SPECIAL NEEDS FINANCIAL PLANNING
Nearly one-fifth of all Americans have a disability. One out of six children born today have a learning disability. In 1995 one in 10,000 newborns had autism. That number increased to 1 in 160 in 2006 and to 1 in 54 today. As special needs trajectories spiral upward, so do the costs. This results in a financial burden to the family providing care for the special needs loved one.
Creating a special needs financial plan will reduce the financial burden and allow the loved one to live a full life. This means enjoying security, independence and having the capacity to do what they want with their lives.
A sound special needs financial plan has two objectives:
- Develop a lifelong plan for the loved one with special needs.
- Integrate that plan with the comprehensive family plan to ensure that it meets all family members’ needs.
It is important that both objectives are met. We cover the necessary steps to set up a secure, financial future for both the loved one and the rest of the family.
The Special Needs Financial Plan is the centerpiece of the work that we do with the special needs loved one and their immediate family. We build on top of the life care plan foundation, using the tools and techniques of modern financial planning.
We do this by carefully integrating the special needs financial plan with the comprehensive family financial plan. The values, goals and priorities of the special needs loved one must blend with the family’s. This delicate balancing between the special needs financial plan and the comprehensive family financial plan ensure the family unit experience the future they all envisage.
It is critical to accurately calculate the special needs loved one’s lifetime financial support. Through our comprehensive assessment, we get the detailed numbers the family can depend on to deliver the life they all imagine. Please review the services below to see how we can help protect the future of your special needs loved one, even after you’re gone.
Life Care Cost Analysis
A carefully crafted life care plan serves as the basis on which we build the Special Needs Financial Plan. For some families, the Life Care Plan is an acceptable guide for the special needs loved one and the family unit. We recommend more strategic financial planning for families with complex finances.
Special Needs Trust
A special needs trust is a trust set up for an individual with special needs. It holds assets for that person without compromising their ability to get government benefits. There are three main types of special needs trusts: the first-party trust, the third-party trust, and the pooled trust. All three name the person with special needs as the beneficiary.
Tax Planning
We strengthen the benefits that accrue to the special needs family throughout the financial planning process with savvy tax planning. While there are tax deductions available to the special needs family, savvy tax planning goes even further. It involves developing specific strategies to take advantage of tax shelters built into the Internal Revenue code.
Retirement Planning
Parents with a special needs loved one are planning for two retirements: theirs and their child’s. They are paying for not only medical costs, but also for their children’s needs throughout their lives, including housing, transport and food. We balance the needs of the family with the special needs loved one.
Legal Planning
Legal help in areas such as guardianship, special needs trusts, and getting added government support special needs families with more complex finances. We’ll work with your attorneys or can introduce other attorneys who specialize in this area.
Benefits Planning
SSI, Medicaid, and state disability services are an integral part of special needs planning for most families. They help fund the added expenses necessary to care for special needs children. It is critical to navigate these complex programs correctly to get maximum benefits. We arrange the family’s finances correctly to achieve this.
MEET WITH A FEE-ONLY, TAX-SAVVY
FINANCIAL PLANNER
We offer a no-cost, no-obligation confidential consultation so you can see if we are the right fit for you.
