California family law attorney · Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®

San Diego Divorce Financial Consultant: Understand the Math Before You Negotiate.

Divorce can feel like an overwhelming financial puzzle. The decisions you make affect your financial health, your children, your retirement, and your future security.

Scott Levin, a California family law attorney and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, helps you understand what you own, how taxes and other costs affect the value of different assets, and what each settlement option could mean for your life. Whether you are financially sophisticated or have never handled the family finances, Scott explains the numbers clearly—before you negotiate or agree. You can meet in person in San Diego or by Zoom from anywhere in California.

Scott Levin, California family law attorney and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Clarity first. Then negotiation.Individual financial consulting for one spouse · Neutral financial analysis in mediation for both
Equal on paper is not equal after taxesWhy a 50/50 split can quietly favor one spouse
Keep the house, or sell it?Test the choice against real cash flow
RSUs, options, and pensionsKnow the value, and what trading one away costs
Two households, one incomeTest support against a real post-divorce budget

Individual divorce financial consulting

What does a divorce financial consultant help you do?

A divorce financial consultant helps you understand the assets, debts, income, taxes, support considerations, and future cash-flow consequences involved in divorce. Scott most often works with one spouse to evaluate financial information, compare settlement options, and prepare to negotiate from knowledge rather than uncertainty. Searching for a divorce financial advisor or planner? Scott’s work is focused on the divorce settlement itself: he analyzes the law and the numbers together, and he can work alongside your own financial advisor or CPA.

Settlement review

Divorce settlement review before you sign.

A proposed settlement can look balanced and still leave you short on cash, retirement security or room in your monthly budget. If you have a proposal or draft agreement in front of you, Scott can review the financial side with you before you sign, whoever prepared it.

Who it helps

Is this review for you?

  • You received a proposal from your spouse, your spouse’s attorney or a mediator and want to understand it before you respond
  • You are mediating with someone else and want your own financial analysis
  • The agreement involves a house buyout, a pension or retirement trade, RSUs or stock options, business income or a support buyout
  • You want to know what the settlement means for your budget now and your finances in five or ten years
What Scott reviews

What he looks at

  • The property division, including what each asset is worth after taxes and selling costs
  • Whether keeping the house works with refinancing, carrying costs and your budget
  • Retirement and pension terms, including survivor benefits and when payments start
  • RSUs, stock options and other pay that arrives later
  • The income and assumptions behind any support numbers
  • Missing information, and terms that need clearer wording
Documents

What to gather

  • The proposal or draft agreement, and any term sheet or mediator’s summary
  • The financial disclosures exchanged so far
  • Any support calculation and the income figures behind it
  • Recent bank, investment and retirement statements, plus any pension benefit estimate
  • Mortgage statements and any appraisal or market estimate for the home
  • Recent pay stubs and tax returns, and grant and vesting records for any stock awards

Missing something? Send what you have. Scott will tell you what else matters for your situation.

Timing

Tell us your signing date.

When you book, mention any signing date, response deadline or mediation session coming up, so we can tell you what timing is realistic. A careful review takes time, and it is far easier to change a proposal before you sign than after.

Retirement plans and benefit programs set their own deadlines, such as for survivor elections. Confirm them directly with the plan administrator. Scott can help you identify questions to ask, but he can’t guarantee or track a plan’s deadlines for you.

Financial analysis, legal advice and mediation are different roles.

Financial analysis. In a settlement review, Scott works for you alone as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, showing what the proposal means in numbers: values after tax, cash flow, retirement income and risk.

Legal advice. Advice about your legal rights, the agreement’s wording or whether to sign is legal advice. Scott can provide it as your consulting attorney, or you can share his analysis with your own lawyer.

Neutral mediation. When Scott is a couple’s mediator, he helps both spouses understand the same financial information and does not advise either one individually. He doesn’t review a settlement for one spouse in a case he or his firm is mediating.

