john anderson

When my father passed suddenly at 53, there was no will, no plan, and no roadmap for what to do next. Eighteen months later, my grandfather passed away as well. I was 27 years old, serving as executor for two estates and navigating probate, creditors, debt, and even a lawsuit. I worked through major decisions with family support and hard-won advice, but I never felt fully prepared or confident in what came next. That numbness and confusion, that weight of people depending on you, and that sense of not knowing where to begin are memories I still carry today.

I've spent more than 40 years in financial services, most of it working with and for financial advisors as they helped families make important financial decisions. After four decades in the industry, I earned my CFP® certification because I wanted to bring the same level of professionalism and care to pro bono planning and coaching that families deserve.

Today, through Planning with Purpose at Diversified LLC and my broader pro bono planning efforts, I focus on something that matters deeply to me: bringing real financial coaching and planning to people who need it most, at no cost.

My coaching style is straightforward and unhurried. I listen before I speak. I'll never rush you, and I'll always make sure we're working at a pace that feels right for you. No jargon. No agenda. Just honest, practical guidance from someone who has sat in a very similar chair.

I currently split my time between suburban Philadelphia, where I lived for more than 25 years, and Annapolis, Maryland, as my wife and I move closer to her aging parents. I'm happy to meet in person or over Zoom. Outside of this work, I'm husband to a nonprofit executive director and father to two college-aged sons who keep me grounded and constantly remind me that life rarely goes exactly according to plan.