Fundamental Insights for Special Needs Planning

In this fundamentals-focused session of the 2025 Advanced Special Needs Planning Symposium, College thought leaders Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC®, and Thomas Brinker, JD, LLM, PFS/CPA, AEP®, ChFC®, break down the basics of financial planning for individuals with special needs, their families, and their caregivers, including key considerations, vehicles, and strategies you need to know.

Meckley and Brinker begin their conversation with a discussion on the nature and reality of life for caregivers to individuals with special needs, be they family or professionals, and the challenges they face — as well as what they’re looking for from financial professionals who specialize in special needs planning. They then lay out the basics of creating a lifetime plan for an individual with special needs, including living arrangements, medical expenses, government benefits, and estate planning considerations.

Taxation in special needs planning is also examined through the use of special needs trusts and other vehicles, as well as benefits like the ABLE Act, important planning elements such as letters of intent, guardianship options, and more.

The program concludes with an examination of further education options available for financial professionals seeking to specialize in special needs planning, including designations like The College’s Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®) Program.

Program Outline

• Introduction (4:20)
• The Reality of Caregiving (7:17)
• What Caregivers Need From Financial Professionals (9:25)
• Creating a Lifetime Plan (12:17)
• Living Arrangements (20:48)
• Letters of Intent (26:32)
• Understanding the Tax Landscape (28:38)
• Reducing Tax Burdens for Caregivers (33:10)
• Medical Expenses and Benefits (35:31)
• Public and Government Benefits (42:20)
• Estate Planning Considerations (55:00)
• Special Needs Trusts (1:02:00)
• Community Pooled Trusts (1:09:00)
• Trust Taxation Basics (1:09:28)
• The ABLE Act (1:12:11)
• Guardianship and Other Alternatives (1:14:33)
• The ChSNC® Program (1:21:40)

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!