I founded the Sudden Money Institute in 2000 with a community of practitioners of financial planning seeking to better serve our clients. Our experience told us that our traditional training didn’t equip us to skillfully handle clients who were anticipating or experiencing major life events.

They behaved in unexpected and uncharacteristic ways, and we didn’t know why. We simply didn’t know what to do with them. We knew we needed a different way of doing what we were doing, and perhaps more importantly, we needed a different way of being with our clients.

We had to look outside of financial planning for research and expertise, as financial transitions – as a field of study—didn’t exist. After nearly two decades of evolving discussion and work together, we now have a clear understanding of what it means to guide clients through financial transitions.

We can articulate the components of this new field we call Financial Transitions Planning, as well as the qualities a professional should exhibit and embody in order to provide skillful guidance. We started a training a certification division called the Financial Transitionist Institute, for professionals seeking to understand and better help clients during times of great change, and we welcome you to explore that site.

As for the Sudden Money Institute, we are returning to our roots as a think tank and a resource for the public. Our vision is a vibrant community of people moving through and adapting to change mingling with professionals dedicated to serving them. We want to be the world’s resource for all things financial transitions, and we’re excited to continue in that direction.

Cheers,

Susan Bradley