The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFAâ„¢)
Founded in 1993, IDFA provides specialized training to accounting, financial, and legal professionals in the field of pre-divorce financial planning. Over the years, we have certified more than 5,000 professionals in the US and Canada as Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) professionals.
The Institute provides comprehensive training using a variety of knowledge and skill-building techniques. CDFA candidates learn how to help their clients with financial issues that will affect the rest of their lives, including:
- Personal vs. marital property
- Valuing and dividing property
- Retirement assets and pensions
- Spousal and child support
- Splitting the house
- Tax problems and solutions
- Expert witness testimony
- Tax law and financial issues affecting divorce
To acquire the designation, a candidate must successfully pass all exams (modules) with a minimum score of 70% for each one and be in good standing with their Broker Dealer (if applicable) and the FINRA/SEC or other licensing or regulatory agency.
Success Stories
“Becoming a CDFA has been both personally and professionally rewarding. I have become the financial ‘go to’ person for many of the top Massachusetts attorneys, and as a result, many of their clients have become my clients at settlement time.�-Barbara Shapiro (CFP®, CDFA®, CFS, EdM, MSF), Dedham, MA