David M. Louis, MPA, CDFA®

David M. Louis, MPA, CDFA®

Illinois Divorce & Family Mediator | Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) | Collaborative Divorce Professional

Serving Chicago, Northbrook, and Families Throughout Illinois | Virtual Divorce Mediation Available for New York Residents
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Overview

David M. Louis is a divorce mediator, Collaborative Divorce Professional, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) who has helped couples resolve divorce and family disputes outside the courtroom since 2010.

What distinguishes David is the combination of more than 45 years of executive financial management experience with over 15 years devoted exclusively to mediation and collaborative divorce. His unique background allows him to help couples resolve not only the emotional and parenting issues surrounding divorce, but also the complex financial decisions that will affect their future long after the divorce is finalized.

David serves as a neutral facilitator, helping spouses negotiate practical, child-focused, and financially informed agreements that reduce conflict, preserve family relationships, and avoid unnecessary litigation.
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Why Clients Choose David Louis

Divorce involves more than ending a marriage—it requires making financial and parenting decisions that will shape the future of both families.

As a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, David helps couples understand the long-term impact of settlement decisions involving:
• Marital and non-marital property
• Retirement and pension assets
• Spousal maintenance
• Child support
• Real estate
• Investment portfolios
• Business ownership interests
• Tax considerations
• Future budgeting and cash flow

By helping both spouses fully understand their options, David creates an environment where informed decisions can be made with confidence rather than uncertainty.
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Mediation Approach

David believes the people living with the outcome of a divorce should be the ones making the decisions—not the court.

His mediation process emphasizes:
• Respectful communication
• Financial transparency
• Child-centered parenting solutions
• Practical problem-solving
• Informed decision-making
• Customized settlement agreements

Rather than advocating for either spouse, David guides productive conversations that allow families to reach balanced, durable agreements designed to meet their unique needs.
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Collaborative Divorce & Financial Neutral Services

David regularly serves as both a Collaborative Divorce Professional and Financial Neutral, assisting attorneys and collaborative teams in evaluating the financial aspects of divorce before agreements are finalized.

His work frequently includes:
• Property division analysis
• Asset and liability evaluation
• Retirement asset distribution
• Income analysis
• Cash-flow projections
• Long-term settlement modeling
• Financial document organization

His objective is to simplify complex financial issues so couples can make well-informed decisions with greater confidence.
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Professional Background

Before entering mediation, David spent more than four decades in accounting, financial management, and public administration.

After completing mediation training in 2006, he established his mediation practice in 2010 and earned his Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® designation in 2012. Since then, he has devoted his practice to helping families resolve divorce, parenting, and financial disputes through mediation and collaborative divorce.

His experience combines:
• Divorce mediation
• Collaborative divorce
• Divorce financial analysis
• Financial neutral services
• Family conflict resolution
• Accounting and financial management
• Public administration
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