The Lifelong Roadmap: Special Needs Trusts and Caregiver Planning | Julie Hoffman-Hogan

If your child has special needs and you die without the right plan, the state decides what happens to them. In this episode, Julie Hoffman-Hogan, holistic financial planner at New York Life and mother to a 33-year-old son with Down syndrome, joins host Niki Weiss to walk through what special needs estate planning actually requires, from guardianship before age 18 to the trust structures that protect government benefits and the letter of intent that tells future caregivers how to love your child well. CHAPTERS 0:00 When Derek Was Born 1:28 Welcome and how Julie came to special needs planning 5:46 Declaring incompetence and assuming guardianship before age 18 12:13 HIPAA, medical access, and what changes the day your child turns 18 15:27 Derek at 33: a new diagnosis and a plan that needs to change 17:21 The letter of intent: writing a love letter to the future caregiver 20:14 The $2,000 asset rule and why a wrong inheritance can end federal benefits 26:50 What to look for in a special needs trust attorney 29:04 When there is no family to take over: professional fiduciaries and trustees 32:33 Julie's takeaways and where to find her WHAT YOU WILL LEARN - Why you must secure legal guardianship or conservatorship before your special needs child turns 18 or lose access to their medical records entirely - What a special needs trust is, why it is completely different from a standard trust, and why a generic trust can accidentally disqualify your child from Social Security and state benefits - What a letter of intent is and why it is one of the most important documents a caregiver can write - How a new diagnosis like early-onset Alzheimer's can invalidate an existing care plan and what documentation needs to change - What questions to ask an estate planning attorney about their specific experience with special needs trusts before you hire them Start your plan and take the free assessment: https://finalplaybook.com/main-page LISTEN TO THE PODCAST Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/death-and-dying-in-the-digital-age/id1775499012 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2MQkOgvyPQnLEz1fO9BHkY Subscribe: @DigitalLegacyPodcast FOLLOW US Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/endevo.digitallegacy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@endevo_digitallegacy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/endevo_digitallegacy/ Download the My Final Playbook app: Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=endevo.life.finalplaybook Apple App Store: [link coming soon] #deathandyinginthedigitalage #ENDevo #digitallegacy #digitallegacypodcast #myfinalplaybook Disclaimer: The Death and Dying in the Digital Age channel is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical, legal, or financial advice. Views expressed by the host and guests are their own. Always consult qualified professionals before making decisions. The channel is not responsible for actions taken based on its content. Re-uploads or ANY use of our content is prohibited.