Cynthia Haddad

Cindy applies her extensive planning expertise and empathetic approach to advising individuals, families, and trustees planning for their future. She understands, from both a personal and professional perspective, the importance of taking a pragmatic approach to the planning process and focuses on communication, guidance, and encouragement to keep her clients’ actions aligned with their goals.

Cindy has particular insight into the multi-faceted lives of her “amazing women” clients, managing their family’s wealth atop their professional and family endeavors. Her approach is truly one of financial wellness; balancing the management of their personal financial wealth, and while growing their careers, caregiving for their parents, siblings, and/or children.

Having significant expertise in planning for complex situations, Cindy is often asked to consult and collaborate with other professionals. The depth of her client and professional relationships, along with the growth of her advisory practice, led her to co-found Sequoia Financial Group in 2019.

Cindy is a managing partner of Sequoia Financial Group, a multi-generational firm designed to provide her clients with the continuity of service and values she has built her practice upon. While she spends the majority of her time advising clients, she relishes her role as Chief Operating Officer of Sequoia, overseeing the firm’s operations and strategy.

Special Needs Financial Planning
Cindy is the sister of an adult brother with disabilities and recognized early in her career the unique nature of the financial planning requirements of families like her own. She partnered with John Nadworny to establish Special Needs Financial Planning and publish the first-of-its-kind book, The Special Needs Planning Guide: How to Prepare for Every Stage of Your Child’s Life (Brookes Publishing, 2007), now in its Second Edition. They are currently under contract to write a second edition of this respected resource for families and professionals.

A Thoughtful Thought Leader
As a passionate advocate of education for families, Cindy has presented hundreds of pro-bono, informational workshops, participated in panels and written and been quoted extensively in the media. She continues to write and speak on the issues of special needs planning and has developed a program to bring greater awareness to brothers and sisters who share the lifelong care of their sibling with special needs. Based upon her personal and professional experience, she has published an eBook:  Sibtips, Vocabulary for Siblings. For over 20 years, she has held positions of leadership in a variety of public policy advisory organizations and is a sought-after speaker at conferences for individuals with special needs and their families throughout the country.

Cindy is currently the club facilitator of the Special Needs and Elder Care chapter within the USA 500. She has also served on the board of The Arc of Massachusetts, as well as the Central Middlesex Area Advisory Board for the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services and the Massachusetts Sibling Support Network (MSSN).

Cindy lives in Belmont with her husband and two children and is actively involved in her church and local community. In addition to serving as an advocate for her brother Ron, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and having fun with her family.

Fun fact: Shades of the Von Trapps! Cindy – and her musical family – are all talented performers.