RESOURCE LIBRARY

We believe that protecting your family's financial health goes hand in hand with securing their overall well-being. Frequently, low-probability events are overlooked even if they carry severe implications for your well-being because many succumb to optimism bias, the “it won’t happen to us” thought process. One often-overlooked aspect of comprehensive planning is establishing a healthcare directive for your newly adult children. Once your child turns 18, they become legally responsible for their own healthcare decisions. But what happens if they’re suddenly unable to communicate those decisions themselves or still want your voice present in those circumstances? That’s where a healthcare directive—and the associated documents like HIPAA releases—become indispensable.

For any future support team to be successful, we must share the years of invaluable information stored in our heads to those stepping into our shoes. The care guide plan gives us a means to do this so that the future support team has direction and knows what’s expected of them. A well-structured care guide not only acts as a roadmap to the team, but also brings peace of mind to the parent, knowing that our loved one’s unique needs will be met even in our absence.

As of January 2025, the Social Security Fairness Act has repealed both the WEP and GPO provisions, meaning individuals who were previously impacted by these reductions can now expect to receive their full Social Security benefits going forward. This is a significant change, especially for individuals whose spousal benefits were reduced to $0 under the GPO or who saw their own benefits reduced due to the WEP.

The IRS has released the 2025 retirement plan limits, and as always, change is a constant in retirement planning. Staying on top of these updates is essential to make the most of your retirement savings.

As the calendar turns to a new year, it’s more important than ever to stay informed about the annual thresholds governing various areas of financial planning. With 2025 comes a fresh set of limits and figures that may substantially influence your financial strategies. Below, you’ll find the key numbers you should know so that you can make informed decisions and optimize financial plans for both you and your loved one with special needs in 2025.

When it comes to securing the future for loved ones with special needs, understanding the latest changes in tax law is essential. The SECURE Act 2.0, which introduced a range of new rules for inherited retirement accounts, includes provisions that could significantly impact special needs beneficiaries.