FINANCIAL PLANNING
Answer: I certainly understand your feeling of being overwhelmed when thinking about planning for
your son’s future. As you think about this type of planning you need to consider many questions:
yy Will my son need a Guardian when he turns 18 or can he make his own decisions without assistance?
yy If he does need support for his lifetime; how much money is enough so he does not live in poverty?
How do I fund it?
yy How can I ensure that my son always has access to government benefits, and still have some money
to use?
yy Where will he live, and what is the cost?
yy Who will oversee his care needs if he does need support and I am no longer able or if I am no longer
here? What is the cost?
yy If his grandparents want to leave him money to help with his support needs, how do they do that
and not negatively impact his qualification for government benefits?
yy What are his options when he leaves school and enters adult life?
yy Are their tax ramifications that I should be aware of?
I am sure you have even more questions than I have
listed above.
questions, and be able to assemble a living plan for
your family and your son.
The first step is to organize all your questions and
write them down. As with any area of specialty
for your child, whether it is therapy needs, medical
needs, or education needs it is normal not to know
the answers to these questions; however, just like
these other areas of specialty you found a qualified
therapist, a qualified physician, and relied on qualified educators to guide you in making informed decisions to help your child. I suggest you do the same
in this area of your family’s life.
The third step is to hire a professional Special Needs
Planner to guide you. The planner you choose
should have a very specific process that you will
work though with them, which will result in a plan
with action steps that will provide answers to your
questions. This plan should relieve your sense of being overwhelmed.
The second step is to research professionals that
specialize in this area of planning. You will find
that most professionals who are considered Special
Needs Planners will be Financial Planners and/or Attorneys. As you research, you can ask your network
of fellow parents if they have started this type of
planning and who they relied on for help. Ask your
fellow parents if their planner helped them with all
the questions you wrote down on your list. If they
did not, then you will want to continue your search.
Please know that Special Needs Planners are few and
far between, and you may have to work with someone outside of your local area. Please continue your
research on line, by searching for Special Needs Planning, reviewing websites, and calling those organizations. Ask them to schedule a phone call with one of
their planners for a complimentary conversation. It
is in this conversation that you will determine if this
company can help you answer most, if not all, of your
As you can see, finding a professional is a process,
but finding the right one can ensure your son has
the brightest future possible regardless of if you are
here or not.
For more information on how to prepare for the future, be sure to contact a financial advisor who specializes in serving families with special needs. A Special Needs Plan is driven by what they call Unleash
L.I.F.E.™- L.I.F.E. meaning Lasting Independence For
Everyone™. This is accomplished with education,
action, and support in the creation, implementation, and continued monitoring of a specifically designed lifelong and integrated plan for your family: parents, caregivers, your loved one with special
needs and their siblings.
6000 Fairview Road, Suite 400
Charlotte, NC 28210
704-557-9637
www.aspecialneedsplan.com
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 44
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