Professional Designations
CDFA: Certified Divorce Financial Analyst obtained after passing exams through The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.
CDFA since 7/19/1996
https://www.institutedfa.com
CFP: Certified Financial Planner obtained after passing exams through the College for Financial Planning.
CFP since 6/3/1983
http://www.cffp.edu/index.aspx
EA: Enrolled Agent (Enrolled to practice before the IRS) obtained after passing test with Internal Revenue Service.
EA since 4/1/1992
http://www.irs.gov/taxpros/agents/article/0,,id=100710,00.html
ChFC: Chartered Financial Consultant obtained after passing exams through The American College.
ChFC since 10/5/1982
http://www.theamericancollege.edu/
CLU: Chartered Life Underwriter obtained after passing exams through The American College.
CLU since 10/17/1978.
http://www.theamericancollege.edu/
Experience
Here is a brief synopsis of my work experience here in Hawaii.
I arrived in Hawaii in 1970 right out of college after I completed my BA Chemistry with a minor in Math. During the 70’s I worked in the lending industry (Household Finance) and the life insurance industry. I dabbled in Real Estate as a licensed agent and also became licensed to sell securities. In the late 70’s I started doing income tax preparation through H&R block at the old Sears location Ala Moana Center. So the 70’s were basically a time of learning and putting in my time working in the various financial services industries.
Financial Planning came into vogue at the end of the 70’s and seemed a good way to “put it all together” for a client. I managed to get my CLU, CHFC, and CFP designations as well as my EA (Enrolled to practice before the IRS) by the mid 80’s. (Listed previously)
I have been a member of the Hawaii Estate Planning Council for what seems like forever and was one of the three “founding fathers” of the Hawaii Society for Certified Financial Planners. So I have been active in the local financial circles for over 30 years.
I have had my own financial planning practice since the early 80’s and experienced a number of my clients going through the divorce process with less than positive results from my vantage point as a financial advisor. After doing some investigation I decided to get involved in the divorce arena. I found that there is a nationally recognized designation dealing specifically with divorce and passed the tests to become a CDFA or Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.
Since delving into the divorce arena I have had occasion to act as an expert witness as well as mediating divorce cases. In addition to assisting in the structuring of settlements I have had an opportunity to provide specific assistance including small business valuation, defined benefit present value calculation, and income and estate tax issues.
I started working as an expert witness in divorce cases in 1996. The scope of my work includes,
- Support/alimony determination/calculation
- Asset valuation and asset division
- Income tax outcomes and planning
- Pension valuation for both defined benefit and defined contribution plans
- Small business valuation
- Real Estate cash flow analysis
- Life Insurance and Annuity valuations
- Passive income analysis
- Debt strategies include consolidation and refinancing options
- Settlement strategies including the use of property settlement notes and asset reallocation options
- Assistance with Income and Expense report and Asset and Debt report preparation
I have been hired over the years by couples as well as individuals who come to an agreement and then are able to file uncontested. In addition I am frequently hired by individuals or law firms to target specific financial issues incident to a divorce. In most incidences a settlement has been worked out without a trial, however I have had the occasion to provide testimony as an expert in the Hawaii Family Courts.
You are welcome to visit our company website at www.mcrobertsandassociates.com