how important competent financial advice is to your future when going through a divorce. We are committed to spending the necessary time to help you get through this difficult period of transition, and assist you by developing a strong financial plan for the years ahead.
We provide financial expertise and strategic planning in the settlement process to help you better understand the financial consequences and outcome that are a result of divorce. We work to represent your interest to gain the best property settlement, alimony, and child support possible.
Our Approach
Preparation Pays
What seems so simple is often quite complex, and without preparation divorce can be expensive and painful when it doesn’t need to be.
First Step: Get the Facts
If you are considering divorcing, you first must gather all of your separate and joint financial information including income, expenses, assets and liabilities.
We’ve learned that many people are overwhelmed by the process of gathering this information. Our clients receive a “Divorce Organizer” to help make it easier, and we help them through each step. When you don’t have to do it alone, it's far less stressful.
Second Step: Learn Which Divorce Process Is Best for You and Your Family
You are unique. Divorce is a critical turning point in the life of a family.
Every divorce has its own circumstances and facts. Volumes have been written about how to do this or that given this or that fact…….but you and your family owe it to yourselves to carefully think about the alternatives that will be best for your future.
Consult with a divorce professional to learn about the different ways to divorce before deciding how to proceed. There’s a lot to know and much to be gained or lost by your choice of divorce process Divorce Process Choices are:
Third Step: Make Fully Informed Thoughtful Decisions
Get all the information you can about settlement alternatives and the laws of your state before you start to negotiate, collaborate, or make any decisions.
You must remember: Reading and educating yourself is a good beginning, but there’s a limit to what you can know or achieve without the experience and the expertise of a professional.
What seems so simple is often quite complex, and without preparation divorce can be expensive and painful when it doesn’t need to be.
First Step: Get the Facts
If you are considering divorcing, you first must gather all of your separate and joint financial information including income, expenses, assets and liabilities.
We’ve learned that many people are overwhelmed by the process of gathering this information. Our clients receive a “Divorce Organizer” to help make it easier, and we help them through each step. When you don’t have to do it alone, it's far less stressful.
Second Step: Learn Which Divorce Process Is Best for You and Your Family
You are unique. Divorce is a critical turning point in the life of a family.
Every divorce has its own circumstances and facts. Volumes have been written about how to do this or that given this or that fact…….but you and your family owe it to yourselves to carefully think about the alternatives that will be best for your future.
Consult with a divorce professional to learn about the different ways to divorce before deciding how to proceed. There’s a lot to know and much to be gained or lost by your choice of divorce process Divorce Process Choices are:
- Do It Yourself
- Mediation
- Collaborative Divorce
- Litigation – Formal Court Process
Third Step: Make Fully Informed Thoughtful Decisions
Get all the information you can about settlement alternatives and the laws of your state before you start to negotiate, collaborate, or make any decisions.
You must remember: Reading and educating yourself is a good beginning, but there’s a limit to what you can know or achieve without the experience and the expertise of a professional.
Our Commitment
We will work with you, your attorney, and other trusted advisors to coordinate the legal and financial aspects of your divorce. We will help you through difficult choices that are often part of the divorce so that you can start building your new life. Perhaps most importantly, we can reduce the stress inherent in every divorce, helping prepare you for a financially successful future.
Our Guiding Values
Enlighten, enrich and empower – Divorce Financial Analysis, Inc. wants to empower and enlighten you with tools and knowledge to help you build a brighter financial future.
We recognize that each client is a unique individual with different life experiences. We promise to honor and respect your lifestyle, background, and challenges, while giving you the individual attention you deserve.
We believe that your best outcome is the key to my company’s success and we always put your needs first. We truly understand the importance of our contribution to your long-term financial future and undertake our role in it with total responsibility and care for your well-being.
We value your time and money. Our overall goal is to help you get the best settlement option available for your situation. We strive to do this in the most time and cost efficient manner possible.
We recognize that each client is a unique individual with different life experiences. We promise to honor and respect your lifestyle, background, and challenges, while giving you the individual attention you deserve.
We believe that your best outcome is the key to my company’s success and we always put your needs first. We truly understand the importance of our contribution to your long-term financial future and undertake our role in it with total responsibility and care for your well-being.
We value your time and money. Our overall goal is to help you get the best settlement option available for your situation. We strive to do this in the most time and cost efficient manner possible.
Top 10 FAQs
10 Most Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Divorce Settlements
Q: Will I be able to receive alimony?
