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With several full-time accountants who are experienced in divorce, Berenfeld, Spritzer, Shechter & Sheer can settle your financial affairs with integrity and expertise.
When dealing with a financially complex divorce, there are many traits you or your attorney should look for in the accounting firm you hire. The financial professionals you work with should be focused on divorce (rather than just doing divorce cases on the side), honest about the likely results, committed to helping couples settle amicably, and flexible in their practice. Such professionals can be found at Berenfeld, Spritzer, a South Florida based firm with eleven full-time matrimonial accountants.
This firm is founded on the principles of integrity, flexibility, responsiveness, and applying skills to meet clients' needs. "There are two kinds of experts," says Philip J. Shechter, one of the firm's senior partners. "There are those who tell you they can deliver something that's actually unattainable, and those who tell you from the beginning the most likely range of outcomes - and which ones are fair. We always tell clients the truth."
Berenfeld, Spritzer's approach is to develop a plan to help the parties settle the case amicably and maintain reasonable post-divorce lifestyles. "It's a life plan, as opposed to the goal of 'winning' and getting as much as you can from the other side," explains Shechter. "The object is to plan how to survive, not to have a boxing match." The firm's CPAs aim to determine clients' needs and budgets realistically in order to work out a mutually beneficial settlement with their spouses. "Settlement helps people move on with their lives," says Shechter.
With over 100 employees in two offices, the firm has plenty of expertise in various areas, but it operates on a case-by-case basis. "We have a hands-on approach to cases, but with big-firm resources. We're like a small firm in that our divorce litigation group is made up of 11 professionals - including three partners who do mostly divorce litigation. Everybody in the department has, or is attaining, a Certified Valuation Analyst designation and has worked on more than 100 cases." And with a staff person and a partner assigned to every case, Berenfeld, Spritzer provides both efficient and quality work.
The firm's reputation is such that even the rich and famous put their trust in its services. Elgin Polo, another partner, specializes in forensic accounting and valuation matters for high net worth matrimonial litigation cases throughout Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties. Polo, a highly reputed professional who also offers counsel for small businesses such as property management companies, real estate investors, and those in the professional services industries, is a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. "Our focus is on the client's financial health after the divorce proceedings," says Polo. "Forensic accounting and valuation are a huge part of that equation."
Another of the firm's strengths is its employees' willingness to be flexible to accommodate their clients' schedules and circumstances. "Nothing is more important in matrimonial accounting than flexibility," says Shechter. "You should be ready for a rush or for emergencies; usually, you're not dealing with long deadlines or ample time." Berenfeld, Spritzer works closely with clients, offering compassion, empathy, and straightforwardness. "We always have an initial face-to-face meeting with the client and the lawyer to go over the case strategy. Then we develop a rapport with the client, including meeting with them to make sure they understand everything, because they need to be able to rely on us," explains Shechter.
Berenfeld, Spritzer matrimonial accountants also work closely with clients' attorneys. "They're the captains of the ship," he says. "We have to go through them to make decisions, though we offer our own opinions. We often help determine the case strategy. We have to work as a team and always make sure we're doing the right thing for the case."
Shechter, Polo, and their firm have a high reputation among lawyers and the court system for their professionalism, experience, and integrity. Along with the personalized nature of its services, this makes Berenfeld, Spritzer an ideal choice for any financially complex divorce. "We really care about our clients," concludes Shechter. "I like what I do, and it makes me feel good that I help people."
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