The Financial Advocate: Recent Episodes

Colin Meeks

Welcome to the Financial Advocate Podcast - Formerly known as "The Special Needs Connection" & "Caring For Aging Parents." We found ourselves sharing podcasts to both shows so we decided to combine them into one podcast!

You will continue to find strategies, resources and connections for dealing with the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of aging parents and raising children with special needs. Hosted by Colin Meeks, a Certified Financial Planner focusing on Eldercare Financial Planning, Special Needs Financial Planning, and Traditional Financial Planning.

If you are caring for your Mom, Dad, or a special needs individual and could use a little help, this Podcast could be like finding gold! Each week we’ll bring you valuable content that may help you in your journey of taking care of Mom, Dad, and/or the individual you assist with special needs. From the “Big Picture” questions of “Where Do I get Started?” down to some nitty gritty details on professionals and services that you may not even know are available to help.

Every week we interview someone in our community that we feel may be able to help you or someone you know. Please check back often and be sure to subscribe on iTunes so that you’ll get our latest episode automatically. We know life keeps us very busy, so we’ll remind you when we’ve got something interesting to share.

Disclosures: Copyright © 2018 Maryland Financial Advocates. All Rights Reserved. The financial consultants of Maryland Financial Advocates are Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives with securities and investment advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA / SIPC. The LPL Financial Registered Representatives associated with this site may only discuss and/or transact securities business with residents of the following states: MD, VA, PA, FLA, NJ, DE, WA, TX, GA.

This video is about Teaching Financial Literacy to Children. Sam and I are both financial literacy advocates and we both agree that you can't start early enough. Sam has some great ideas for teaching financial literacy and competency at an early age. It is important to remain positive and keep it simple when starting out. I hope you enjoy!

Check out Sammy Rabbit below:

https://sammyrabbit.com/

I decided to do something a little different and talk to a marketer about how financial planners should acquire new business. I enjoy being different and getting rid of the suite and sales stigma that comes with financial planning. The days of seminars and dinners are long gone.

This interview is with Corey Keating. He is the founder of the Marketers Company and has many years of experience marketing for financial planners.

We talk about all things in terms of marketing: how to treat people, putting out consistent content & acting like a real person. I (Ryan) was a guest on Corey's podcast, "WHAT how?", a few weeks ago. He asked me questions about marketing with social media and how to approach new business from my POV as the planner.

In this episode, I ask him what he thinks as the marketer.

Thanks for listening!

The big question: “Where are we headed?”

A very educational 30 minute back and forth about the current state of the economy and possible factors to affect a continuing recovery.

Here are some questions we discuss:

Why do stocks continue to improve as corporate earnings remain lower than normal & almost 40 M people unemployed?

Will the affects of the coronavirus eventually catch up with the stock market in the long term?

Will we see an eviction and foreclosure issue?

Where are we heading?

Enjoy this FB live episode: “Economic Update: Where Are We Headed?”

Sid and I talk about getting started as financial advisors. We also discuss life outside of the office and how we met on LinkedIn. This episode has some fun stories mixed in with business strategy for young advisors.

Stephen has an extensive background in sales. We met as professionals on LinkedIn where he shares a lot of great content around sales and mindset. I have gotten a lot of value out of following along so I was excited when he agree to do this podcast. It is about 40 minutes but well worth it as you will learn about his story in sales and his nuggets of wisdom to stay mentally strong during such a tough career.

Recently I was lucky enough to do a podcast interview with one of them - Christine Teh:

🎙”Building Your Relationship with Money”

Christine is well known on LinkedIn, but if you haven’t had a chance to connect with her - I recommend it.

You will learn a lot just by following her. She is a financial coach, tax strategist and LinkedIn coach. I always appreciate her positive attitude and spiritual views that you can feel from her videos.

Here are some topics we cover during the podcast 🎙:

▪️Christine’s transition from corporate to business owner
▪️The importance of budgeting
▪️Discussing money while dating
▪️Improving your overall relationship with money
▪️Focusing on net worth
▪️Taxes
▪️How to build relationships on LinkedIn

We cover a lot in this 30 minutes podcast! We both work with money and love marketing, especially on LinkedIn, so these were really fun and easy topics to talk about.

'PARENTING PROFESSIONALS OF LINKEDIN'

I met Lisa Goldkuhl on #linkedin during the lockdown. I noticed one of her posts speaking about what it was like to be a mother and I told a story about an experience I had as a parent.

Long story short, I walked in and out of a grocery store multiple times holding my daughter looking for my car keys...which were around my neck the whole time.

Lisa is a real breath of fresh air for LinkedIn as she is one of the realest people I have met on here.

