John Duffy

My name is John Duffy, and I am a financial planner, and Certified Divorce Financial
Analyst® professional. I started Zen Divorce Solutions to help couples amicably identify, evaluate, and equitably divide assets in a fair and respectful manner during divorce to achieve a peaceful financial separation.

I went through my divorce in 2006. We had drifted apart and become logistical partners getting kids from place to place. My ex-wife is a family law attorney. I was the stay-at-home parent and telecommuted while changing diapers. We had a mostly amicable separation, but that does not mean there were not rough patches. The girls were 5 and 3, and the hardest part was telling them. I was intensely worried about how they would respond. I hated the idea of not seeing them every day. Co-parenting was challenging for years, but we slogged through. It was a long dark tunnel but we are all out of it and enjoying the light. Zen’s goal is to support and guide you through your own personal journey and be the bridge to get you to the other side.

I graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management and began working in tech in Silicon Valley. I moved to Santa Barbara to start a family and begin my career in finance. I am happily re-married to my wife, Star, and together we added a son and daughter to our blended family. When I am not watching my younger children’s soccer games or gardening, I enjoy scuba, ice hockey, camping and traveling. I am the former board chair of Pacific Pride Foundation, Santa Barbara’s LGBTQ+ organization, and am currently serving on the boards of Casa del Herrero and Hospice of Santa Barbara.