A: The tests for alimony (or maintenance or spousal support) include some of the following, however, keep in mind that no two cases are the same. You need to seek individual advice in order to determine how the specifics of your case may impact your ability to receive alimony: · Need – Can you support yourself with earned income plus investment income? · Ability to pay – Does the payer of alimony have sufficient funds to pay? · Length of marriage – A long-term marriage (10 years or more) is typically a stronger case for the lower-earning spouse. · Health of both parties.
Q: Will I lose my pension?
A: Pensions and retirement plans are marital assets. Depending on the state you live in, the portion that was earned before your marriage could also be considered a marital asset. However, it is possible to keep your pension and have it offset with other assets.
Q: Should the custodial parent keep the house?
A: This is a great question, because it’s one of the most important overlooked questions. The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. It’s important to pinpoint exactly what it will cost to maintain the home, factoring in taxes and inflation. The next step is to analyze if there is enough money coming in to stay comfortable in the home (in other words, pay the bills each month). Once that has been determined, the advisability of retaining the home must be compared to the advisability of giving up other assets (such as liquid accounts, retirement plans, etc.). Finally, all decisions need to be weighed against current economic and stock market conditions. Certified Divorce Financial Analysts™ are trained to help people answer this question before they commit to a settlement that cannot be changed.
Q: What if I bring a house into the marriage that is in my name only, and I add my spouse’s name to the deed?
A: In this case, the whole house could be considered marital property. You might have made a “presumptive gift” to the marriage and should consult with a family law attorney to discuss your options.
Q: Is my IRA considered marital property? It’s in my name only.
A: Everything acquired during the marriage, no matter whose name it’s in, is typically considered marital property. In some states, the increase in value of separate property could also be considered marital. If you are going through a divorce, it would important to evaluate the financial drawbacks to having your IRA included in the list of assets you retain, post divorce. Remember, the funds in the IRA cannot be accessed before 59 1/2 without paying a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.
Q: I have never worked. Can I get Social Security?
A: If your spouse has worked and if you have been married for 10 years or more, than you are entitled to one-half of your spouse’s Social Security or your own, whichever is higher–even if you are divorced. Your spouse still retains 100% of his/her Social Security benefit. This is an automatic guarantee and therefore it is not a negotiation point in a divorce.
Q: How do we figure how much child support should be paid?
A: Every state has Child Support Guidelines that are mandated by the State. However, the Guidelines get tricky when one (or both) spouses is an independent business owner who can control their wages. In this situation, it typically helps to bring in a financial or tax expert who can help determine the true potential income of the party(s).
Q: Do we have to go to court?
A: Only if you can’t reach an agreement. Then, a court date is set and a judge hears the case. Less than 2% of all divorce cases go to trial in the United States.
Q: What is a QDRO and why do I need one?
A: A QDRO (or Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is the legal document that divides up a qualified pension or retirement account (including 401k’s) pursuant to a divorce. The Judgment of Divorce is not sufficient to divide up qualified plans, a QDRO is needed. There are many nuances that go into QDRO’s and make it an advocating (versus neutral) document. In order to protect your assets, be sure to obtain qualified advice in this area from a specialist.
Q&A provided by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
Q: Will I be able to receive alimony?
A: The tests for alimony (or maintenance or spousal support) include some of the following, however, keep in mind that no two cases are the same. You need to seek individual advice in order to determine how the specifics of your case may impact your ability to receive alimony: · Need – Can you support yourself with earned income plus investment income? · Ability to pay – Does the payer of alimony have sufficient funds to pay? · Length of marriage – A long-term marriage (10 years or more) is typically a stronger case for the lower-earning spouse. · Health of both parties.
Q: Will I lose my pension?
A: Pensions and retirement plans are marital assets. Depending on the state you live in, the portion that was earned before your marriage could also be considered a marital asset. However, it is possible to keep your pension and have it offset with other assets.
Q: Should the custodial parent keep the house?
A: This is a great question, because it’s one of the most important overlooked questions. The answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no. It’s important to pinpoint exactly what it will cost to maintain the home, factoring in taxes and inflation. The next step is to analyze if there is enough money coming in to stay comfortable in the home (in other words, pay the bills each month). Once that has been determined, the advisability of retaining the home must be compared to the advisability of giving up other assets (such as liquid accounts, retirement plans, etc.). Finally, all decisions need to be weighed against current economic and stock market conditions. Certified Divorce Financial Analysts™ are trained to help people answer this question before they commit to a settlement that cannot be changed.
