I completed training as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) but chose not to pursue certification. I concluded that the regulations of the organization would have required me to unduly limit the scope of my mediation services.

Instead, I created a proprietary (and, in my view, better and more detailed) training curriculum. I am a Family Law Financial Analyst (FLFA). The curriculum, a comprehensive approach to all financial issues in a divorce, will provide you with unmatched thoroughness and thoughtful solutions.

My expertise as a divorce mediator and Family Law Financial Analyst enables me to fuse the two into a comprehensive process that no individual divorce mediator in the Portland metropolitan area has replicated.

Hiring a mediator with a Juris Doctor and specialized financial training (of which there are very few in Portland, and none who have published the materials that I offer clients at no charge) provides a level of protection that generalist mediators cannot offer.

Parenting is one component of the dissolution of a marriage, for those who have minor or young adult children. The co-parenting relationship itself has financial components that accompany it.

Separate from the parenting aspects, a divorce is fundamentally the dissolution of a financial partnership. While many mediators focus on emotional compromise, a Family Law Financial Analyst ensures that the resulting agreement is mathematically sound, sustainable, and free of hidden liabilities.

Forensic Precision and Net Distributive Value

A primary distinction in my practice is the ability to perform forensic discovery. I go beyond surface-level balance sheets to determine the true Net Distributive Value (NDV) of a marital estate. This involves identifying assets, verifying valuations, and ensuring every account is accounted for. Without this oversight, parties often sign agreements based on incomplete or inaccurate data, leading to significant financial loss post-divorce.

After-Tax Purchasing Power

A common failure in standard mediation is the "equal" division of assets that have vastly different tax liabilities. A dollar in a Roth IRA is not equal to a dollar in a traditional 401(k) or a dollar of home equity. I calculate the after-tax purchasing power of every asset. This prevents one party from being saddled with deferred tax debts while the other walks away with tax-free liquidity. I ensure both parties understand exactly what they will have to live on once the final papers are signed.

Accuracy Across All Asset Types

Generalist mediators often lack the training to handle the nuances of retirement accounts, real estate, and standard investment holdings. My 21 years of experience allow me to address the specific financial mechanics of these assets, ensuring that the division is not only fair on paper but executable in reality. I identify potential financial pitfalls—such as capital gains issues or early withdrawal penalties—before they become permanent mistakes in a signed decree.

Comprehensive Risk Mitigation

Generalist mediators often facilitate "the middle ground," which frequently results in vague financial language that invites future conflict. My approach is to build a comprehensive, failure-proof agreement. By identifying financial vulnerabilities and addressing them during the mediation process, I minimize the need for future litigation. You are not just reaching an agreement; you are securing a financial framework that has been vetted through two decades of specialized legal and financial education.

Choosing a mediator with this level of financial rigor ensures that your settlement is built on a foundation of data and foresight, rather than just a desire to be finished.

Comprehensive financial training makes the difference