For Stephanie Fort, helping families prepare for the future is rooted in something she has valued throughout her career: helping people find a path forward.
A financial professional with Strategies, Fort brings a background in education, collegiate coaching, recruitment, and client-focused service to her work. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in psychology from Allegheny College and later received a Master of Education from Xavier University in 2018.
Before entering financial services, Fort spent seven years as a collegiate softball coach and three years in corporate recruitment. Those experiences shaped the way she works with clients today.
“I am drawn to problem solving, people, mentorship, and impact,” Fort said. “My previous life as a collegiate coach and educator informed my shift into personal finance. I strive to be impactful over anything else.”
She joined Strategies in 2025, where she focuses on financial literacy and building long-term relationships with clients. Licensed in several states, including Pennsylvania and New York, Fort says her approach is grounded in honesty, consistency, mutual respect, and education.
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Where families can begin
For families caring for someone with special needs, financial planning can sometimes feel overwhelming. Fort said one of the biggest concerns she hears is simply not knowing where to begin.
Families may also worry about what will happen to their child if they are no longer able to provide care themselves.
“The biggest financial concerns I hear from families of people with special needs are where to get started and a fear that their child will be left alone with no plan to care for them,” she said.
Her first piece of advice is straightforward: get organized.
“Organization!” Fort said. “A comprehensive overview of your financial situation and the legal documents needed to execute are important, but working with someone to get organized and implement a structured plan is the best first step.”
Rather than recommending that every family follow the same financial strategy, Fort emphasizes understanding the individual family’s circumstances and priorities.
When planning for a child’s future care and financial security, she encourages parents to first consider “what are your priorities for their care and where you want them to be.”
That means thinking beyond finances alone. Families can begin by imagining the future they want for their child and then work backward to determine what needs to be put in place.
“Start with the end in mind,” Fort said.
Planning for today and tomorrow
Long-term planning can also feel difficult when families are already managing everyday expenses. Fort recommends making saving an intentional part of the household plan.
“Be a great saver,” she said. “Have a plan in place where saving is the first step.”
She acknowledges that saving can be difficult, but believes a clear strategy can make the process more manageable.
“When you have a clear strategy of where every dollar goes is tantamount to financial success,” she said.
Fort also cautions families against choosing financial products or strategies based on general advice alone. Government programs can be important resources, but she prefers to understand the full picture before making specific recommendations.
“Government programs are important but I hesitate to recommend specific products or strategies without a full picture of the family situation,” she said.
Caregivers need a plan, too
For caregivers, planning for their own financial future can sometimes feel secondary to the needs of their children or loved ones. Fort believes it should be part of the same conversation.
“You have to put your own mask on first,” she said. “You are the first line of defense for your child, so you have to prioritize your plan and savings for the best chance of an effective plan for your child.”
For Fort, financial planning is ultimately an educational process. She believes open dialogue helps professionals understand what matters most to each family.
“Education! Dialogue is important to understanding the values of the families I work with,” she said. “I strive to give as much pertinent information as possible so that the family feels confident in their plan.”
She encourages families to look for a financial professional whose values and approach are compatible with their own.
Among the qualities she recommends are “compatibility of values, trust building, scope of practice, and transparency.”
For caregivers who may feel unsure about where to begin, Fort offers one simple first step: develop a clear picture of the future they want.
“Develop a clear picture of what you want for your and your child’s futures,” she said. “Start with the end in mind.”
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