Donna S. Cates, CRPC, CDFA - Money Matters Wealth Solutions

Donna S. Cates, CRPC, CDFA - Money Matters Wealth Solutions Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Donna S. Cates, CRPC, CDFA - Money Matters Wealth Solutions, Financial Consultant, Birmingham, AL.

Women's Wealth Builder | Investment Advisor | Divorce Financial Strategist
Helping women claim their seat at the financial table
Because hope is not a financial strategy Welcome to Second Saturday: What Everyone Needs to Know About Divorce, the critically acclaimed workshop and community founded in 1989 by nationally renowned advocates/wealth managers Candace Bahr and Ginita Wall. Birmingham Secon

d Saturday is a workshop offered the Second Saturday in every month to help women become financially and emotionally independent before, during and after a divorce.

Divorce comes with a lot of questions — and sometimes, the hardest part is simply knowing where to begin.What should you...
09/03/2026

Divorce comes with a lot of questions — and sometimes, the hardest part is simply knowing where to begin.

What should you be thinking about financially? What legal decisions could affect your future? And how do you take care of yourself emotionally while navigating it all?

That’s exactly why I created the free Second Saturday Divorce Workshop.

I’ll be joined by Lauren Self, Divorce Coach, and Jessie Hardy, Divorce Attorney, as we break down the emotional, legal, and financial sides of divorce in a way that feels practical, understandable, and manageable.

Whether divorce is something you’re only considering, you’re already in the middle of the process, or you’re preparing for your next chapter, you’ll leave with information that can help you feel more prepared and confident about your next steps.

You don’t need to figure everything out on your own. Sometimes, having the right information is the first step toward feeling more in control.

Register using the link in the comments 👇🏼

One of the questions I hear most often from women going through divorce is:“How do I know if I’m making the right financ...
09/02/2026

One of the questions I hear most often from women going through divorce is:

“How do I know if I’m making the right financial decision?”

And underneath that question is usually another one:

“What if I get this wrong and it affects the rest of my life?”

I understand why that fear feels so heavy.

A decision that looks reasonable today can have a very different impact five, ten, or twenty years from now.

The house you desperately want to keep.

The retirement account you’re considering giving up.

The support amount that looks fine on paper.

The settlement you’re tempted to accept simply because you’re exhausted and want the divorce to be over.

These decisions deserve more than a rushed yes or no.

Inside the Divorce Financial Clarity Academy™️, we’re creating space to look at the bigger picture.

Not just:

“What can I get?”

But:

“What will help me build the life I want after this?”

Because someday, this divorce will no longer be the center of your life.

There will be a next chapter.

And the decisions you make now can help give that woman more choices, more stability, and more financial confidence.

Let’s make sure you’re thinking about her, too.

One bad decision at the divorce settlement table can cost you $200,000.Not because your lawyer failed you.Because no one...
09/01/2026

One bad decision at the divorce settlement table can cost you $200,000.

Not because your lawyer failed you.

Because no one on your team was looking at the financial picture.

That's the gap a CDFA fills.

I've seen women walk away from retirement accounts they were legally entitled to, because nobody translated what those numbers actually meant for their life at 65.

I've seen women keep the house and lose everything else, because the house felt real, and the 401(k) felt abstract.

These aren't rare cases. They're the norm when financial guidance isn't at the table.

My latest newsletter covers exactly this:
→ The difference between what an attorney does and what a CDFA does
→ The 4 most common financial mistakes at the settlement table
→ How to reframe the real cost question
→ What "the settlement table is not the finish line" actually means for your future

If you know a woman going through a divorce right now, share this with her.

Read it in the comment below. 👇

08/31/2026

You can know your marriage is over and still be scared of what comes next financially.

Sometimes, the fear isn’t about leaving, it’s about not knowing whether you’ll be okay afterward.

You deserve clarity before making decisions that can affect your financial future.

Learn more about the Divorce Financial Clarity Academy through the link in my bio or in the comments 👇🏼

08/30/2026

Sometimes divorce doesn’t make you question the relationship.

It makes you question yourself.

Can I really handle the finances on my own?
Do I even know what I should be looking for?
Am I asking the right questions?

You don’t need to have all the answers.

But you do deserve to feel informed and confident about the decisions shaping your next chapter.

Learn more about the Divorce Financial Clarity Academy through the link in my bio or the comments.

Divorce can feel overwhelming, not just because of the decisions you have to make, but because it’s hard to know which q...
08/29/2026

Divorce can feel overwhelming, not just because of the decisions you have to make, but because it’s hard to know which questions you should be asking in the first place.

That’s why I created the free Second Saturday Divorce Workshop: to give women a clearer understanding of what to expect before making decisions that could impact their future.

I’ll be joined by Lauren Self, Divorce Coach, and Jessie Hardy, Divorce Attorney, as we walk through the emotional, legal, and financial pieces of divorce and share practical insights to help you move forward with greater confidence.

Whether you’re considering divorce, already navigating the process, or figuring out what comes next, this workshop is designed to help you feel more informed, prepared, and supported.

You don’t have to have all the answers right now. But having the right information can help you ask better questions and make stronger decisions.

Register using the link in the comments 👇🏼

Divorce touches more than your legal paperwork.It can affect your home, cash flow, support, career, retirement, and the ...
08/28/2026

Divorce touches more than your legal paperwork.

It can affect your home, cash flow, support, career, retirement, and the way you rebuild your life after everything changes.

That’s why the Divorce Financial Clarity Academy™️ brings together professionals from different areas of expertise, to help you understand the decisions in front of you and ask better questions before you move forward.

Over six weeks, you’ll hear practical guidance designed to give you more clarity, confidence, and direction for your next chapter.

We begin September 18 at 11.30 am CT via Zoom.

Registration details are in the comments.

Feeling uncertain about retirement does not mean you are behind.It means you are preparing for a major life transition, ...
08/26/2026

Feeling uncertain about retirement does not mean you are behind.

It means you are preparing for a major life transition, and there may still be questions your current plan has not fully answered.

You may be wondering whether your income will last, how healthcare could affect your future, when to claim Social Security, or how to make these decisions on your own.

You do not need every answer today.

You simply need enough clarity to take the next practical step.

Book a Financial Clarity Call with me, and let’s look at what matters most for your retirement and your next chapter.

Link in my bio or comments.

08/25/2026

Retirement is not only about having enough money.

It is about creating a life your money can support, one with purpose, connection, and choices that feel right for you.

Ready to plan for more than just the numbers? Book a Financial Clarity Call through the link in my bio or the comments.

Retirement is not only about replacing a paycheck.It can also change the rhythm of your days, the way you see yourself, ...
08/24/2026

Retirement is not only about replacing a paycheck.

It can also change the rhythm of your days, the way you see yourself, the relationships you rely on, and the decisions you make on your own.

That is why a strong retirement plan should do more than calculate whether you have enough. It should help you understand how your money will support the life you want to build next.

In my 20+ years of helping women navigate major financial transitions, I have learned that clarity comes from looking at the whole picture, not just the account balance.

Book a Financial Clarity Call with me, and let’s identify your next practical step.

Link in my bio or comments.

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Birmingham, AL

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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