Scott Levin, San Diego divorce financial consultant and family law attorney
You work with Scott.Not a junior analyst, a template, or a handoff between disconnected professionals.

The Scott Levin difference

A spreadsheet is not a settlement strategy.

Numbers matter, but they do not make decisions for you. A useful financial analysis must connect the numbers to California family law, taxes, cash flow, support, property division, settlement language, and the life you expect to live after divorce.

A California attorney since 2004, Scott combines legal experience with specialized divorce-financial training. He has seen how house buyouts, pension trades, equity compensation, support terms, and incomplete agreements affect real people after the case is over.

“My job is to help you understand the numbers well enough to make your own decisions—and to negotiate from knowledge instead of uncertainty.”
Most often, one person hires Scott as a divorce financial consultant. He can help you prepare for mediation or settlement discussions and coordinate with your attorney, CPA, financial advisor, appraiser, or valuation professional. If Scott is serving as the couple’s neutral divorce mediator, he performs this analysis within their mediation process.

Scott’s approach

Gain knowledge. Compare options. Negotiate with confidence.

You do not need to become a financial expert. You need the right information, explained in a way that lets you ask better questions and make informed choices.

1

See the whole picture

Organize property, debt, income, compensation, support, and the documents or information that may still be missing.

2

Understand the tradeoffs

Compare liquidity, taxes, risk, cash flow, and future value—not merely the balance shown on a statement today.

3

Prepare to negotiate

Know your priorities, the questions to ask, and how competing proposals may affect your real financial life.

Start with the records you have.

A proposed settlement, recent tax returns, account and retirement statements, mortgage information, and compensation records can help identify the questions to address. You do not need a perfect spreadsheet before the consultation. Describe your concerns first; Scott can explain what information would be useful for the next step.

Complex compensation and ownership

Your financial life may not fit neatly into a spreadsheet.

Executives, business owners, professionals, and their spouses often face compensation or ownership interests that are difficult to value, divide, or turn into spendable cash. Scott helps you identify the right questions before an assumption becomes part of your settlement.

RSUs and stock optionsGrant dates, vesting schedules, unvested awards, exercise terms, tax treatment, and future liquidity.
Private-company and founder equityOwnership restrictions, uncertain value, preferred rights, limited liquidity, and possible future transactions.
Partnership and business incomeK-1 income, draws, distributions, retained earnings, capital accounts, bonuses, commissions, and variable compensation.
Retirement and deferred compensation401(k)s, IRAs, pensions, CalPERS, CalSTRS, military retired pay, and compensation received years after it was earned.

Not sure what applies to your situation?Free 15-minute consultation · 858-293-1410

Talk to Scott: Free Consultation

The decisions behind the numbers

What does a proposed settlement mean in real life?

The useful question is not simply “Is this equal?” It is “How will this work for me now, and years from now?”

The home

Can I afford to keep it?

Test a buyout against refinance requirements, carrying costs, taxes, maintenance, support, and your post-divorce budget.

Asset trades

Is $1 really worth $1?

A proposal giving one spouse home equity and the other pretax retirement funds may look balanced on a spreadsheet. The house brings ongoing expenses and limited access to cash; retirement funds can involve future taxes and withdrawal restrictions. Scott helps compare those practical differences before you agree to an asset trade.

Equity compensation

What happens after the next vest?

Understand when awards were granted, why they were earned, when they vest, and how future taxes or liquidity events may affect them.

Income and support

Will this work month to month?

Evaluate salary, bonuses, distributions, support, debt, insurance, and two-household expenses against a realistic cash-flow plan.

For couples negotiating the terms together, spousal support mediation can compare monthly payments, agreed end dates and buyouts.

Have a proposal you are not sure about?Free 15-minute consultation · 858-293-1410

Book a Free Financial Consultation

What clients say

Financial guidance that felt clear, thoughtful, and trustworthy.

