Able Account or Special Needs Trust: How to Decide?
Able Account or Special Needs Trust In December 2014, President Obama signed the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (“ABLE Act”) into law, authorizing states to create...
Planning & Advice
The ABLE ACT of 2014 EXPLAINED!
New Savings Accounts May Fund Care for Individuals with Disabilities In December, amidst much euphoria, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the ABLE Act of 2014 (Achieving a...
Quick Way to Begin Writing a Letter of Intent
Running Start: First Steps for Writing the Letter of Intent The letter of intent (LOI), though not a legal document, plays a central role in your child’s special needs plan,...
Creating a Financial Game Plan | A Milestone-Based Guide to a Special Needs Plan
Creating a financial plan with a trusted advisor is critical, and arriving at various milestones can guide you in what to do next. Below are seven milestones to benchmark your planning efforts with financial advice for every turning point.
Organizing Your Child’s Special Education File: Do It Right
The special education system generates mountains of paper. What do you do with it? How do you organize this information?
Tips on the Affordable Care Act
Question: Medicaid eligibility has expanded in some states and insurance is now a viable alternative for many families with special needs. How should they evaluate their options? Answer: Scrutinize Coverage...
Promoting Executive Functioning Over the Summer Vacation
Understanding Executive Functioning According to the Encyclopedia of Autism (2013), individuals on the autism spectrum have a pronounced impairment in executive functioning. Executive functioning (EF) impairments are not unique to...
Planning for Tomorrow… Today
Merrill Edge now offers financial planning and advice for the middle-income family or caregiver of a child with special needs. A select team of Merrill Edge financial advisors have been...
IEP… I Do’s Building a Viable Home-School Relationship – It’s like a Marriage
My friend, Carmen, put it best: “Working to build a school relationship is a lot like a marriage. It takes work. You have to communicate. You will not always agree...
Establishing a Positive Family Plan
As the New Year begins, we may find that our children are a little out-of-sorts. Typical daily activities such as transitions to and from school, family meals, and chores or homework may be