Divorce Financial Planning: Understand What Your Settlement Actually Means
Before you agree to anything, see what it would mean for your income, your home, and your retirement over the years ahead.
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Why it matters What to expect Our roles Our services Why clients choose us Who you'll work with Frequently asked questions From the podcast Schedule a consultation
Why Divorce Financial Planning is Essential
Divorce can be one of the most financially significant events of your life. We help you approach it strategically, so you're not left guessing or reacting emotionally.
With our support, you’ll:
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Understand your current and future financial picture
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Evaluate settlement options and their long-term impact
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Make smart decisions about housing, retirement, and expenses
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Move forward with clarity and confidence
What to Expect When Working with Our Divorce Financial Planner
Our process begins with a comprehensive financial review where we gather information about all marital assets, debts, income sources, and expenses. We then create detailed financial models showing how different settlement scenarios will impact your future.
Benefits of Hiring a Divorce Financial Planner
- Avoid costly mistakes: Understand the true value of assets before agreeing to settlements
- Tax efficiency: Structure your settlement to minimize tax burdens
- Long-term security: Plan for retirement despite the financial impact of divorce
- Confidence: Enter negotiations with clear financial projections and goals
Our Roles:
Financial Advocate
- Acting solely in your interest, we provide dedicated financial advice and advocacy.
- We focus on protecting and maximizing your financial interests in the divorce process.
Financial Neutral
- Serving impartially, we assist both parties in understanding and navigating financial issues.
- Our neutral stance ensures fair and balanced financial solutions, which is often the right fit for divorce mediation.
Collaborative Support for Attorneys
- Offering specialized financial expertise to complement legal strategies.
- We provide critical financial analysis and insights to support legal proceedings and negotiations.
Our Services:
In-Depth Financial Analysis & Asset Division
- Comprehensive review and analysis of marital assets, debts, and investments.
- Strategic guidance on equitable asset division, considering future financial impacts and tax implications.
Budgeting and Cash Flow Planning
- Development of realistic, post-divorce budgets to ensure financial stability.
- Detailed cash flow analysis for short and long-term financial planning.
Post-Divorce Financial Planning
- Tailored financial strategies for a secure, independent financial future, including our Post-Divorce Financial Roadmap.
- Ongoing investment management and financial planning are available through our sister company, Intentional Wealth Partners, so you do not have to start over with someone new once the divorce is final.
Why Clients Choose Intentional Divorce Solutions
✅ Fiduciary, Fee-Only Advice
No commissions. No sales. Just unbiased guidance.
✅ Specialized Expertise
We work exclusively with divorce cases, so we know the nuances.
✅ Client-Centered
We meet you where you are and tailor our support to your needs.
✅ Collaborative Mindset
We coordinate with your legal team to keep your case on track.
✅ Virtual & In-Person Options
Work with us from anywhere, or visit our Cleveland-area office.
Working with Leah was empowering. Before I met with her, I was stressed and overwhelmed. She created a plan for me that gave me the clarity I needed to know that I was going to be okay. She made me feel like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Leah provided great financial advice throughout my divorce and provided assistance with dividing financial assets with my goals in mind. She also provided advice for the next steps to move beyond the divorce. It was peace of mind I couldn't have received without her. Friends and family can be great support, but Leah was the financial expert they couldn't be. I would 100% reach out to her and recommend her to friends going through the same thing.
Who You'll Work With
Jennifer Bush, CFP®, CDFA®
Senior Financial Planner
Jennifer takes our financial planning consultations. She has worked in financial planning since 2006 and specializes in guiding people through transitions: divorce, career changes, loss, inheritance. She became a single mom in 2010 and rebuilt her own financial foundation, so she knows what starting over actually takes.
Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®, MAFF®
Founder
Leah founded Intentional Divorce Solutions and wrote Intentional Money: The Modern Woman's Guide to Building Wealth, Purpose, and Peace. She is a collaboratively trained financial neutral and a mediator trained through an Ohio Supreme Court approved program, with more than 100 hours of continuing education in alternative dispute resolution. She takes a small number of cases each year.
My attorneys knew how to lawyer, but they didn't truly understand the financial reality I was facing.
After nearly 30 years of marriage, facing a collapsed relationship and what felt like a full-blown identity crisis, I filed for divorce. I believed I had the right legal team, but one night at 3 a.m., staring at the ceiling, I realized something was missing. My attorneys knew how to lawyer, but they didn't truly understand the financial reality I was facing. And honestly, I wasn't sure they cared.
I started searching on my own and found Leah. I called the next day, spoke with her, and very quickly knew she needed to be on my team. She felt like the glasses to a very far-sighted divorce, bringing clarity to something that felt overwhelming and blurry.
Leah helped me understand the numbers, worked closely with valuation teams, advocated for what I wanted, and most importantly, helped me feel empowered rather than beaten down by the process. When it was over, hiring her as my financial planner was an easy decision.
I trust Leah and her team wholeheartedly. I recommend her to any friend facing this heartbreaking and grueling journey. The road is difficult enough, but with the right team, I got through it, and I now feel like I can face life again.
Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce Financial Planning & Analysis
What does a divorce financial planner do?
Should I hire a divorce financial planner before filing?
How much does a divorce financial planner cost in Cleveland?
Is working with a CDFA only for high-net-worth clients?
I'm already working with an attorney. Do I need a CDFA, too?
Do you work with my divorce attorney or mediator?
I have a financial advisor. Why would I need a CDFA?
Do I need both a CDFA and a financial advisor during divorce?
I'm not getting a divorce in your state. Can I still work with you?
How do I find a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst in Ohio?
I'm already divorced. Can I still work with you?
How can I get more information about your comprehensive 1:1 services?
What does a virtual consultation look like?
From the podcast
Hear how this work actually goes
Before you hire anyone, it helps to hear the thinking. Three episodes from Intentional Divorce Insights, hosted by Leah Hadley, AFC, CDFA, MAFF.
Double the Insight: Divorce Financial Planners Tackle Tough Questions
Two CDFAs walk through the financial mistakes that cost the most. It is the clearest picture of what an analysis actually catches.
Dividing Investment Accounts in Divorce: How Market Volatility Affects Your Settlement
Half of an account on paper is not half of an account at closing. This is the kind of detail worth modeling before you sign.
The #1 Money Regret I Hear From Divorced Women
The regret is waiting too long to get financial guidance. Worth twenty minutes before you decide to wait.
A free call
Tell us where you are. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help and what it would cost.
A full financial review
We gather your assets, debts, income and expenses, then model how different settlement options play out over time.
Decisions you can defend
You walk into negotiation knowing what each option actually means for your future.
Fee-only and fiduciary. No commissions, nothing to sell you, no obligation after the call.
Download your complimentary divorce checklist.
Don't let any important details fall through the cracks.