WCI #396: Financial Planning For Special Needs Kids with Dr. Bryan Jepson
Dec 5, 2024
auto_awesome
In this discussion, Dr. Bryan Jepson, an emergency physician turned financial planner and special needs consultant, shares his journey and expertise in financial planning for families with special needs children. He emphasizes the complexities of navigating trusts and government benefits as children grow older while offering personal insights drawn from his experience as a parent of two children with autism. Dr. Jepson also highlights the importance of tailored financial strategies and community support in achieving stability and security for these families.
Families must understand the importance of government benefits like Medicaid and SSI for the long-term support of special needs children.
ABLE accounts provide a tax-advantaged way for families to save for special needs expenses without jeopardizing government benefits eligibility.
Special needs trusts are essential for protecting a child's eligibility for government benefits while ensuring their future financial security and care.
Deep dives
Understanding Financial Planning for Special Needs Children
Financial planning for families with special needs children involves navigating unique challenges and considerations. Parents must strive to ensure the long-term care and treatment of their children while managing financial resources effectively. Key components include understanding government benefits like Medicaid and Social Security Income (SSI) that can provide essential support. Families are often encouraged to view these benefits not as welfare but as entitlements they have contributed to over time, reinforcing the idea that accessing these services is a legitimate form of financial planning.
The Role of Medicaid in Special Needs Planning
Many high-income families may question the necessity of Medicaid for their special needs child due to their income levels. However, Medicaid can be crucial in supporting ongoing needs not covered by private insurance, such as long-term care and vocational assistance. Understanding the application process and the importance of demonstrating the child's disability is vital as families prepare to navigate these systems. Qualifying for Medicaid can ensure access to services that are essential for the quality of life of special needs individuals, especially as these needs evolve over a lifetime.
Leveraging ABLE Accounts for Financial Security
The introduction of ABLE accounts provides special needs families a tax-advantaged way to save for their child’s future without jeopardizing their eligibility for government benefits. ABLE accounts allow individuals to save up to a certain limit without it counting against their asset cap for SSI. There are numerous eligible expenses that can be covered, making it a flexible option for managing costs associated with disability. However, families must remain mindful of the Medicaid payback provision, which stipulates that remaining funds in an ABLE account at the account holder's death may need to be used to reimburse Medicaid.
Special Needs Trusts: A Crucial Component
Special needs trusts serve as an essential financial tool for securing a future for special needs children while protecting their eligibility for government benefits. These trusts can be categorized into first-party and third-party trusts, each with distinct purposes and rules regarding funding and asset management. First-party trusts can help manage funds received through settlements, while third-party trusts allow parents and grandparents to contribute without incurring Medicaid payback provisions. Understanding the intricacies of setting up and administering these trusts is crucial to ensuring long-term support for disabled individuals.
The Importance of Comprehensive Planning
Comprehensive planning is critical for families with special needs children, especially as they transition into adulthood. Not only must parents focus on their own financial stability, but they must also prepare for their child's continued care and support throughout their lifetime. This involves assessing various factors, including estate planning, insurance needs, and the ongoing costs of care. Engaging with financial professionals familiar with these unique challenges ensures that families can make informed decisions that will support both their financial well-being and the quality of life for their special needs child.
Today we are talking with practicing emergency physician and financial planner, Dr. Bryan Jepson. Dr. Jepson shares his journey from emergency medicine to opening a clinic to help children with autism before finding his way back to the ER and then into finance. In addition to being a physician and financial planner he is also a chartered special needs consultant. Dr. Jepson has two children with autism and shares his personal experience and his professional expertise around financial planning for families that have children with special needs. Navigating special needs trusts, able accounts, Social Security, Medicare and more can be complicated and requires a lot of work and time. We hope this episode helps anyone who is learning how to financially care for and support a special needs loved one.
Today’s episode is brought to you by SoFi, helping medical professionals like us bank, borrow, and invest to achieve financial wellness. SoFi offers up to 4.6% APY on their savings accounts, as well as an investment platform, financial planning, and student loan refinancing…featuring an exclusive rate discount for med professionals and $100/month payments for residents. Check out all that SoFi offers at https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi *Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS 696891. Advisory services by SoFi Wealth LLC. The brokerage product is offered by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investing comes with risk including risk of loss. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you!