WHAT IS THE CDFATM's ROLE?

 

To best meet the needs of a divorcing client a blend of financial planning and an examination of the present-day scenario is needed.  To meet this need, a new professional designation was created - the Certified Divorce Financial AnalystTM.  The role of the CDFATM is to help both client and attorney understand how, based on current assumpions, the financial decisions made today will impact the client's financial future.

 

A CDFATM is someone who comes from a financial, accounting or legal background and goes through an intensive training program to become skilled in analyzing and providing expertise related to the financial issues of divorce.  The CDFATM becomes part of the divorce team, providing litigation support for the attorney and client, or may become a member of a Collaborative Law team.  In either event, the CDFATM will be responsible for:

 

Identifying the long and short-term effects of dividing property.

 

Integrating tax issues.

 

Analyzing pension and retirement plan issues.

 

Determining if the client can afford the matrimonial home - and if not, what might be an affordable alternative.

 

Evaluating the client's insurance needs.

 

Establishing assumptions for projecting inflation and rates of return.

 

Bringing an innovative and creative approach to settling cases.