Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®, MAFF®
Divorce Mediator, Founder, Intentional Divorce Solutions
“Your head is likely spinning from all the changes you are facing,” says Divorce Mediator, Leah Hadley. Not only did Leah go through a divorce personally, but she has spent several years helping individuals and couples get divorced, providing them with the tools they need for a happy, healthy post-divorce life.
Leah, who truly shines in assisting couples with complex financial situations, is also incredibly sensitive to the emotions those going through a divorce face, which is why she offers divorce support through a coach and through support groups. The goal is to help those getting divorced be in the best emotional place they can be so that they can make the best decisions during and after divorce. I love Leah’s enthusiasm, compassion, and extensive experience, and I am honored to call her a Divorced Girl Smiling trusted professional.
FounderDivorced Girl Smiling
About Leah
As the Founder of Intentional Divorce Solutions (formerly known as Great Lakes Divorce Financial Solutions) and Great Lakes Investment Management, Leah Hadley is committed to guiding clients to financial independence through thoughtful and strategic planning.
An influential voice in the financial community, Leah is a sought-after speaker and expert in overcoming financial setbacks and navigating the financial complexities of divorce. She’s a frequent guest on podcasts and has contributed her insights to numerous books and online platforms. Leah is also the author of “When It’s Just Not Working: A Practical Divorce Guide for Stay-At-Home Moms.” At the heart of her practice, Leah finds genuine satisfaction in empowering her clients to achieve their most heartfelt financial goals.
In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and spending quality time with her husband, three children, and three dogs.
Professional Credentials:
- Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
- Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)
- Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF)
- Collaboratively trained Financial Neutral
- Mediator trained through an Ohio Supreme Court-approved program with 100+ hours of continuing education in alternative dispute resolution
Professional Associations:
- Member, Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA)
- Member, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA)
- Member, Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE)
- Membership Chair, Center for Principled Family Advocacy
Director of Corporate Partnerships, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Cleveland Chapter
About Liesel Darby, ADRDC
Divorce Coach & Mediator
Liesel Darby is an integral part of our team as a seasoned divorce coach and mediator. With a background in therapy, including mental health counseling for families and substance abuse recovery, and certification in life coaching, she brings empathy, expertise, and strategic guidance to those facing the complexities of divorce. Liesel’s personal journey through divorce enriches her professional insight, allowing her to offer a balanced perspective to clients.
In her role, Liesel focuses on empowering individuals to transition from a state of uncertainty to one of confidence and clarity.
Liesel is certified as an alternative dispute resolution divorce coach (ADRDC) from Divorce Coaches Academy. In 2008 she was certified as a life coach by Coach Training Alliance. She received her mediation training from the Ohio Supreme Court. Liesel earned her BS in Educational Studies, Focus in Writing from Kent State University, her M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Toledo, and her MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.
In her spare time, Liesel likes to play the piano, read murder mysteries, and work on her novel. In anticipation of a “someday” trip to Italy, she is learning Italian. She likes to take long walks, go dancing with her friends, and hang out with her two elderly cats.
