Kristin McKenna

In 2015, a prospective client asked Kristin McKenna a question that shifted her aspirations for the firm her father founded.

The prospect wanted to know what would happen to his stock options if his company was acquired.

“I started to go down the rabbit hole and do the research,” McKenna said. Her response “caused more people who had similar questions to reach out, and it snowballed from there.”

McKenna, 38, started at Darrow Wealth Management in 2014, and she acquired the business from her father last year. While he built the practice around doctors, she focuses on new clients who find themselves suddenly wealthy — often because of an initial public offering, the sale of their business or an inheritance.

She has drawn more attention to the firm by blogging about financial literacy; specializing in stock options and equity compensation has led to more recognition.

“I’ve just managed to figure out the marketing and media aspect of it, and that’s helped a small firm in the greater Boston area get greater visibility on a national level,” McKenna said.

Since she shifted the firm’s focus, she quadrupled the investment minimum for clients in response to demand. Darrow Wealth Management now has about 120 clients, representing $230 million in assets.

“We’re not looking to gather assets and just bring on as many new clients as possible,” McKenna said. “We wouldn’t have the ability to provide [the same] level of service.”

—Emile Hallez