The CDFA is a credential from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts for financial professionals who analyze the money side of a divorce settlement.
Candidates need a bachelor's degree and three years of relevant experience, or five years of experience without a degree, in fields such as financial analysis, family law, tax, investment advice, lending or insurance. They complete the Institute's program and pass one certification exam.
To keep it, a CDFA completes 30 hours of divorce-related continuing education every two years, pays an annual renewal fee, and follows the Institute's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Breaking the code can lead to revocation.
A CDFA helps clients and their attorneys understand settlement options: who keeps the house, how to divide retirement accounts, what support payments mean over time. The credential doesn't make someone a lawyer, and it doesn't say how they're paid. In the public graph, 75 fee-only advisors list a CDFA.
How to check
Search the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts' Find a CDFA directory at institutedfa.com. If the CDFA will also manage your investments, check their registration on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site.
Sources
Related terms
Looking for an advisor? Browse fee-only advisors by location or specialty.