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Special Needs Planning 101: Critical Insights for Every Practitioner is designed for financial advisors and professionals who seek a foundational understanding of planning for individuals with disabilities and their families. This session will introduce the essential principles and practical strategies involved in working with clients navigating disability-related challenges. Key topics include the importance of specialized planning, the caregiver experience, public benefits and tax considerations, ABLE accounts, estate planning with special needs trusts, guardianship, and an overview of the components of a comprehensive lifetime plan. By the end of the session, attendees will better understand the risks of improper planning and the tools available to protect and support this vulnerable population. This program is tailored for novice practitioners with little or no prior training in this area of planning.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning activity, you will confidently be able to:
- Identify the key financial, legal, and emotional planning needs of individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.
- Explain how public benefits, ABLE accounts, and special needs trusts interact to support long-term financial security.
- Apply foundational principles of estate planning, tax strategy, and guardianship considerations when developing lifetime plans for clients with special needs.
Presenter
Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC®
Thomas M. Brinker, Jr. JD, LLM, PFS/CPA, AEP®, ChFC®
CFP® CE Credit
This content is eligible for 1.5 hours of CFP® continuing education (CE) credit.
If you hold the CFP® mark and would like to receive CFP Board CE credit for this content, please ensure your CFP® ID number is entered here.
The College’s Professional Recertification Program (PRP)
This content is eligible for 1.5 hours of PRP continuing education credit.
To begin, click on the button below. As you move through the content, make sure to mark each page complete by clicking on the appropriate button, and then click Next Lesson at the bottom of each page. Once you complete the entire activity, the progress bar will show 100%.
Special Needs Planning 101: Critical Insights for Every Practitioner
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