Why Every Divorce Attorney Needs a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® on Their Team

By Jennifer Berdell, CFP®, CDFA® — Founder of SmartHER, where she educates, coaches & empowers women enduring divorce to financial strength.

Divorce is not just a legal process — it’s a major financial transition. As divorce attorneys, you guide clients through some of the most complex emotional and legal decisions of their lives. But even the most skilled legal strategy can fall short if the financial picture isn’t fully understood or optimized.

That’s where a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) becomes indispensable.

The Financial Side of Divorce Is More Complicated Than Ever

For many women, divorce represents the first time they’ve had to manage the family finances on their own. They may not know where to begin — what assets are worth, how taxes will affect settlements, or how much they’ll need to sustain their lifestyle long-term.

A CDFA® helps bridge that gap. We analyze and explain the financial realities behind each settlement option — showing not just what looks fair on paper today, but what will work five, ten, or twenty years down the road.

The Attorney + CDFA® Partnership Protects Clients — and Strengthens Cases

When attorneys and CDFAs® collaborate, clients receive a more comprehensive and confident strategy.

As a CDFA®, I support attorneys by:

1. Helping clients understand the numbers, which can reduce fear and improve decision-making during negotiations or mediation.
2. Conducting a deep investigation of clients’ true living expenses by analyzing their credit card and bank statements line-by-line, ensuring the numbers submitted in the attorney’s required Income & Expense Report are precise and fully defensible.
3. Designing optimal financial settlement solutions that align with long-term financial stability and strategic outcomes.
4. Uncovering hidden or overlooked assets, such as retirement accounts from former employers, deferred compensation, stock options, or a business’s non-documented cash reserves.
5. Projecting cash flow and tax consequences so there are no costly surprises later.
6. Analyzing settlements to reveal the long-term impact of different proposals.
7. Serving as the financial expert in court and mediation, bringing clarity through reports/exhibits so all parties can make informed, transparent decisions.

This partnership lets you, as the attorney, focus on building the strongest legal case while knowing that every financial angle has been covered.

Why Women Benefit Most

Statistically, women often face greater financial vulnerability after divorce — lower lifetime earnings, longer life expectancies, and a tendency to prioritize family over finances during marriage.

A CDFA® helps your female clients move from uncertainty to empowerment. I spend significant time educating the women I work with, which in turn empowers them with their finances and enables them to make wise, confident decisions for themselves — both during divorce and long after.

We turn raw data into clear, actionable information, supporting women in rebuilding their financial lives with clarity and strength.

A Client’s Perspective

The following is an unsolicited testimonial from an actual client:

“I am eternally grateful we met when I was going through divorce; frightened, overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. You were a safe place in the middle of the storm. Not only did you take the reins and help me with my finances, you guided me through all of the necessary steps I had to take to become an independent woman. I am so thankful for your gentle guidance and patience and am so happy to be standing on the other side of the storm with your continuing help and wonderful friendship.”

This testimonial reflects the profound impact a CDFA® can have — not just in the numbers, but in a client’s confidence, security, and ability to rebuild.

In Short

When divorce attorneys and CDFAs® work together, clients don’t just get divorced — they get financially prepared for the next chapter of their lives.

You are the legal expert. I am the financial expert. Together, we ensure your clients achieve not just a fair settlement, but a smart one.

Contact SmartHER

To learn more, contact Jennifer Berdell, CFP®, CDFA® — Founder of SmartHER at (804) 956-4546 or www.smart-her-money.com.  The SmartHER office is located at 4801 Cox Rd., Suite 203, Glen Allen, VA 23060.