Expert Feature: Donna C, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, Wealth Strategist & Founder of Money Matters Wealth Solutions and Navigating Divorce
At Fresh Starts, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible professionals who guide people through one of life’s most challenging transitions: divorce. Today, we’re featuring Donna C, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, Wealth Strategist & Founder of Money Matters Wealth Solutions and Navigating Divorce, whose work helps clients find clarity, strength, and a true fresh start.
Donna, can you tell us a little about yourself, what you do and what led you to this line of work?
I’m a financial strategist, wealth builder, and certified divorce financial analyst who empowers women to take ownership of their financial lives and build long-term security. After decades in the financial industry, often being one of the few women in the room, I recognized a critical gap: women were being talked at about money, not truly educated or empowered to make decisions for themselves. I founded Money Matters Wealth Solutions and Navigating Divorce to change that.
My work is about far more than numbers; it’s about helping women rewrite their money story. I teach them how to use money as a tool for freedom and confidence, not fear. My clients walk away not only with a financial plan but with a new sense of power at the financial table. Because when women understand money, they don’t just change their bank accounts; they change their futures, their families, and their legacies.
What inspired you to work with people going through divorce or big life transitions?
Divorce is one of life’s most defining moments, financially, emotionally, and spiritually. I was inspired to work with women in transition because I’ve seen firsthand how easily financial uncertainty can deepen fear and self-doubt. But I’ve also seen the other side: the transformation that happens when a woman truly understands her money.
I wanted to be the guide who turns financial confusion into clarity. In the chaos of divorce, I help women pause, take a deep breath, and see their options clearly. Together, we create a roadmap that gives them control over their next chapter; one that reflects their values and vision. My mission is to help women move beyond survival and into stability, confidence, and joy. I believe every ending can become a launchpad, and every woman has the power to rise stronger, wiser, and wealthier than before.
What is your specialty within the divorce space, and how do you typically support your clients?
My specialty is "divorce financial planning" and mediation, helping clients make sound, informed decisions during one of the most complex financial times of their lives. I bridge the gap between legal strategy and economic reality, translating confusing numbers into clear, actionable insight.
Through my Divorce Financial Mastery Blueprint, I walk clients through the financial implications of each settlement option —taxes, cash flow, retirement accounts, property division, and long-term impact —so they can negotiate from a position of knowledge, not fear.
But my real specialty lies in transformation. I don’t just help women understand the dollars and cents; I help them reclaim their financial confidence. We turn overwhelm into organization, confusion into empowerment, and fear into forward motion. My clients often tell me, “I finally feel like I’m driving the car again.” That’s the magic: helping women realize that financial clarity is emotional freedom.
What makes your approach to working with clients unique?
My approach is equal parts strategy, compassion, and empowerment. I bring technical expertise from years in the financial industry, paired with a deep understanding of what it feels like to start over. My clients trust me because I speak their language: real talk, no jargon, no intimidation.
I meet every client where they are ~ whether they’re overwhelmed, uncertain, or ready to rebuild ~ and guide them step by step toward clarity. I use education as the foundation of transformation. When women understand how money works, they stop reacting and start leading.
What makes my work unique is that I don’t just build financial plans; I build confidence. I don’t just calculate assets; I create alignment between a woman’s money and her purpose. Every strategy is designed to help her not only survive change but thrive because of it. That’s what financial empowerment really looks like.
What’s one thing that people are often surprised to learn about you?
People are often surprised to learn that I was a first-chair flute and piccolo player throughout school. Music taught me discipline, precision, and harmony; skills that show up in my work every day. Just like a musician learns to read subtle cues and create balance in a performance, I help women find harmony in their financial lives.
They’re also surprised to find beneath the calm strategist a Southern girl with a heart for people and a fierce belief in second chances. I love seeing that spark in a woman’s eyes when she realizes she can take control of her money, her choices, and her future. That same drive and determination I had as a young musician, working tirelessly to earn that first-chair seat, is exactly how I approach helping women achieve their financial independence today.
Do you have a personal story or experience that helps you connect with clients on a deeper level?
Absolutely. I’ve lived through my own fresh starts, personally, professionally, and financially. My journey includes a divorce, a major career pivot, and building a business from the ground up, even though the safer path would have been to stay put. I know what it feels like to lose your footing, question your worth, and wonder if you’ll ever feel secure again.
That lived experience fuels my work. I don’t just teach women how to make smart financial decisions; I walk beside them as they rediscover their strength. I know that financial independence isn’t just about spreadsheets; it’s about reclaiming your peace of mind and believing you are capable of creating a new life. My story allows me to connect from a place of empathy and authenticity, reminding every woman I work with that she’s not alone and that she can rebuild something beautiful.
What’s your favorite way to reset after a long day?
After a full day of strategy sessions, coaching conversations, and money management, my favorite way to reset is to slow down and reconnect with myself, my thoughts, and gratitude. My husband and I enjoy watching an episode of Wheel of Fortune to lighten our mental load before supper. And then, it sometimes looks like sitting on the back porch with a glass of bourbon as the sun sets, other times it’s a long chat with someone I love.
I’ve learned that stillness is powerful. Just as financial clarity comes from pausing and reflecting before making a decision, personal balance comes from giving yourself space to breathe. Those moments of peace keep me grounded, creative, and ready to show up fully for the women who trust me with their stories and their dreams.
If you could describe your work in three words, what would they be?
Empowering. Transformational. Strategic.
What does “fresh start” mean to you personally?
To me, a fresh start is more than a moment. It’s a mindset. It’s the decision to stop letting your past define your possibilities and to start creating your own version of freedom.
A fresh start doesn’t erase what came before; it honors it as part of your story. It’s about turning lessons into leverage. Whether it’s a divorce, career shift, or personal reinvention, a fresh start is the moment you choose courage over comfort.
For the women I serve, it’s the moment when financial fear turns into financial confidence, and that shift changes everything. A fresh start is your permission slip to dream again, rebuild stronger, and take your rightful seat at the financial table.
Thank you Donna for sharing your wisdom and experience with the Fresh Starts community! You can learn more about their work by checking out Donna’s profile below!
