Having a long-term financial plan in place is crucial for parents of special-needs children. It will help parents juggle saving for the child's care as well as for college for other children and their own retirement. It also will help guarantee that the care—and the money to pay for it—will continue once the parents are no longer around.
Having a child changes everything, especially if your child or grandchild has special needs. To ensure proper protection and provision now and for the long haul, very specific and careful planning is required.
The Wall Street Journal recently addressed this subject in an article titled Build a Financial Plan for Special-Needs Child. While you must approach your estate planning with a sense of urgency, the planning itself is an ongoing activity. Nevertheless, with special needs there are special concerns. Estate planning truly is a process and not an event.
The close coordination between your legal planning and your financial planning must take into account the potential lack of public assistance resources in the future. In addition, remember to factor in the lengthening life expectancies of adults with special needs. Life insurance, owned in the proper manner and in the proper amount, can provide additional financial security and peace of mind.
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Please view our video on special needs planning below Reference: The Wall Street Journal (July 28, 2012) “Build a Financial Plan for Special-Needs Child”