Divorce ranks among the most financially complex transitions a person can face. Legal proceedings move quickly, emotions run high, and the financial decisions made during that window can shape a client’s life for decades. BIP Wealth has long believed that great financial guidance means showing up for clients during every major life event—not just the milestones worth celebrating, but the difficult ones too.

That commitment is reflected in our firm’s growing team of Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFA®s). BIP Wealth is proud to have two advisors who hold this specialized designation: Marcia Mayoue, CFP®, CFA®, CDFA®, in our Atlanta office, and Ashley Arrington, CFP®, CEPA®, CDFA®, in our Nashville office.

What Is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst?

A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst is a financial professional who specializes in the financial dimensions of divorce. While a divorce attorney navigates the legal process, a CDFA® focuses on what the numbers actually mean for a client’s life going forward. The two work hand in hand, with the CDFA® providing analysis that helps inform settlement decisions and long-term financial strategy.

The CDFA® designation is awarded through the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts® (IDFA®) and requires rigorous coursework, an examination, and a commitment to ongoing education. Professionals who hold the designation are equipped to analyze asset division, evaluate tax implications, model retirement outcomes, and help clients understand the full financial picture before any agreement is finalized.

How a CDFA® Helps Clients Navigate Divorce

Working with a CDFA® is most effective when clients engage early, ideally before formal proceedings begin. Simple steps taken at the outset, like gathering financial records, inventorying assets, and understanding account access, can make the difference between a smooth process and one layered with avoidable complications.

A CDFA® can help answer some of the most consequential questions clients face during this time:

  • If I receive our home in the settlement, can I actually afford to keep it, and what are the tax implications if I sell?
  • My spouse earns significantly more. How will I support myself, and what will my retirement look like?
  • Will personal property I owned before marriage be subject to division?
  • My spouse is required to pay alimony. How do I plan financially in the event of their death and the loss of that income?
  • My spouse owns a business and multiple rental properties. Which assets make the most sense for me to seek in a settlement?

A CDFA® also serves as a bridge between legal strategy and personal financial reality. What makes sense on paper in a settlement agreement does not always translate into a secure financial future. Having a CDFA® involved means those two things stay aligned.

Your Personal CFO—Especially When It Matters Most

BIP Wealth was founded on the belief that every client deserves a personal CFO, someone who understands the full scope of their financial life and helps make decisions with clarity and confidence. That philosophy applies even more during a divorce, when the stakes are high and the path forward can feel uncertain.

Having advisors with the CDFA® designation means BIP Wealth clients going through divorce don’t have to navigate these financial complexities alone. From asset division and tax strategy, to retirement planning and cash flow analysis, the firm’s CDFA®s are equipped to provide the kind of grounded, forward-looking guidance that helps clients move from a place of upheaval to one of stability.

Marcia Mayoue, CFP®, CFA®, CDFA®

Marcia Mayoue was the first advisor on our team to hold the CDFA® designation, and has built meaningful expertise working with clients at every stage of the divorce process—those preparing for proceedings, navigating active settlements, and rebuilding financially in the aftermath. Her experience gives her a deep understanding of how to translate complex financial analysis into decisions clients can feel confident about.

Ashley Arrington, CFP®, CEPA®, CDFA®

We are thrilled to announce that Ashley Arrington has successfully completed all the requirements to earn her Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. Ashley’s pursuit of this credential reflects both her commitment to her clients and something deeply personal.

“I have seen first-hand the way that divorce can affect a family financially, having helped my own parents through their divorce later in life,” shared Ashley.“I know through experience that seemingly minor details can be a make-or-break financial decision when played out over a lifetime.”

That lived experience informs Ashley’s approach with every client she serves. She understands that the decisions made during a divorce are not abstract, they are deeply human, with consequences that extend far into the future. Earning the CDFA® designation gives her an additional set of tools to match that understanding with rigorous financial analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Working with a CDFA®

Do I need both a divorce attorney and a CDFA®?

A divorce attorney and a CDFA® serve different roles. Your attorney handles the legal process; your CDFA® handles the financial analysis that informs it. Working with both gives you a fuller picture and can help prevent costly financial mistakes that aren’t always apparent from a legal standpoint alone.

When is the right time to bring in a CDFA®?

The earlier, the better. CDFA®s do their most effective work when engaged before formal proceedings begin. Early involvement allows time to gather records, understand the full financial picture, and approach settlement discussions with clear data rather than reactive decisions.

Can a CDFA® help with retirement accounts and long-term planning?

Yes. Retirement assets are often among the most significant—and most misunderstood—components of a divorce settlement. A CDFA® can model different scenarios and help clients understand the long-term implications of dividing retirement.

Ready to Talk?

If you or someone you know is preparing for, navigating, or recovering from a divorce, BIP Wealth’s team is here to help. Marcia Mayoue and Ashley Arrington bring both expertise and genuine care to every client relationship, serving as a support system to clients during one of life’s most challenging transitions. Reach out to learn more about how BIP Wealth can support you.