Financial planning for those who can't

TERRY SAVAGE savage@suntimes.com

Many families focus on Mother?s Day and Father?s Day during this season of the year. But for many moms and dads, it is a bittersweet recognition. They are parents of children with disabilities ? children who will never be fully capable of caring for themselves, living independently, earning a living, and managing their finances.

For them, the task of parenting has a never-ending timeline. And what they worry about most is what will happen when they, in all likelihood, pass on ahead of their children.

How do you create a lifetime plan for someone who will always need care? It?s not only a question of money, but a question of responsibility. Fortunately, there is a financial planner who has dedicated her life to creating a planning system for families of children with disabilities.

Mary Anne Ehlert?s interest in planning for these children started with her own sister, whose disabilities as result of cerebral palsy impacted the entire family. The story is detailed in Ehlert?s book: The Gift I Was Given.

The need to confront the issues of financing and planning for her sister led Ehlert to create a simple workbook designed to chronicle life histories and catalog important information. It has since grown into broad-based planning and advocacy program for the disabled.

You can find it all at www.ProtectedTomorrows.com. The website describes it best: ?Protected Tomorrows Inc. is an advocacy firm that enhances the lives of people with special needs through a comprehensive life planning process. We create Future Care Plans, which address the needs of the individual with developmental disabilities, mental illness, physical disabilities, or cognitive and neurological diseases in the following areas: education, residential, legal, financial, health care, government benefits, and employment.?

Read entire article here:?http://www.suntimes.com/business/savage/12509511-452/financial-planning-for-those-who-cant.html

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