Scott Coopersmith, CDFA®, CLU®
Founder, Wealth Manager
Gena Altizer**
Chief of Staff & Client Relationship Manager
Scott Coopersmith, CDFA®, CLU®
Founder, Wealth Manager
SDA Wealth Strategies exists to positively impact and empower people to thrive today, tomorrow, and beyond. I formed my own independent firm in 2012 — originally called Impact Wealth Strategies (IWS) and now known as SDA Wealth Strategies. The "SDA" stands for Simplify, Design, and Advocate, as well as an anagram for myself and my children (Scott, Daniel, and Alexa).
I knew early on that I wanted to enter the financial field after, oddly enough, watching Oliver Stone's Wall Street in a business law class in high school. No, I wasn't focused on the "greed is good" sound byte. Instead, I wanted to understand markets and how they worked and, most of all, help others understand them.
Going out on my own has allowed us to better serve our clients. My wide range of experience includes working for large corporations, nonprofits, and every in-between. Before forming my firm, I worked at Smith Barney and MetLife, where I became an advisor.
I am also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, to help others through this challenging time, having been inspired by my own experience. I specialize in divorce financial planning through SDA Divorce Solutions.*
I believe giving back is an important part of life, and I have been involved in various boards and causes throughout my life. I'm especially proud to have been a dedicated volunteer and significant fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association since 2000 after losing my grandfather to the disease.
I grew up in Sullivan County, N.Y., and around a family business, which helped foster my entrepreneurial spirit. Many of the most crucial business lessons outside the classroom came from simply watching my dad and mom go above and beyond for each customer.
Outside work, I enjoy time with my two kids, my fiancé Gena and our Goldendoodle Rosie (named after Springsteen's Rosalita) in Rockland County. I am an avid sports fan, specifically the Mets, Giants, and Knicks.
Gena Altizer
Chief of Staff & Client Relationship Manager
Previously, she worked for nearly 20 years as a business systems analyst in the staffing and retail industries, primarily at Apex Systems. Gena was the key liaison between functional and development teams to design system solutions for business needs. In that role, she excelled in requirements analysis and design and supported all areas of the software development life cycle. Her background includes projects around Billing, AR, AP, GL, Contracts, Project Costing, and HR and Payroll.
Gena holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics from Ithaca College and is a Certified Divorce Specialist. She lives in Glen Allen, VA, with her two children, Addison and Jacob, and grew up in upstate New York. She is a country music fan and avid traveler.