Advanced Insights for Special Needs Planning

In this session of the 2025 Advanced Special Needs Planning Symposium, College thought leaders explore complex topics relating to special needs, including life events such as divorce, the impact of critical legislative changes, and estate planning.

This on-demand webcast is only available in Knowledge Hub+. Knowledge Hub+ is a robust, just-in-time learning platform delivering over 80 hours of on-demand CFP Board-approved CE by leading academics, practitioners, and thought leaders. 

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The session begins with Joanna Craney, ChFC®, ChSNC®, WMCP®, and Scott Suzuki, Esq., exploring the unique legal and financial planning considerations for families navigating divorce while raising a child or dependent with special needs. Topics within this segment include child support, special needs trusts, government benefits, guardianship, and long-term care planning.

The next portion of the session features Roxanne Chang, JD,  Beth Manes, JD, Brian Lindberg and Victoria Sulerzyski, JD, as they analyze recent and emerging legislation affecting financial and legal planning for individuals with disabilities. With a focus on the newly passed One Big, Beautiful Bill Act of 2025, the session explores anticipated changes to ABLE accounts, public benefit eligibility, trust planning, and family caregiving incentives. The program also reviews recent SSA, Medicaid, and guardianship reforms, providing advisors with tools to ensure client plans remain compliant and comprehensive amidst shifting laws and policy. The panel then looks at real world case examples to help advisors anticipate how their clients might be impacted and offer action steps to apply updates directly to practice.

The programming concludes with Ethan Ordog, JD, providing his analysis of critical estate planning missteps that can jeopardize the financial security and public benefits of beneficiaries with special needs. The session also covers modification techniques like reformation and decanting, establishing self‑settled trusts post‑inheritance, coordinating life insurance and SNTs, and practical strategies to preserve SSI and Medicaid eligibility.

CE credit is available for this session by logging into Knowledge Hub+, our on-demand subscription platform, and viewing the recording. Log in via your Learning Hub portal or subscribe now to get your credit.

Want to get the expertise to serve individuals with special needs and their caregivers? Learn more about the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®) designation!