"Financial clarity isn’t just about protecting what you have today — it’s about building the life you deserve tomorrow." — Jody Bruns

Mediation has become one of the most effective ways to resolve divorce disputes outside of court. But while mediation offers many benefits — less cost, less conflict, and more control over the outcome — it also places a heavy responsibility on you to be fully prepared. Unlike litigation, mediation doesn’t come with the automatic backup of a judge, an aggressive attorney, or a rigid court process to protect your interests.

You have to protect your own interests — and that means bringing a strong financial advocate to the table.

In many divorces, especially when real property and complex finances are involved, being “sort of prepared” isn’t enough. You deserve an advocate who can help you see the full financial landscape, not just for today’s settlement but for your future stability. That’s where having the right financial advocates, like a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) and a Certified Divorce Lending Professional® (CDLP®), becomes essential.

And importantly — these financial experts aren’t there to create more conflict. Their role is to help identify viable solutions, often benefiting both parties, so that mediation can move forward productively and with less friction.

Let’s dive into why financial advocacy matters so much — and how you can best prepare for success at the mediation table.

Why You Need a Financial Advocate for Mediation

Divorce isn't just emotional — it’s a financial transaction with life-altering consequences. Decisions made during mediation will determine not just who gets what today, but how both parties will live tomorrow. A rushed or poorly informed financial decision could mean:

• Unexpected tax consequences

• The inability to refinance a mortgage

• Loss of eligibility for future financing

• Income shortfalls post-divorce

• Insurmountable debt burdens

In a perfect world, everyone would walk into mediation fully aware of the short-term and long-term financial consequences of each decision. But too often, one or both parties are navigating blind, relying solely on gut instinct or limited information.

A strong financial advocate changes that.

They help you see beyond the surface — offering clarity, strategic insight, and real-world solutions that align with both parties' goals where possible. Their objective isn’t just to “win” for one side — it’s to facilitate a workable, sustainable agreement that benefits everyone involved, especially when children and future housing needs are a factor.

Two Critical Financial Advocates: The CDFA® and the CDLP®

Depending on your circumstances, you may need both a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) and a Certified Divorce Lending Professional® (CDLP®) in your corner. They work together to give you a full and realistic financial perspective, making sure nothing slips through the cracks — and helping move negotiations forward rather than creating stalemates.

The Role of the CDFA®

A CDFA® is trained to analyze and forecast the financial outcomes of divorce settlements. They can:

• Model different settlement options (so you can compare before agreeing)

• Analyze future income needs

• Project the long-term impact of asset division

• Clarify hidden costs and future tax implications

• Identify potential financial pitfalls

Their focus is on your entire financial life — retirement accounts, investments, debt management, child or spousal support obligations, and overall cash flow.

Critically, a CDFA®’s analysis often identifies creative solutions that can benefit both spouses, smoothing out negotiations by showing how the needs of both sides can be realistically met without creating long-term financial harm.

In short, a CDFA® helps you negotiate from a position of informed strength — and promotes sustainable, practical settlements.

The Role of the CDLP®

When real property (your home, vacation properties, investment real estate) is involved, a CDLP® is just as critical.

Property division isn’t just about assigning a value to a home — it’s about ensuring that financing, mortgage qualification, and long-term housing stability are actually feasible after the divorce.

A CDLP® brings critical expertise to:

• Analyze mortgage options in relation to the settlement terms

• Identify obstacles to refinancing or buying a new home

• Structure equity buyouts correctly (so they align with mortgage underwriting guidelines)

• Calculate income differently (important for mortgage approval post-divorce)

• Integrate housing solutions into your broader financial strategy

And much like the CDFA®, the CDLP® can often propose housing strategies that work for both parties, allowing one spouse to keep the marital home affordably or helping both transition into new homes without unnecessary financial strain.

Without a CDLP® at the table, parties often unknowingly agree to settlement terms that are impossible to execute — leading to financing failures, broken agreements, and sometimes even litigation after the divorce is final.

The Power of Collaboration: CDFA® + CDLP®

While each advocate brings different expertise, when a CDFA® and CDLP® work together, the impact is exponential.

Together, they create a comprehensive financial strategy — addressing everything from income streams, retirement division, and cash flow to home equity, mortgage feasibility, and future housing needs.

Their collaboration ensures that all the moving parts — financial, real estate, and mortgage — are aligned with real-world execution, creating a settlement agreement that isn’t just fair on paper but actually feasible to live out.

This team approach can significantly reduce conflict during mediation by offering realistic, balanced solutions that benefit both spouses and avoid common post-divorce pitfalls.

Preparing for Mediation: Practical Steps

If you’re heading into mediation, here’s how you can make sure you’re financially prepared:

1. Consult a CDFA® Early: Engage a CDFA® to review your assets, debts, incomes, and future needs. Ask them to run multiple settlement scenarios before mediation begins.

2. Bring in a CDLP® if Housing is on the Table: If there’s a family home, real estate, or any future financing need, consult a CDLP® before finalizing terms. They can advise on what’s financially possible — and what’s not.

3. Document Everything: Be sure you have organized, accurate financial documentation. This includes mortgage statements, property appraisals, retirement account balances, tax returns, and credit reports.

4. Prepare Questions: Go into mediation with questions, not assumptions. Understand not just what you're getting, but how it affects your future.

5. Prioritize Feasible Solutions: Let your financial advocates help you find pathways that allow both parties to move forward securely. Resolution is the goal — not entrenching in battles that leave everyone worse off.

Mediation Success Depends on Preparation

Mediation is your opportunity to shape your future without the uncertainty of litigation. But its success depends entirely on how well-prepared you are — and whether you have the right experts in your corner.

A CDFA® brings you clarity. A CDLP® brings you strategy. Together, they bring you peace of mind — and a pathway to resolution that stands the test of time.

Divorce changes everything — but with the right financial advocates by your side, you can ensure it changes for the better.

About the Author:
Jody Bruns is the President and Founder of the Divorce Lending Association and the creator of the Certified Divorce Lending Professional® (CDLP®) and Real Estate Mediation Specialist™ (REM-S™) Certifications. With over 35 years of experience in mortgage and financial strategy, she is passionate about helping divorcing homeowners achieve financial clarity and housing stability during one of life's most challenging transitions.