Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Donna Cates
Website: moneymatterswealth.com
Able to work with Divorce (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst), Investment Management and Protection Planning (Life Insurance/Long-term Care) clients in all 50 states
A little about Donna
A Fresh Start begins with informed decisions, and financial clarity is at the heart of that. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analystยฎ (CDFAยฎ), I work closely with women before, during, and after divorce to ensure they fully understand the financial implications of every decision they face.
From the very first conversation about divorce through the final decree and beyond, I help clients take control of their financial future. Divorce is emotional and overwhelming, and many women are blindsided by just how complex the money side of it can be. I step in with both compassion and strategy to help them clarify what they own, what they owe, and what a fair settlement really looks like.
Whether itโs deciding what to do with the family home, valuing retirement accounts, negotiating spousal support, or understanding how child-related expenses will impact their budget, I ensure every detail is considered. I provide scenario analysis, help them weigh the trade-offs, and empower them to negotiate from a position of knowledge and confidence.
But the support doesnโt end when the divorce is finalized. I continue working with clients post-divorce to help them rebuild their financial life. We create a new plan that aligns with their goals, whether thatโs buying a new home, restarting retirement savings, launching a business, or just finally feeling in control of their money.
Through comprehensive planning, investment guidance, and wealth protection strategies, I help women turn the page with intention. This work is about more than spreadsheets and settlements; itโs about transforming fear into confidence and uncertainty into clarity. I believe every woman deserves to not only survive divorce but to thrive in the life she builds afterward, with her finances supporting, not limiting, her future. After all, "A Man Is Not a Financial Plan."
Certifications
Certified Divorce Financial Analystยฎ
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselorยฎ
Divorce Mediator
Series 63, 65, 66, & 7
Insurance Licenses for Multiple States
Testimonials
Donna helped me through one of the most painful, uncertain chapters of my life. Like so many women my age, I stayed in an emotionally abusive marriage far longer than I should haveโbecause I was afraid. I wasnโt the breadwinner. I didnโt understand our finances. I didnโt know if I could support myself, let alone maintain a home for my children. The fear was paralyzing: What if I ended up broke? What if I made the wrong decisions? What if I failed my family?
Working with Donna changed everything. She didnโt just offer financial adviceโshe offered reassurance, education, and a safe space to ask the hard questions without judgment. Through her divorce financial planning process, she helped me understand exactly what assets we had, what I was entitled to, and how to advocate for myself at the negotiation table.
Donna walked me through every scenario so I could make informed, confident choices about my future. I didnโt just survive my divorceโI stepped into a new season with clarity and courage. Together, we built a financial plan that made sense for me, and for the life I wanted after divorce.