Planning with Mary Anne Elhert

Quick Overview

In this summary, Mary Anne Elhert discusses the importance of planning for the future of a family member with a disability. She emphasizes the need to create a comprehensive plan that includes financial planning, understanding government benefits, setting up an ABLE account, and establishing legal documents such as special needs trusts. Mary Anne also highlights the importance of communication and involving the right team of professionals and family members in the planning process. She provides an overview of the upcoming classes in the 2023 ASF Virtual Conference, which cover topics such as special needs trusts, taxes, government benefits, and more. Mary Anne encourages participants to take one step at a time and to make progress in their planning journey.

Hello everyone and welcome to 2023. I think a lot of us are kind of happy that 2022 is in the rearview mirror with some of the stuff that’s going on in our world, but we have lots of great stuff this year. I’m looking forward to it and I’ll share with some of that.

Introduction to Protected Tomorrow

Protected Tomorrow was started because of my sister Marcia, who’s no longer with us. She was my inspiration and motivation to create this organization. Our mission is to help individuals with disabilities and their families by ensuring their safety, independence, and happiness. We provide support and resources to help families navigate the complex world of disability planning.

Our Mission

Our mission is to make sure your child or family member who has a disability is happy, safe, and independent. We also want to provide peace of mind to caregivers by offering support and guidance. We believe that caregivers play a crucial role in the lives of individuals with disabilities, and we want to empower them to make the best decisions for their loved ones.

Our Services

We offer a range of services to help families with disability planning. These include one-on-one consulting, workshops, online courses, and our Parent University program. Our goal is to provide families with the information and tools they need to create a comprehensive plan for their child’s future.

Expanding Our Community

We are committed to building a strong community of families, professionals, and organizations who are dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities. We have helped families with housing, employment, and other important aspects of life. We also have a charity called Tails for Life, which helps families find funding for service dogs.

Taking One Step at a Time

Planning for the future can be overwhelming, but it’s important to take it one step at a time. We encourage families to start with the basics, such as financial planning and benefit tracking. From there, we can help families develop a comprehensive plan that addresses their specific needs and goals.

Upcoming Classes

Throughout the year, we will be offering a series of classes to help families with disability planning. These classes will cover topics such as special needs trusts, tax planning, government benefits, employment, and more. We encourage families to sign up for these classes to gain valuable insights and guidance.

Conclusion

Planning for the future can be challenging, but with the right support and resources, it is possible to create a comprehensive plan that ensures the happiness, safety, and independence of individuals with disabilities. We are here to help families every step of the way and provide the guidance and support they need to navigate the complex world of disability planning.