Meredith Dekker, ChFC®, CDFA® founded Dekker Financial Services in 2002 with an emphasis on holistic financial planning for business and life. As a CDFA®, she also guides divorcing individuals and couples through the financial aspects of the divorce process. Meredith is the author of “The Fabric of a Storyteller” as well as a public speaker. Having lived in Phoenix for more than 20 years, Meredith loves spending time with her family, as well as her community.
As an attorney, a Licensed Associate Counselor, a coach and a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I understand the complexities and nuances of helping people through their legal matters. I have represented thousands of people through difficult and traumatic litigation and I know how scary and overwhelming it can be to go through this process. What I love about the collaborative divorce model is that it gives people the opportunity to create their own experience of family restructuring- one that can be gentler, more time efficient, and less expensive than the traditional fight-it-out-in-court approach. Mostly, I love being able to help people navigate the process of making important legal and life decisions from a place that feels calmer, less scary, more manageable, and more emotionally stable than they might otherwise experience. I would be honored to help you on your journey through your collaborative divorce or family restructuring. Feel free to reach out today and I will consult with you for free to see if it is a fit for us to work together!
Susan Austin has worked in analytical financial positions for 30+ years. She is currently a practicing Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) and acts as the "financial neutral" in collaborative cases, or can act as a financial advocate in litigated or other types of divorce.
Her work as a the financial neutral supports both the divorcing couple (and entire family) as well as the entire collaborative team as the "keeper of the numbers". This involves collecting and reviewing the financial documents, creating detailed financial reports and specialized analysis, looking at "what-if" scenarios, providing education, and other support as needed. The goal is to empower participants with information and creative thinking so that the couple finds the best solutions possible as they look forward navigating their new family as successfully as possible as they move from one household to two.
I am a solo practitioner in Glendale, Arizona (since 2002) and I received my license in 1999. I am a family law attorney and I love what I do. I am thrilled to have received Collaborative Training and believe it is a wonderful opportunity for parents to preserve co-parenting relationships after divorce. For spouse/parents/parties who wish to address family laws in an environment that promotes healthy resolution, the Collaborative is the way to go!