Special Care Planning
The focus of the Miceli Financial Partners Special Care Planning Team is to provide wise financial strategies for
families with members who have special needs.
Families with special needs have unique financial circumstances that are often overlooked by financial advisors. Our
Special Care Planners have been certified by the American College with specialized and exclusive training to address these
unique needs and situations.
In addition, our Special Care Planners work with families to provide "every day" financial solutions, such as education
funding and retirement planning.
Our Special Care Planning Team has alliances with legal and medical professionals, non-profit organizations and support
groups at the community level. Working collaboratively with these entities and caregivers allows implementation of effective
life care plans. An important aspect of life care planning is to structure plans that preserve government benefits while
maintaining the ability to accumulate and grow assets.
Checklist for Parents and Caregivers
- Create a Life Care Plan and communicate it to all interested parties
- Create a Letter of Intent and update it periodically
- Include yourself in your plan
- Identify financial resources, including government benefits
- Establish a Special Needs Trust
- Choose a Guardian / Conservator / Trustee
- Complete Estate Planning
- Review health plan options
- Anticipate changes when your child reaches the age of majority
- Explore housing options for your child after becoming an adult
- Get the right advice from experienced professionals
Life Care Plan
A plan that incorporates basic needs, goals and strategies for achieving the best quality of life.
For example, using financial and legal tools to help enhance your financial well being without jeopardizing the public
benefits your special needs family member is receiving. This might mean having money down the road to fund both the
caregiver’s retirement and the continued care of their grown child.
Letter of Intent
A document that provides written instructions to future care providers, relatives, advocates, guardians or courts concerning
how the person with a disability should be cared for upon his or her parents or caregiver’s death.
Special Needs Trust
A Trust designed to provide money to an individual for specific purposes (excluding food, clothing and shelter) to enhance
their quality of life.
It can be set up to send a child to camp, facilitate vacations and travel to visit relatives, buy sports equipment, or
to pay for other therapeutic needs that do not fall under day-to-day living or "maintenance" expenses.
Trust assets will not affect government benefits.
Estate Planning
Proper estate planning helps accumulate, manage and conserve capital and income, taking into account resources, goals and
tax considerations.
It also helps take advantage of existing laws and funding vehicles to save taxes, may provide creditor protection, and may
help manage property in an efficient and profitable manner during life. A well-designed estate plan can help provide the
surviving family with financial freedom.
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