Q: What if I bring a house into the marriage that is in my name only, and I add my spouse’s name to the deed?
A: In this case, the whole house could be considered marital property. You might have made a “presumptive gift” to the marriage and should consult with a family law attorney to discuss your options.
Q: Is my IRA considered marital property? It’s in my name only.
A: Everything acquired during the marriage, no matter whose name it’s in, is typically considered marital property. In some states, the increase in value of separate property could also be considered marital. If you are going through a divorce, it would important to evaluate the financial drawbacks to having your IRA included in the list of assets you retain, post divorce. Remember, the funds in the IRA cannot be accessed before 59 1/2 without paying a 10% penalty for early withdrawal.
Q: I have never worked. Can I get Social Security?
A: If your spouse has worked and if you have been married for 10 years or more, than you are entitled to one-half of your spouse’s Social Security or your own, whichever is higher–even if you are divorced. Your spouse still retains 100% of his/her Social Security benefit. This is an automatic guarantee and therefore it is not a negotiation point in a divorce.
Q: How do we figure how much child support should be paid?
A: Every state has Child Support Guidelines that are mandated by the State. However, the Guidelines get tricky when one (or both) spouses is an independent business owner who can control their wages. In this situation, it typically helps to bring in a financial or tax expert who can help determine the true potential income of the party(s).
Q: Do we have to go to court?
A: Only if you can’t reach an agreement. Then, a court date is set and a judge hears the case. Less than 2% of all divorce cases go to trial in the United States.
Q: What is a QDRO and why do I need one?
A: A QDRO (or Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is the legal document that divides up a qualified pension or retirement account (including 401k’s) pursuant to a divorce. The Judgment of Divorce is not sufficient to divide up qualified plans, a QDRO is needed. There are many nuances that go into QDRO’s and make it an advocating (versus neutral) document. In order to protect your assets, be sure to obtain qualified advice in this area from a specialist.
Q&A provided by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts
Benefits of Planning
The financial ramifications of divorce can be devastating. But, with proper planning, understanding the issues and implications, you and your spouse can increase the chance of reaching an equitable settlement that works to meet the short and longer term financial needs of you both – and those of your children.
Certified Divorce Financial Analysts are trained to assist you to gather and compile your financial information, prepare scenarios of possible settlements, and help you to understand the up-side and down-side of the various options.
Certified Divorce Financial Analysts are trained to assist you to gather and compile your financial information, prepare scenarios of possible settlements, and help you to understand the up-side and down-side of the various options.
- The benefits of divorce financial planning to you:
- Having peace of mind knowing that you understand the implications regarding your financial options
- Providing objective guidance during an emotional time
- Expertise in your specific financial needs
- Providing expert witness testimony if needed
Divorce Workshops
Considering Divorce? Full of questions, but don’t know where the divorce process even should begin?
This workshop is designed to help women and men take the next step, no matter where they are in the process of untying the knot.Your Divorce Workshop deals with the legal, financial, family and personal issues of divorce in a logical, yet compassionate way. With the guidance of trained professionals, workshop participants gain greater understanding of the confusing divorce process. Learn more about the Your Divorce Workshop.
This workshop is designed to help women and men take the next step, no matter where they are in the process of untying the knot.Your Divorce Workshop deals with the legal, financial, family and personal issues of divorce in a logical, yet compassionate way. With the guidance of trained professionals, workshop participants gain greater understanding of the confusing divorce process. Learn more about the Your Divorce Workshop.
Statistics indicate that divorce happens to approximately 2.2 million people each year, and 100% of divorces involve financial settlements. Realities of divorce can be overwhelming. With over 50% of first marriages and 70% of second marriages ending, it is clear that people need professional financial advice and guidance when making the decision to dissolve their marriage.
What We Can Do for You
Divorce Financial Analysis, Inc. provides divorce financial consulting services. We will provide you with the financial information, analysis, and education that you need to make informed decisions about your future. You will gain control, save time, understand alternatives, and make informed decisions.
We will work with one or both parties to help gather information, educate, and evaluate the financial information you need to consider. Finding a civil and equitable solution can help you minimize your legal fees and taxes. Studies have shown that individuals and couples who create solutions through thoughtful consideration begin their new lives sooner and with less residual anger.