Advisors Urged to Better Serve Neurodivergent Clients

Small changes like reducing cognitive load and rethinking meeting formats can lead to big improvements.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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Financial advisors are being encouraged to better accommodate clients who are neurodivergent, meaning they have neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia. Experts say advisors can make practical adaptations like providing written agendas, using visuals, and structuring meetings to match a client's information-processing and decision-making style. Advisors who are neurodivergent themselves may have a natural advantage in relating to these clients, but neurotypical advisors can still serve them effectively by being flexible and curious about their needs.

Why it matters

Neurodivergent clients often face challenges in traditional advisory settings where meetings, decision-making, and follow-ups are predicated on a particular style of information processing. Advisors who can adapt their practices to better suit these clients' needs can improve engagement and build stronger relationships.

The details

Neurodivergent individuals may be 'twice exceptional,' meaning they are very capable in some areas but face significant challenges in others. This mismatch can create difficulties in a standard advisory setting. Advisors are encouraged to reduce cognitive load, provide written agendas and summaries, use visuals, and structure meetings to match the client's preferences. Advisors who are neurodivergent themselves can draw on their own experiences to better relate to and support these clients.

  • The article was published on March 3, 2026.

The players

Rebecca Mannis

A neuropsychologist and learning specialist at the Ivy Prep Learning Center in New York City.

Korinne Sugasawara

The founder of Kite and Compass Financial in San Jose, California, who is neurodivergent herself and has built her practice to be explicitly affirming to the neurodiverse community.

Julie Landry

The co-founder and board certified clinical psychologist at NeuroSpark Health in San Antonio.

Jay Zigmont

The CEO and founder of Childfree Wealth in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, who has ADHD and regularly works with clients who are neurodivergent.

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What they’re saying

“An individual may be a wonderful writer or be able to invent a particular app, while on the other hand, may have difficulty in terms of sequencing ideas, managing frustration or coordinating meetings.”

— Rebecca Mannis, Neuropsychologist and learning specialist (financial-planning.com)

“I know firsthand how exhausting it can be to mask and pretend you're neurotypical.”

— Korinne Sugasawara, Founder (financial-planning.com)

“There is no one 'right' way to think or learn. I know that on my bad [ADHD] days, I can spin up my staff and not be at my best. I've started being more transparent about my good and bad days, and I appreciate that my staff and clients understand. I hope that it also sets a model where they feel comfortable talking about their own struggles.”

— Jay Zigmont, CEO and founder (financial-planning.com)

“Neurotypical planners can address some of these concerns simply by being flexible and curious.”

— Julie Landry, Co-founder and board certified clinical psychologist (financial-planning.com)

“And for my neurodivergent clients, knowing their advisor shares some of that experience of feeling different can be a relief because it signals that this is a space where they can show up as themselves, or for those who have spent decades masking and lost touch with their needs, a space to begin to set down the mask.”

— Korinne Sugasawara, Founder (financial-planning.com)

The takeaway

Financial advisors can better serve neurodivergent clients by making practical adaptations to their practices, such as reducing cognitive load, using visuals, and structuring meetings to match the client's information-processing and decision-making style. Advisors who are neurodivergent themselves can leverage their own experiences to provide additional support, but neurotypical advisors can also effectively serve these clients by being flexible, curious, and putting the client's needs first.