Ryan F. Platt completed his Special Care Planner Certification in 2005 at the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA, in which he received advanced training in estate and tax planning, special needs trusts, government programs, and the emotional dynamics of working with people and families with special needs loved ones. In 2013, he went on to complete the Chartered Special Needs Consultant designation. A pioneer in his field, Ryan is one of only a few planners certified through Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and the American College in Special Care Planning in Charlotte. He is the founder of A Special Needs Plan.
We are considering moving our family to another school district in the hopes of improving the in-school experience and services for our daughter. What should we be considering? —James As you know, moving your family is a big decision. It may change many aspects of your family life including the commute time for Mom and/or… Continue Reading
In our previous Autism Parenting Magazine column, we discussed government benefits and how to access those benefits. One item we learned was that in order to access the array of services, your child will have to be eligible, which means he/she cannot have countable assets of more than $2,000 in his/her name—and to remain eligible,… Continue Reading
Question: “I am in the military and heard there is a new benefit for military retirees that can help my child with autism. Is this true? If so, what is it?” – Jerry The simple answer to your question is YES. For those individuals who have served our country for their career in one of… Continue Reading
rQuestion: “My father is going through early onset Alzheimer’s and I am watching the financial and emotional stress it is taking on him and my mother. I can only imagine if that happened to my wife and I while we trying to care for our son with autism. What can we do? — Rick Answer:… Continue Reading
Ben asks: “I would like to open an ABLE account for my son (who just got a job and has been accumulating money that is getting close to the $2,000 asset limit) before his benefits are suspended. Can I still open one if my state does not have one yet?” Ben, you ask a very… Continue Reading
Retirement planning is an important area of an individual’s and a family’s life. Proper planning will allow for a better life and one that is usually more enjoyable. For most folks in the United States, retirement planning includes saving as much money as they can in their 401(k) and maximizing their monthly social security payment. … Continue Reading
Randall asks: “I have heard the ABLE accounts can be funded, is this true?” Randall, thank you for your question. The ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience) was passed in December, 2014 and was finalized at the end of 2015 at a federal level. The ABLE Act cleared the way for individuals with a… Continue Reading
Ron asks: “I have a Special Needs Trust for my son, and at this point it is not funded. I was thinking about funding it with life insurance when I die. Is this is a good idea?” Ron, thank you for the thoughtful question. Funding your son’s Special Needs Trust is quite an important task. … Continue Reading
Alexis asks: “How do I best make arrangements for the physical care (housing, etc.) of my daughter when I am no longer around?” Alexis, thank you for your question. This is a concern that we hear from every family we meet. It is truly at the core of planning for your daughter’s future. I recommend… Continue Reading
Mary asks: “I am thinking about having my sister become the next caregiver of my son if I am no longer here. What can I do to help prepare her for this job?” In our experience, we have found that your sister will most likely have two main concerns when taking on the role of… Continue Reading