The Role of the Collaborative Divorce™ Financial Specialist: 

The financial specialist works with the divorcing couple to organize and understand the family finances.  Divorcing couples will receive assistance with handling immediate financial issues and long-range planning.  All details of the family finances are reviewed, and viable financial options are presented to the couple and their attorneys for consideration.  The financial specialist is a neutral party trained to work with couples on budgeting and planning for the future.  A sound financial plan is an essential part of a successful collaborative divorce.   

The Collaborative Team Financial Specialist works with the couple to: 

1. Provide on-going, practical financial guidance, planning, support, and budgeting guidance throughout the divorce process.   
2. Assist with the discovery process by gathering and organizing documentation and information relating to the parties' incomes, expenses, assets, and debts.   
3. Make sure that both parties have a thorough understanding of their current financial situation.   
4. Educate the clients regarding the short and long-term economic consequences of settlement plans being considered so as to enable them to make fully informed decisions and choose what is most appropriate for their situation.   

Financial Specialist 

DEBRA N. MCKENZIE, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst  

Financial Specialist – Collaborative Divorce™ 

Equitable Divorce Solutions, Inc. 

P. O. Box 174, Cornelius, NC   28031 

704-892-5277 

debramckenzie@bellsouth.net 

www.equitabledivorcesolutions.com 

Debra received her certification of Certified Divorce Planner in 1997, an advanced certification in 1998, and in 2003 received the designation of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst.  In 2003, Debra also received training as the Financial Specialist in Collaborative Divorce ™ by the Collaborative Divorce™ Group in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Debra  received her BA in Business Administration from Queens College.  She was honored as the Outstanding Business Student of the Year by the McColl School of Business in 2001 and graduated summa cum laude. 

Equitable Divorce Solutions, Inc. was founded in March, 1998 to work with clients to help effect equitable financial decisions in their separation and divorce cases. During the past ten years, Debra has worked with more than 200 clients and their attorneys as the financial specialist in their divorce cases.  Her work includes gathering and organizing documentation and information on the marital estate, analyzing the marital estate, assisting clients in formulating budgets, evaluating tax implications of proposed settlement agreements, and providing practical financial guidance, planning and support throughout the divorce process. 

Debra’s professional and civic memberships include the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, Lake Norman Collaborative Divorce™ Group, Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club of North Mecklenburg. 

Debra resides in Davidson, North Carolina with her husband, Jerry.