Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Withers.
Hi Tanner, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
To put myself through college, I was working as a real estate agent. I had no idea what I wanted to do for my career, but I understood business success often came from “who you know, not what you know,” and many of my family members were in real estate–so I figured that was a good place to start.
I then did a few internships in the financial planning space and really enjoyed the job. I started with a firm, Edward Jones, upon graduation. My primary role was managing investment accounts. I really enjoyed it, but my attention shifted during COVID, as the firm was scrambling to adapt to the “new normal.”
That is when I learned about the world of independent financial planning. It aligned so much more with everything I had wanted. Specifically, I wanted to be able to work with individuals and families, regardless of how many assets they could give me to manage. It didn’t seem right that the value of someone’s financial advice would be solely tied to the amount of assets they had. After all, everyone needs financial advice—especially those just starting to accumulate!
After taking the leap to self-employment as an independent RIA firm owner, I learned about a small group of advisors who worked with families with children with special needs. This called to me. My wife and I had always talked about adopting a child with special needs. I knew I wasn’t ready to do special needs planning yet, but I wanted to learn how.
As I was transitioning to the world of independent financial planning, my wife and I were presented with an opportunity to learn about adopting a child from Colombia. A colleague introduced me to the founder of a local non-profit whose mission is to advocate for orphans all over the world–most of whom have special needs. As we seriously considered this, we came across photos and videos of a sweet little girl living in a Colombian orphanage. She had a rare special needs syndrome. We immediately felt drawn to her and knew she was ours. We committed to adopting her.
Simultaneously, I was recruited to join a startup firm that would specialize in special needs financial planning. I learned how to do special needs planning and serve the incredible special needs community. I fell in love with this planning and knew this was my professional calling. After a year and a half, each member of our small startup team decided they wanted to serve the special needs community under different business models. Ultimately, we all went our separate ways, determined to continue serving the special needs community in our ways.
I reopened my independent planning firm, rebranded, and committed to continue serving the special needs community–regardless of their income, assets, or current financial standing.
Every parent or caregiver of a loved one with special needs has two main questions:
– How do I give my loved one with special needs the best possible life now? and
– What happens when I’m no longer here to take care of them?
By focusing on special needs financial, investments, benefits, estate, and family support planning, we answer these questions, allowing families to live their life’s potential.
It truly has been the most gratifying professional experience of my life. I love working with these families. I love the freedom of being able to act in their best interests–without the “big firm” agenda. The special needs community is a tight knit community full of incredible people. I’m proud to be apart of it personally with the adoption of our daughter, and to be serving other families.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not.
Each professional transition was an emotional, financial, and educational struggle.
Especially my last venture. We had the highest of hopes of creating an incredible place for families with special needs. It didn’t work out the way we hoped. But we never gave up on serving the special needs community.
As most would agree, I’ve learned more from the hardships than anything else.
As you know, we’re big fans of Withers Wealth Advisory DBA Ability Planning. What can you tell our readers who might not be as familiar with the brand?
Ability Planning is the premier place for expert Special Needs Planning advice from a parent’s perspective.
Our name and unique spelling are intentionally based on a poem popular within the special needs community–“Welcome to Holland.” The word “Al” is the Dutch word for “all” or “every,” signifying inclusion. We serve families of ALL abilities. Hence, our name and commitment to the Holland theme illustrate this.
As a parent of a child with a rare special needs syndrome, I understand the unique challenges, concerns, and responsibilities of caring for someone who may be forever dependent.
We help families answer their two main questions (referenced previously), which ultimately helps them live their life’s potential.
We do this by planning with a focus on financial, investments, benefits, estate, and family support strategies.
Because we are completely independent, we are not only able, but required as fiduciaries to do what is in the client’s best interest 100% of the time. We start where our families stand–regardless of their income, assets, or current financial standing. Most financial firms impose minimum fees, sales quotas, or are unable to fully serve families the way they want to be served.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I live in Mapleton, and work in Provo. Mapleton is among the most beautiful cities in Utah. I tried really hard to move my wife out of Utah. That is, until we found Mapleton. Now, we will never leave. Mapleton is stunning, and still has the small-town feel, but with quick access to anything we could ever need in neighboring cities.
Working in Provo is exciting. Provo is a long-time college town that produces some of the best business minds in the world. Being surrounded by the entrepreneurial spirit everywhere we go is inspiring as a business owner.
That said, Provo is a bigger city compared to Mapleton–so not somewhere I want to live (anymore).
Pricing:
- Special Needs Planning for All Abilities Facebook Group – FREE
- Special Needs Group Coaching – $99/month for six months
- Comprehensive Special Needs Planning – Customized based on the need but capped at $5,000 annually
Contact Info:
- Website: www.albilityplanning.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/albilityplanning/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/albility/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerwithers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlbilityPlan
- Other: https://bio.site/albility
