The American College Center for Special Needs to Host Virtual Symposium

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. — September 16, 2025 - The American College of Financial Services Center for Special Needs will host its Virtual Advanced Special Needs Planning Symposium, a two-part online event designed to equip financial professionals with specialized knowledge in serving individuals and families with special needs. The sessions will take place October 14 and November 5, 2025, and are powered by the College’s Knowledge Hub+ platform.

The event builds on the success of the College’s inaugural Advanced Special Needs Planning Symposium in 2023 and its follow-up in 2024. With the in-person symposium scheduled to return in spring 2026, this year’s virtual format allows a broader audience to benefit from specialized education without geographic barriers.

“We are committed to ensuring that professionals have access to meaningful, practical education that makes a difference in their work with clients and families,” said Joellen Meckley, JD, associate vice president of Centers strategy and operations and managing director of the Center. “The Virtual Advanced Special Needs Planning Symposium is about more than continuing education. It’s about opening doors to specialization, providing resources and valuable insights while leveraging the online format to broaden our reach.”

Day 1, October 14, will introduce the key components of financial planning for families with special needs. Designed as “Special Needs Planning 101,” the session will help planners identify client issues, help support staff expand their knowledge, and introduce professionals to the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®) designation.

Day 2, November 5, will feature advanced sessions led by industry experts, offering deeper insights into legal, financial, and legislative developments affecting special needs planning. This live event is exclusive to Knowledge Hub+ subscribers and members of The College’s Professional Recertification Program.

Highlights of Day 2 include sessions on:

• Divorce and the Special Needs Family: Legal and Financial Challenges for the Modern Advisor
• Critical Legislative Changes Impacting Disability and Special Needs Planning
• Fixing a Flawed Estate Plan: Protecting Special Needs Beneficiaries
  
  The College remains committed to providing programs and continuing education in this highly specialized area, ensuring that practitioners have access to the resources they need to serve clients with care and expertise.

For more information and registration details, visit:

https://events.theamericancollege.edu/advanced-special-needs-planning-symposium/

About The American College of Financial Services

The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit and accredited educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Nearly one in five advisors or agents is an alum of The College. The College offers a learning platform that includes professional designation, certification, and degree programs and encompasses early-career foundational knowledge as well as deep, specialized education in tax, retirement income, philanthropy, risk management, and more with the highest-quality combination of rigor and relevance. The College’s faculty represents the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Its educational programs, research, and events offer professionals the opportunity to accelerate through knowledge, grow through connections, and uplift through community.

Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu to discover all the ways you can expand your opportunities with The College.