S1:E11 – DONNA CATES "A Man is NOT a Financial Plan"

Divorce financial planning, money mistakes women make, and how to rebuild wealth after divorce — financial strategist and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) Donna Cates joins Becky Sampson on the Divorcing Strong™ Podcast to deliver the financial playbook every woman needs before, during, and after divorce.

Donna Cates has spent over 25 years empowering women to take control of their finances — and her signature message hits hard: "A man is NOT a financial plan." As the founder of Money Matters Wealth Solutions and a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC®), Donna brings real-world expertise in divorce settlement analysis, post-divorce cash flow projections, tax implications, and long-term wealth building for women starting over.

If you feel overwhelmed by the financial side of divorce, don't know what you don't know about hidden assets or settlement mistakes, or you're terrified of running out of money — this episode is your path back to power.

🔑 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why women must stop outsourcing their financial futures — and what to do instead
• The biggest divorce money mistakes that can cost you thousands (or more)
• What a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) actually does — and why you may need one on your team
• How to evaluate a divorce settlement beyond the dollar amount on paper
• Tax traps and hidden financial landmines in property division
• Post-divorce cash flow planning: how to know if you can really afford your life after divorce
• How to rebuild financial confidence and create a wealth plan from scratch
• Why financial planning for divorce is different for women over 50 (gray divorce)
• The emotional money blocks that keep women stuck — and how to break through them

💡 This Episode Is For You If:

• You're considering divorce, but terrified of the financial unknowns
• You've never managed money on your own and don't know where to start
• You're in the middle of a divorce and want to avoid costly settlement mistakes
• You're post-divorce and need a roadmap to rebuild wealth and financial independence
• You want to understand what a CDFA® can do that your attorney can't

🎙️ About Our Guest: Donna S. Cates, CDFA®, CRPC®, is the founder of Money Matters Wealth Solutions and has been a financial advisor, wealth builder, divorce financial mediator, and speaker since 2000. Her mission is to level the playing field for women in investing and wealth management. Learn more at MoneyMattersWealth.com

🎧 About Divorcing Strong™ Podcast: 

Hosted by Becky Sampson, CEO of Only Subpoenas™, the Divorcing Strong™ Podcast is where real stories meet real strategies for surviving and thriving through divorce. Each episode brings expert insights from top divorce attorneys, family law specialists, financial planners, and healing coaches to help you protect your rights and step into YOU 2.0.

👉 Subscribe for more empowering divorce stories and strategies

👉 Learn more about working with Becky: https://beckysampson.com/

👉 Follow Becky on social media:

BECKY SAMPSON

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🌺For information on working with Only Subpoenas™, visit our website at https://onlysubpoenas.com/ or contact us at this number: 650-910-6659 🌺

⚠️ DISCLAIMER: The content on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or mental health advice. Please consult a licensed attorney, financial advisor, or mental health professional for guidance specific to your situation. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, please get in touch with the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.

🏷️ Keywords: divorce financial planning, women and money, divorce money mistakes, financial planning for women, CDFA, certified divorce financial analyst, divorce settlement tips, hidden assets divorce, divorce over 50, gray divorce, women financial independence, rebuilding finances after divorce, divorce financial checklist, divorce property division, financial confidence after divorce, divorce recovery, high conflict divorce, financial freedom after divorce, Divorcing Strong, Donna Cates

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