Divorce Financial Planner + Divorce Coach

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In 2015 I started BrainstormingWomen to put my experience, education, training, and aspirations to work by helping clients create a more proactive relationship with their money.  I was fortunate to have a wonderful career but wanted to help in a different way, I took a giant leap; financial literacy for women was my mission. 

I never imagined that my love of real estate and learning about finances would lead me to become a Divorce Financial Planner and Coach. It turns out that for 23 years as I worked in different areas of banking; learning about real estate, lending, investments, and wealth management, I was preparing for the role I have today -  bringing women insight, ideas, and learning to better understand their finances and make important life decisions.

Shortly after I started my business, I was facing divorce and realized there was opportunity to help women facing divorce to better prepare for the process, to help them make fact-based, fair-minded financial decisions.   I became a CDFA to address clients' specific financial and familial concerns to help them survive then thrive after divorce.  There is no judgement here, I hope my warm and genuine manner will put you at ease, and that my experience and credentials give you the confidence that you have come to the right person. 

I do not sell financial products because there are plenty of professionals already doing that, I believe what I offer is unique for my clients.   

Located in North Carolina, working with clients throughout the U.S.

Education

• Masters in Business Administration from the McColl School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte

• Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Business from Queens University of Charlotte   

Credentials

• CDFA®️ Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

• CDC®️  Certified Divorce Coach

Additional professional certifications for specialized Divorce Coaching and Dispute Resolution Coaching

• DFC™ Divorce Financial Coach• CDFC™ Certified Divorce Financial Coach

• CDP™   CDP Divorce Practitioner™ 

• CDRC™ Certified Dispute Resolution Coach

Licenses previously held but no longer active

• NC Real Estate Salesman License  
• NC Health & Life Insurance License  
• FINRA Series 6, 63, 65, 66 and 7​​ 

A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst is a professional skilled at organizing and analyzing financial data and providing expertise on issues related to the finances of divorce. A CDFA can help you reduce the stress and overwhelm that come with the process before, during and after. We bring methodologies of financial planning to the divorce process, crafting individualized settlement solutions. We provide our clients with a greater sense of confidence in their decisions through a fuller understanding of how their marital settlement agreements will affect short and long-term financial future.

What is the role of a CDFA in Divorce?   CDFA professionals may serve multiple roles in the separation and divorce:

• Individual Advocate for those facing divorce difficulties. We can join with the attorney to strengthen and maximize your settlement outcome
  
  
• Collaborative Divorce Professional as a financial neutral  in a team-mediation approach involving professionals like attorneys, family therapists, and others
  
• A CDFA professional serves clients' needs as a strong financial advocate in litigation OR as a third-party neutral for those seeking higher control over their divorce outcomes with Mediation
  
  

Financial Expertise and Strategy

A CDFA provides the client and attorney with data analysis that shows the financial effect of any given settlement. They become part of the divorce team and provide support on financial issues such as:

• Examining your pre- and post-divorce situations, including Cash Flow
  
• Understanding the short-term and long-term effects of dividing property
  
• Analyzing pensions and retirement plans
  
• Determining if the client can afford the marital home, and if not, what he or she can afford
  
• Recognizing the tax consequences of different settlement proposals and bringing in a tax professional as needed
  
• Propose settlement options to individuals and couples seeking knowledgeable advice.
  
• Data Collection and Analysis
  

CDFA professional’s role mostly is to help gather and organize the client’s financial data and perform analysis. CDFAs can help manage a client’s expectations of their financial future by presenting different scenarios and talking through the client’s budget and expenses. 

CDFAs are trained to help clients:

• Define a division of assets and financial settlement that is individual to the client’s needs
  
• Collect financial and expense data
  
•  Identify their current and future financial goals
  
• Develop a realistic spending plan