Future & Financial Planning for Parents & Guardians of Adults and Children with Special Needs

Important Issues To Be Addressed:
· Planning for your child with special needs throughout their life
· Government Benefit Eligibility
· Guardianship & Conservatorship/Guardian Ad Litem
· Special Needs Trusts & ABLE Accounts
· Financial Security and Funding Options

Protecting Your Child with Special Needs, Protecting Their Benefits

“No matter what the age or disability, parents of children with special needs have many
serious questions about how best to provide for their child’s future well-being. We realize
that you face unusually difficult planning decisions regarding the welfare of your child. The
most important of those is probably how to provide for ongoing care after your death. If your
child is under 18, eligibility for government benefits such as SSI, Medicare and Medicaid is
based on family income. Once your child turns 18, even if they are living in your home,
benefits are based on the child’s income. This would also hold true for a child whose
parents are deceased. If assets are not properly structured, government benefits will be lost
and/or personal assets will be depleted. It is important to not only know what the issues are
but also who can help sort them out. There are both legal and financial experts in the area
of special needs planning. You’ll want to review all options and methods of implementing a
plan that is just right for you and your family. There are special types of legal documents,
funding options, including life insurance, and many forms of advocacy services available to
secure the best possible outcome for your child.”

Our Presenters: Sean DiGiovanni, originally from Kansas City, Missouri moved to Wichita, Kansas in
2003 with his wife Gretchen and their then 2-year-old triplet boys; Jack, Paul and Sam. Sean spent 20 years
in the Restaurant Industry with multiple concepts and then joined Northwestern Mutual in 2012.

He is passionate about planning for his clients and takes great pride in his relationships with his clients. He
believes in giving back to his community and is very involved in several charitable organizations.

Sean’s son Sam was diagnosed with Autism in 2003, and he has since focused part of his practice working
with families with special needs children and the financial challenges that come with the diagnosis. Sean’s
motto is “It takes what it takes” and is his driving force.

Andrew Smidt, husband and father of 3 wonderful children, is not only a financial advisor but is also an
ordained pastor. With a heart for ministry, Andrew feels a deep calling to serve his community and loves
helping people reduce stress around their finances. Among those he serves, families with children who have
disabilities and special needs hold a special place in his heart. He has devoted much of his time to becoming
educated in the complexities of planning financially for families who have these unique planning needs and
has helped hundreds of families with special needs gain clarity and confidence around their finances.

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