At its most turbulent point, the global economic meltdown left many asking, “What happened?” As people have had time to contemplate major life changes—like losing a job, searching for a new career or rebuilding lost retirement assets—the question many clients are now asking is, “What next?”

JSF Financial, recognizing the challenges people face in this turbulent environment, has added a twist to its financial advisory business by launching a new transition planning service designed to help clients navigate the changes and evaluate opportunities still available to them. As part of the service, the Los Angeles-based firm will align clients with a dedicated transition planning specialist to help them re-evaluate personal and professional options, establish an appropriate and prudent financial plan and map out a new course for the future.

The firm is marketing the service through a new brochure called, “Planning for Life’s Unexpected: Transition Planning.” It is also considering networking, career and financial educational events to further help its transition clients.

In an interview, JSF Financial founder and principal Jeffrey Fishman described the transition planning service as dealing with “real life issues.” These could be everything from figuring out what to do with your brokerage to dealing with a business sale or merger, or even deciding whether to keep your kids in private school.

“I know people are going to need help dealing with this,” says Fishman. “Right now people are lost and you have to evaluate the entire situation.”

Fishman even describes part of his job as being that of a “concierge.” This means, for example, that if a client is in between jobs, Fishman could possibly make an introduction to an executive looking to hire someone with his or her skill set.

One of the keys to transition planning is to make sure clients understand that whatever setbacks they have encountered are not the end of the world. “So many people associate their identity with what they do,” says Fishman. “Part of our job is to instruct people that (even if they’re out of work) it’s not over. There are things you can do.”

Because JSF Financial has launched this service during a recession, it begs the question of whether transition planning will run its course once the economy recovers. Fishman, however, dismisses the notion that the service is a fad.

“Transition for baby boomers will grow, not shrink over the next 5-to-10 years,” he says. “It requires a centered focus.”