These clients describe Scott’s financial approach in mediation. He brings the same clarity and careful analysis to individual consulting.

★★★★★

“Scott helped organize the daunting financial information associated with a divorce. He worked through the numbers, and coordinated the options for settlement.”
Read full review

Scott helped organize the daunting financial information associated with a divorce. He worked through the numbers, and coordinated the options for settlement. He was helpful in bringing the different pieces together and putting the proposed terms into a format that was easier to review.

Have your financial records, and supporting information organized, a clear understanding of what you want the outcome to look like, then allow Scott to work his magic.

Nica D. · Google review

★★★★★

“Our situation was particularly unique because we had a number of complex financial assets that needed to be carefully evaluated and divided.”
Read full review

Divorce is one of the most difficult and emotional experiences a family can go through, and we are incredibly grateful to have had Scott Levin guiding us through the process. From our very first meeting, Scott created an environment that felt respectful, balanced, and solution-focused. He was patient, compassionate to our specific and unique situations and genuinely invested in helping us navigate difficult conversations with clarity and dignity.

Our situation was particularly unique because we had a number of complex financial assets that needed to be carefully evaluated and divided. Throughout the process, Scott's financial expertise proved invaluable for me. He was able to clearly explain complicated financial concepts, helping both of us understand the implications of different options and ensure that decisions were made thoughtfully and fairly. His ability to navigate both the emotional and financial aspects of divorce with equal skill gave us tremendous confidence during a process that could have otherwise felt overwhelming.

Thanks to his guidance, expertise and calm presence, what could have been an even more highly contentious process became far more manageable that I ever expected. I left mediation feeling respected, informed and confident in the agreements that we reached.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Scott Levin to anyone seeking a knowledgeable, fair and compassionate divorce mediator. His unique combination of interpersonal skill and financial expertise was invaluable and made a lasting difference during one of the most challenging chapters of our lives, and we are deeply thankful for his support.

Jessica H. · Google review

★★★★★

“His creativity when working on dividing assets and liabilities made an incredibly stressful situation less so.”
Read full review

Scott Levin guided my spouse and I through a genuinely difficult and drawn-out divorce mediation. There were many moments where resolution didn't seem to be viable, yet Scott stayed patient and steady through every delay and setback. His experience and knowledge of family law is invaluable. He truly is a peacekeeper!

One of the things that stood out was his ability to read the room and adjust his approach as needed. Early on, he kept things low-key and gave both sides space to stay comfortable continuing in the process. His creativity when working on dividing assets and liabilities made an incredibly stressful situation less so. As we got closer to the finish line, he was very proactive in helping us reach an agreement. That kind of judgment, knowing when to hang back and when to step in, is a valuable skill in mediation.

If you're dealing with a complicated or emotionally charged divorce, I can't recommend Scott highly enough. He got us to a fair resolution when it genuinely felt uncertain at times, and he did it with professionalism and skill throughout.

Lisa G. · Google review

★★★★★

“You were absolutely fair to both of us and inventive with ideas of your own that wrapped everything up so thoroughly and quickly.”
Read full review

Thanks a million, Scott! It was so nice to work through what could have been a stressful process in an easy relaxed way with a total gentleman. You were absolutely fair to both of us and inventive with ideas of your own that wrapped everything up so thoroughly and quickly. Everyone should be so lucky as us in their mediation. Keep a calm mind, good intentions, and come to Scott!

Mandy B. · Google review

Read more client reviews →

Reviews describe individual clients’ experiences. Every family’s situation is different, and results vary.

Choose the right role at the beginning

Financial guidance for you—or neutral analysis for both.

Most common

Individual divorce financial consulting

Scott works with you to understand the marital finances, evaluate possible outcomes, and prepare for mediation or negotiation. He is your financial consultant—not the couple’s neutral—and can collaborate with your existing legal or financial team.

