Special needs clients require special care
Alexandria Nadworny decided to focus on special needs financial planning because it hits close to home. She believes planning for a loved one with special needs is “truly planning for two generations.”
For instance, her brother James Nadworny has Down Syndrome, which the partner and wealth advisor at Affinia Financial Group, part of Sequoia, admits she was shocked there weren’t many financial planners who focus on special needs in the country.
“There really weren’t many people talking about it,” admits Nadworny, who’s based out of Massachusetts. “You don’t see it in the TV shows that you see now, who are focused on individuals with autism or are neuro diverse. [My dad didn’t] really know what to do and how to plan for my brother with special needs.”
When her father John Nadworny, who’s also a principal at the firm, met his business partner, Cynthia Haddad, whose brother has developmental disabilities, they decided to join forces and pursue the special needs planning venture together.
Nadworny explains that her father and his partner were learning for themselves as they were going along, helping other families and providing them with the planning support. “What is the vision for the future? How do we position the financial assets and then work with attorneys for the special needs trust? [But also] building relationships, building a network because specialties planning is different. It’s really about the relationships.”
Since joining forces, Nadworny Sr. and his partner wrote a book together for prospective specialty needs advisors “The Special Needs Planning Guide” in 2007. Nadworny is quick to point out that despite the lack of advisors or even awareness in the space, there’s been several resources that’s come to
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