How to Choose a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Working with a certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA®) will have a huge positive impact on your current and long-term finances. Therefore, choosing the right divorce mediator to be by your side is an important decision. When choosing a professional to work with, it is important to be thorough and consider each individual’s experience and approach. While the ultimate decision is a personal one, it is a good idea to interview your CDFA® thoroughly before deciding to hire them. Here are a few questions you should consider asking. Plus, we included how our CDFA® at Divorce Financial Solutions measures up.

How many years of experience do you have working as a CDFA®?

Financial discovery is a complex process. The more years of experience a CDFA® has correlates with better financial knowledge. Better financial knowledge means you get the best possible advice. A CDFA® who is familiar with the ins and outs of financial planning will be able to streamline your divorce proceedings and help you reach a property settlement agreement more efficiently. This will ultimately save you time and money, so make sure you have an experienced professional on your side.

At Divorce Financial Solutions, our CDFA® Veralynn Morris has more than three decades of experience in the financial planning industry. She draws upon her extensive knowledge to guide you through the financial aspects of the divorce process.

Are you comfortable providing expert witness testimony?

While it is not necessary in every case, working with a CDFA® who is experienced giving expert witness testimony is a major benefit. If you have to go to trial due to custody disputes or other issues regarding financial matters, having an expert to educate you, your lawyers, and the court about settlement options is a valuable asset. However, always verify that an expert has never been disqualified as an expert in court. If they have, it means they have been dismissed from a case and may not be credible or reliable.

Veralynn is recognized as an expert at providing financial expert witness testimony. Clients and lawyers often request her to testify on their behalf in court. Additionally, the court has never disqualified her. When working with Veralynn, you know you will be working with a reliable and credible witness.

How closely do you work with your clients?

Putting together the data needed to fortify a divorce case can be a complicated process. You want a CDFA® who will work closely with you to find the right financial information to bolster your case.

At Divorce Financial Solutions, Veralynn, her analysts, and her staff strives to get to know each and every one of her clients. She works with clients on a one-on-one basis in order to secure the best outcome for each unique situation.

Do you have a list of references I can contact?

Any reputable CDFA® should be happy to share references with you. By doing so, you can find out firsthand what it is like to work with them. Having that information will make it easier for you to decide if they will be the best fit for you.

Here at Divorce Financial Solutions, we keep up with our clients even after the divorce has been finalized. It’s great to see how our future planning during their divorce has helped secure a positive financial outcome. We are happy to provide references upon request.

We offer services to clients in Frederick, Washington, Allegany, Garrett, Howard, Carroll, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Anne Arundel, St. Mary’s, Baltimore and Harford Counties in Maryland.