CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2023 VOLUME 53 ISSUE 11

FINANCIAL PLANNING

• 12 EMPOWERING FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH ABLE ACCOUNTS: HOW THE NATIONAL ABLE PROGRAM TRANSFORMS LIVES By ABLE Today

COVER STORY

• 15 DISCUSS THE FUTURE NEEDS OF DEPENDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: TOPIC SUGGESTIONS FOR PLANNING MEETING WITH FAMILY/FRIENDS Courtesy of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) SpecialCare
• 18 THREE OPTIONS TO GIVE YOUR CHILD WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS MORE FINANCIAL SECURITY By Graham Caldow
• 22 OVERCOMING ANALYSIS PARALYSIS AND PLANNING FOR YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE By Corey Briskey, MPH

• 25 OVERWHELMED WITH MEDICAL BILLS? IT HELPS TO THINK LIKE A DETECTIVE By Jennifer McLelland
• 28 QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR LOVED ONE'S FUTURE HOUSING By Pam Blanton
• 32 FINANCIAL PLANNING ACROSS THE SPECTRUM By Marta Chmielowicz
• 35 ESTATE PLANNING FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS By Mitch Mitchell
• 38 SECURING YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE: THE IMPORTANCE OF SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS By Bianca Farr

FEATURES

• 40 INDIVIDUALS WITH MEDICAL COMPLEXITY MAY EXPERIENCE MEDICAL TRAUMA By Lauren Agoratus, M.A,

ON OUR COVER

You, your family, and your team of professionals should work collectively to help develop a life care plan that best suits the needs of your loved one with a disability — now and far into the future. Coverage begins on page 12.