Diane C Pappas, CDFA®, CQS™
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst & trained Mediator educating and empowering my clients so they can make informed decisions.
Practice Details
Recipient of the IDFA 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award — an honor given to just two professionals nationwide — I am recognized for representing the very best of CDFA® practitioners. As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Certified QDRO Specialist™, and trained mediator, I guide couples through not only the financial and tax aspects of divorce, but also the many non-financial issues that arise in the process.
My structured approach to data-gathering and the development of easy-to-understand, comprehensive financial reports helps level the playing field, particularly when one spouse has more financial knowledge than the other. By modeling various settlement options and their impacts on cash flow, support, property division, and long-term financial stability, I help clients make informed decisions that are fair, realistic, and sustainable.
I specialize in addressing:
Alimony and child support concerns
Cash flow and post-divorce budgeting
Division of real estate, investments, and retirement assets (including private, state, federal, and military pensions)
Unraveling complex compensation or business ownership structures
This process empowers clients to maintain control over the outcome and feel confident in the decisions they make. Research shows that when parties collaborate on a mutually agreeable solution, they are more likely to comply with the agreement — saving time, money, and emotional strain.
Having gone through my own divorce over a decade ago, I bring empathy as well as expertise. I know what works after divorce and what does not, and it’s the reason I chose this field: to educate and empower individuals to move forward with clarity and dignity.
Contact me for a complimentary consultation to learn how I can support you through this next chapter.
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Degrees and Experience
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) - Institute For Divorce Financial Analysts - certified 2012
40-hour Mediation Training - Divorce Mediation Training Associates (John Fiske, Diane Newman) Completed 2012
40-hour - Conflict Resolution Training, Inc. - Divorce Mediation Certificate Program - Completed 2022
Collaboratively Trained Financial Neutral - MA Collaborative Law Counsel - 2013
Registered Investment Advisor - Series 65 - CRD # 175340 - 2013
Certified QDRO Specialist - AACQP - 2021
Bachelor of Arts - Dickinson College - 1985
Board of Advisors - IDFA - 2013 - 2016
Past President of the Divorce Center, Boston, MA - 2016-2018
Board of Directors - The Divorce Center - 2014 - 2016
Chair - IDFA DEI Task Force - currently
Chair - Northern MA Collaborative Practice Group - 2018 - 2021
Professional Memberships
Institute For Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA)
Massachusetts Collaborative Law Counsel (MCLC)
American Association of Certified QDRO Specialists (AACQP)
Regional Information
North Shore, Merrimack Valley, MetroWest, South Shore, Cape and the Islands
Fee Information
Please call or email me for information on my fee structure and contract. Please visit www.SolutionsForDivorce.com to book a free 30-minute consultation to see if we are a fit.
