I believe that people need more than just financial advice—they require clarity when life feels chaotic, structure when everything is shifting, and a place where everything connects. This belief inspired me to create SDA Wealth Strategies, where I focus on simplifying the complex and helping people build plans they can trust.

My vision for SDA has always been simple: to help people live a financially empowered life.

I grew up in a small town, watching my parents run a business grounded in trust and service. A high school business law class—and Oliver Stone’s Wall Street—sparked my interest in financial markets. It wasn’t the “greed is good” line; it was the idea that money could change lives—and that someone like me could be part of that.

After earning my finance degree from Ithaca College, I began my career at Marsh & McLennan before eventually transitioning into wealth management at Smith Barney and MetLife. In 2012, I launched my independent practice to provide a more integrated and personal approach. Today, I serve as a wealth manager and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®), often acting as a financial advocate during emotionally charged transitions. I am also pursuing certification as a mediator to offer neutral guidance when necessary.

The name SDA stands for Simplify, Design, Advocate, and it reflects the initials of me and my two kids, Daniel and Alexa. The business was created with them in mind; everything I do is rooted in family. Over time, many clients have transitioned into friends—and have become like family themselves.

My wife, Gena, and I first met at Ithaca College. After reconnecting post-divorce, we’re raising four teenagers in a blended family that keeps us learning daily. We split our time between New York and Richmond, Virginia, until the kids graduate—and we’re excited to see what’s next.

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, including our mini golden doodle, Rosie—named after the Springsteen song “Rosalita.” I’m a music lover, a hobby photographer (many of the photos on this site are mine), and a long-suffering Mets, Knicks, and Giants fan.

After losing my grandfather to Alzheimer’s in 2000, I started volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association and later worked in marketing and fundraising for a social service agency based in Brooklyn. I have stayed active in causes dear to my heart, including cancer support and research.

“One step at a time” has become my personal mantra—something I use to stay grounded and frequently share with clients. When life feels uncertain, the next small, intentional step often matters most.

After nearly two decades in corporate systems and technology roles, I realized it was time for something different. I had gone through a divorce, left a job that drained me, and stepped away from work a few years before COVID to be home with my kids. That time allowed me to reset and reflect on the life and work I wanted to create next. Like many people we serve at SDA, I have navigated significant life transitions that reshaped my priorities.

I joined SDA in 2020 and began working in the business as my relationship with Scott grew beyond the strong friendship we built as adults after reconnecting. I’m grateful to work with him and SDA as we grow our personal lives together.

Today, I oversee operations and shape the client experience at SDA. My journey through divorce has given me a unique perspective and empathy in supporting our work at SDA Divorce Solutions. I understand the overwhelming nature of the process and the value of feeling seen, supported, and grounded during such transitions.

Before joining SDA, I worked as a business systems analyst in the staffing and retail industries, primarily at Apex Systems in Richmond, Virginia. My first job in Richmond was with the now-defunct Circuit City, an early chapter that launched my path in systems and operations. At Apex, I was the bridge between business and technical teams, leading workflow design and system implementation. My work spanned Financials Billing, AR, AP, GL, Contracts, HR, Payroll, and more—an experience I now apply more personally and purposefully.

In the spring and summer of 2023, just months before Scott and I got married, I faced an unexpected health scare. A routine screening led to the discovery of something called stage 0 breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, but it was a humbling reminder of how quickly life can change and the importance of taking care of yourself, even when everything else feels more urgent.

I grew up in a small town outside Rochester, New York, and earned my B.S. in Applied Economics from Ithaca College, where I first met Scott. Many years later, we reconnected, started dating again in 2020 and married in November 2023.

We’re raising four kids: Addison, Jacob (mine), Daniel, and Alexa (his). Like everyone else, we believe our kids are amazing, but our primary goal is to raise good, grounded adults. We are splitting our time between New York and Virginia and plan to settle in one place eventually.

Outside of work, I love traveling, hiking, reading, and listening to country music. So far, my favorite trips have been to Alaska, Italy, and Iceland (our first international trip together), and I will always have a soft spot for D.C., where Scott proposed. I am grateful for where I’ve been and excited about what lies ahead.

I began working with SDA’s clients in 2024 and am excited to bring them clarity and focus during significant life transitions. As the founder of LZL Coaching, a boutique coaching firm specializing in divorce, life transition, and family conflict coaching, I bring a unique perspective to my work. I have personally experienced many changes in my life journey, and I understand the challenges of creating a true north. My diverse background as a certified coach, an attorney, and a philanthropic program designer, coupled with a master’s in Jewish education and a certificate in spiritual counseling, positions me as an expert in empowering you to discover your passion and recover your purpose. My clients often express that I empower them to find their voice, clarify their wants and needs, and design a future they never thought possible.

I am a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where I earned my JD and was a member of The Cardozo Law Review, in which I published the Note “Family, Marriage and the Same-Sex Couple” way back in 1991. Currently, I write blog posts related to divorce and life transitions. I host a video podcast, “Dishing on Divorce with Lisa Lisser,” which you can find on YouTube, Roku TV, Spotify, Apple podcasts, iHeart Radio, or wherever you subscribe. I recently became a best-selling published author with the book, “Divorce Decoded: A Women’s Manifesto for Navigating Divorce and Beyond.”

Lisa's contact information at LZL Coaching is here as a resource for our clients. Products and services offered through LZL Coaching are separate and not offered through Commonwealth Financial Network.®