  • Decode complex compensation and ownership
  • Evaluate proposals and possible tradeoffs
  • Identify missing information and expert needs
  • Prepare questions, priorities, and negotiation strategy
For couples

Financial analysis within mediation

When Scott serves as the couple’s neutral mediator, he helps both spouses understand the same financial information and compare settlement structures without advising either person what to demand.

  • Shared financial disclosure and organization
  • Neutral explanation of options and consequences
  • Facilitated negotiation and creative problem-solving
  • Agreement drafting and uncontested court filings
Scott F. Levin, San Diego family law attorney, mediator, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst

Why Scott Levin?

Divorce-financial insight grounded in family law and real settlements.

Scott F. Levin, Esq., CDFA®, is a California family law attorney, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, and neutral divorce mediator. He has been a California attorney since 2004. He began his legal career in litigation, later focused on family-law litigation, and ultimately stepped away from adversarial practice to focus on mediation.

He is comfortable with sophisticated financial details, but his real strength is making them understandable. That matters whether you manage complex investments for a living or are seeing the family balance sheet for the first time.

  • University of Virginia School of Law
  • California family law attorney
  • Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®
  • Certified Mediator — Mediate.com
  • Coordination with outside specialists

Reviewed by Scott F. Levin, Esq., CDFA®
California family law attorney and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®
Last reviewed: October 2026

Common questions

Divorce financial consulting FAQs

What is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)?

A CDFA® is a professional who has met the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts’ eligibility requirements, including qualifying professional experience, and passed its certification exam on the financial side of divorce. IDFA offers training, but it isn’t required to sit for the exam. CDFA® is a private professional designation, not a government-issued license. Scott is also a California attorney. When he mediates, he is neutral and represents neither spouse. He represents one spouse only in a separate consulting-attorney engagement, never in a case he mediates.

Can I hire Scott to work with only me?

Yes. Scott most often provides CDFA® consulting to one person who wants to understand the finances, test settlement proposals, compare possible outcomes, and prepare for mediation or negotiation. The scope of the engagement is defined in writing at the outset. Individual financial-analysis reviews are billed hourly.

Will Scott act as my divorce attorney?

Individual divorce financial consulting is a separate role from full legal representation. Scott brings his family law knowledge to the financial analysis, but the engagement does not automatically make him your attorney of record. He can coordinate with your existing attorney, and the precise scope and any legal services will be explained before work begins.

Can Scott help with RSUs, stock options, private-company equity, or partnership income?

Yes. Scott helps clients understand grant and vesting information, exercise terms, ownership documents, partnership interests, variable income, liquidity concerns, and how these items may interact with property division and support. A formal valuation, tax opinion, forensic investigation, or securities recommendation may require another specialist.

Can Scott analyze whether I should keep the house?

Yes. The analysis may consider equity, separate-property contributions, mortgage and refinance requirements, taxes, transaction costs, carrying expenses, timing, and whether keeping the home fits your post-divorce cash flow and other priorities.

What is the difference between individual consulting and mediation?

In individual consulting, Scott focuses on helping one person understand the financial picture and prepare to make informed decisions. In mediation, Scott is neutral, shares the analysis with both spouses, and helps them negotiate an agreement. Because those roles are different, it is important to choose the appropriate one at the beginning.

Is Scott a CPA, investment advisor, appraiser, or forensic accountant?

No. Scott provides divorce-specific financial analysis and family law insight. When a formal tax opinion, investment recommendation, appraisal, business valuation, pension valuation, tracing, or forensic investigation is needed, he can help identify the right professional and place that specialist’s work in the larger settlement picture.

Start with clarity

Understand your financial choices before you negotiate.

A free 15-minute consultation is an opportunity to describe the financial questions in your divorce and determine whether individual CDFA® consulting—or Scott’s neutral mediation process—is the right fit.

Office9820 Willow Creek Road, Suite 410
San Diego, CA 92131
ServingIndividuals and couples throughout California by Zoom