Financial Advisor Focuses on Clients with Special Needs Children

Mary Rowland (personal finance journalist) recently published her article entitled Dealing with Special Needs, Financial Advisor (Feb. 2011). The article focuses on one financial advisor’s experience helping clients with special needs children. An excerpt from the end of the article is below:

When he appears at speaking engagements, Walther says it generates a lot of interest in his services and he often must turn families away because he can’t serve them all. Roughly 10% of the population has a family member with special needs. One client who’s been with Walther for six or seven years, recently told him that her grandson has Down syndrome.

Because he wants to have all his time available to work with clients, Walther uses Schwab Portfolio Services. He also has a team at Schwab. When he set up his business he drew up a list of ten things he needed to have done for him. Schwab Portfolio Services provides these things, including daily downloads, reconciliations and performance reporting.

Most special needs children fall between the cracks, Walther says. “There is no credential in financial planning for special needs. I’ve been in touch with the IAFP, AICPA and the CFP board to at least set up an affinity group. I’d be happy to lead it.”

Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (WealthCounsel) for bringing this to my attention.