Mindy works with individuals and their families to build and execute financial plans to help them achieve their wealth goals.
Who I Help
Professional Designations
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, Chartered Special Needs Consultant®
Education
University of Maryland, Baltimore County, B.A., Economics and Psychology
Community Involvement/Leadership
Co-Chair of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Steering Committee
Giving Back
Activism for Autism
Mindy Cleaveland is an active supporter of MarbleJam Kids Inc., a Hackensack-based group that benefits children with autism and other disabilities by providing therapeutic services such as art and music.
Mindy also participates every year in Light it Up Blue “Wear Blue to Work Day” created to raise awareness and money for autism through Autism Speaks.
Read more about Mindy
What do you value most in your client relationships?
The trust my clients place in me. My specialty focus area is with individuals and families who have planning needs related to disability or other medical conditions. I also partner with those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, or Queer (LGBTQ). The elements of planning associated with both of my specialty areas create unique challenges for my clients, and often the planning process can be emotional. Along the way though, I learn about my clients’ unique stories and background, witness their pride in their success and the successes of their loved ones, see the many pictures of their children or grandchildren, hear about their recent vacations, join them in their philanthropic endeavors, and so much more. I am grateful my clients trust me not only to help them with their financial lives, but also to share with me their many other life experiences.
What fuels you every day in your work?
Seeing the weight lifted off my clients’ shoulders after implementing their financial plan, is what fuels me in my work every day. My clients typically have unique planning needs. Sometimes they aren’t sure where to even begin addressing these needs. Other times they have an idea but are overwhelmed by everything else going on in their lives; financial planning tends to take a back seat. And many times, they are worried about where their financial future lies. That’s where I come in to help them organize and prioritize their goals, identify areas of improvement, and most importantly implement any changes and continue to monitor the plan regularly.
Where did you grow up? Where do you live now?
I grew up in Maryland, where most of my family still reside. My parents now own a farm in Southern MD, where they have animals, a greenhouse, and a vineyard. It serves as a mini-vacation away from the congested NY/NJ area when I visit.
I currently live with my wife, Lisa, and my puppy, Avery Michele, in Cedar Grove, NJ. Being the foodies that we are, we moved here recently to take advantage of the amazing restaurants in downtown Montclair. When we aren’t eating local, we enjoy traveling the US and abroad to try new cuisines.
Mindy’s Insights
MoneyGeek.com: Financial Support for Families With Children Diagnosed With a Chronic or Terminal Illness
Mindy Neira shares insights and advice to help parents navigate caring for a child who has been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness and finding financial resources to help with medical service and treatment. All this and more resources in this guide by Erin C. Perkins for MoneyGeek.
LGBTQ Financial Planning: Looks Simple from Afar
As a LGBTQ financial advisor, my clients tell me they often hear some baffling questions. Maybe someday I won’t be surprised by the lack of awareness regarding the complexity around life as someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning. But today, I continue to be astonished. This is why I focus my time on LGBTQ financial planning.
NJ.com: Can I convert some of my traditional IRA to a Roth?
Can I convert some of my traditional IRA to a Roth? A common question that Mindy Neira helps to answer by addressing some potential implications of this taxable event and how the law around Inherited IRA and Roth IRAs has changed. Read more in the full Q&A article by Karin Price Mueller for NJ.com.
Wall Street Journal: Special-Needs Trusts: How They Work and What Has Changed
Special-needs trusts have been around for a number of years, but two parts of this picture are changing: longer life expectancies and tax laws. Modera’s Mindy Neira, Chartered Special-Needs Consultant, shares her perspectives on how special-needs trusts work, in this Wall Street Journal article by Glenn Ruffenauf.
Trust and Estate Planning Strategies for LGBTQ Couples
Marriage equality helped to level the playing field for same-sex marriages. Even with this huge leap forward, there remains many legal inconsistencies from state to state for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ). Call us to see how we can help you migrate your states laws as it relates to your personal planning
The Wall Street Journal: Ask Encore: Should You Retitle Your House After the Loss of Your Spouse?
Modera’s Mindy Cleaveland responds to questions about whether to retitle a home after the loss of a spouse if the deed is in both names.