Meet Donna Kendrick | Financial Planner, Author, and Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Donna Kendrick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Donna, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am a career changer. The year I turned 40 I thought to myself, “this isn’t so bad, I don’t know what everyone is complaining about” Less than a month later my husband dies suddenly and I was left with to raise three grade school kids, and I was only making $17,500 a year. Because of a good financial plan when in our 20’s, I had life insurance in place so I knew I could keep my house payments current and educate my kids. But I still new I had to reestablish my career, which I had given up to follow my husband’s career abroad in the early 2000’s. I knew that if I was going to launch myself into the workforce again it was going to be with grit, intention and a mission to help other families like mine, those whose tomorrow looked very different from their today. I took some time during those first two years of widowhood to figure out was was most impactful in helping me feel in control and hopeful, and it was the work of the financial advisor I had moved to after my husband’s passing. Working with this financial professional helped educate me to the world of pensions, insurances and social security and helped me create a roadmap for the coming years (with some room for wide right turns when needed). I wanted to do this for other men and women in widowhood and I got the professional education, licensing and experience needed to become a financial planner. As a result of having a very focused client base I was able to establish my own business focusing on families in transition, write a book to help peoople navigate widowhood and establish online course for the same.

What should our readers know about your business?
My work as a financial planner and owner of Sephton Financial (that is my maiden name, named for my father who bartered services as a janitor for my private education as a child) is centered around financial planning for families in transition, those facing life after widowhood, divorce and blended families. I established my practice in the middle of the pandemic because I knew there was such a need to put a little love into financial planning. During the pandemic so many people were losing their partners/spouses through death, and let’s be honest, through divorce when we were all sent home to truly live and evaluate where were are under social distancing conditions. As people were making huge financial decisions, many were not seekind sound professional advice either because of social distancing, or maybe because of pride or simply not knowing. People needed a listening ear and a hand to hold, not just someone telling them the where, when and how to invest their funds. I saw the need and decided to go all in with a mission to help these people. I learned that helping people make decisions during grief and change takes patience, clarity and resilience. I learned that it is the long-term relationship that matters and setting the early foundation for the same is vital. I have learned so much along the way in reference to how to run your value-centered business effectively, efficiencly and with the goal of growth and expansion in mind because we can help more people, and influence more lifes, families and generations to come if we build Sephton Financial on a sold framework.

We also spread the the opportunit for others to work togheher with grief support while making financial decisions after the loss of a spouse or partner through our work with Widow and Wisdom(R), our book a “Guide to Widowhood: Navigation the First Three Years (with your heart, soul and finances intact) as well our podcast Widow, Wisdom and Wealth(R).

Required disclosure: Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Sephton Financial, LLC and Cetera are not affiliated.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being born and raised in Philadelphia, I always thought the grass was greener somewhere else. After many years of moving abroad and in the tri-state area, I am right back to the Philadelphia area appreciating all it has to offer.

First, I would teach my visitor how to navigate our public transportation system called SEPTA, including the rail line. I will call this an exciting adventure, you will grow as a person from the experienc e From there so many destinations can be reached, you can journey for the suburbs to Center City in 20 minutes or ben in NYC in an hour. It is amazing!
Historic Philadelphia-LOVE park, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross House, Franklin Institute, Art Museum (run like Rocky up the
steps)
Visit the Italian Market or visit one of our professional sports arenas to watch the Eagles, Phillies or Flyers. Philly fans have a ton of spunk and character.

Take the ferry across the Delaware river and experience the Camden Aquarium and if you have little guys the Children’s Garden. If you don’t have the kids with you, stay for an open air concert. End each day in the sweet boroughs of Haddonfield of NJ or commute back across the river Jenkintown, PA where you can eat and drink at in an open air brewerey or family run restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
LIndsey Burda, the marketing guru who help me launch my book to a #1 best seller on Amazon and still helps me keep aligned with my business and mission.

Website: https://sephtonfinancial.com/

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-kendrick/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-kendrick/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sephton-Financial-LLC-100589531785379

Other: www.widow-wisdom.com https://www.facebook.com/Sephton-Financial-LLC-100589531785379 https://www.instagram.com/widowandwisdom/

Image Credits
Sarah Miller Photography