I have learned a lot just from following along. I really encourage any parents, especially mothers, & aspiring and currently practicing attorneys to follow her.

She shares professional tips and personal stories and I have felt nothing but value from her posts. She has a wealth of knowledge about working from home and being a parent so she has been a wonderful person to follow these past few weeks.

Follow her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-goldkuhl-b7992a163

I hope you enjoy the podcast!

This is about the side hustle of a high schooler collecting and selling sports cards on the side. The guest is non other than Connor Meeks, the son of podcast host, Colin Meeks. Connor has been collecting cards for a while now and has started to get good at selling them. Listen to his story as he just started high school and this is a really interesting way to make money.

The importance of protecting your income in this episode where we discuss the basics and importance of disability insurance. Insurance is never a fun thing to think about - you either have to think about yourself getting hurt or dying. It is important to plan properly and to protect yourself and your family. This coronavirus is a good reminder that most of the time we use disability insurance is because we are sick, not because we are physically inured.

Have you even wondered how you would work with an advisor in another state? We have a few clients out of state that take advantage of our process and find it is just as personal as face to face meetings. We use Skype & Zoom for our 'screen to screen' meetings. We have formulated this process over the last few years to make sure it feels just as personal as sitting in front of us with the convenience of sitting at home.

Kids should be learning about investing in school but rarely do they get any real life information to use. It is up to the parents, guardians, brothers, sisters, and everyone else with any knowledge to pass it on to the younger generation. Teach them how to save and teach them what investing can do for them. Email ryan.stark@lpl.com if you have any questions! Thanks for listening.

Here we talk about the new bill that was passed making a few notable changes to investors of all ages, and especially those getting ready to hit the big 7-0. The RMD age was changed to 72 and Stretch IRAs now have a limit of 10 years. These are two of the biggest changes for us and our planning but there we plenty more. Listen to the podcast to here a few extra changes.

We go over an article we found and talk about some of the important things to get done before the year is over. We also talk about some of the not so important things! Let us know what you think and if you need anything you can reach us @ ryan.stark@lpl.com

Here we discuss bad financial information on social media. There is bad information everywhere, but we notice it the most on social media over the past few years due to its popularity and ability to reach millions of individuals. Articles with crypto currency experts and ads titled "This stock could be the next ___ (ex. Apple, Amazon)" are too common. A lot of big platforms are doing their best to minimize the spread of bad information and poor sources, but in the end just make sure to do some extra research yourself. Be careful out there!

Happy Thanksgiving! We (Colin and Ryan) share their key advice that they would give to anyone they meet. There is not much cookie cutter advice out there, as everyone has their own personal financial situation, but there are a few pieces of advice we think everyone can benefit from. We talk about online savings accounts and getting started planning early. Thanks to Lori, our main compliance reviewer for LPL Financial who gets all of our content out on time. Happy holidays to you!! Let us know what you think!

Email: ryan.stark@lpl.com

We are back after a hiatus of a few months. Sorry for the lagging of content. We were helping a lot of clients and working hard but we are back and making the time to bring back the podcast as strong as ever. Stick around because we have a lot of new cases and topics to talk about.

This podcast discussion is about the difference between financial planning and investment planning. Financial planning is looking at the big picture : a collaboration of estate planning, tax planning, investment planning, insurance planning, healthcare, etc. Multiple professionals working together to help an individual reach their goals. It takes a team to make a financial plan come to life. E: ryan.stark@lpl.com

This episode is a conversation between Colin Meeks and myself, Ryan Stark, about our experiences helping people undo some of their financial decisions. We also tell a few stories about when we couldn't undo something, unfortunately; not everything can be undone.

There are more than 3 things, but these are important and a good place to start for things to look out for. Remember to set a plan and stick to it. We routinely suggest not changing the plan unless your life changes. Investing is a long term game.

This podcast is about insurance in general. It describes some of the different kinds and how we use them to plan, especially for special needs planning. We use both cash value/permanent and term insurance depending on the situation. We may even use Universal Life, which is a combination of whole life and term. It all depends on your situation!

What is Adult Prep? Check out this blurb directly from their website:

https://adult-prep.com/about-us/

"Adult Prep teaches life skills to high schoolers, enabling them to be able to stand on their own two feet when they leave home. Imparting the skills needed to successfully transition to adulthood, Adult Prep creates a mindset empowering young adults to thrive in their brave new world. Curricula include financial literacy, social skills, college preparation and independent living."

This is just a little insight about common financial products that are often misunderstood. There are bad products; however, most of the time the product isn't bad but its use was bad. Products work best in certain situations and are never one size fits all answers. It is important to make sure you always understand what you are investing in. It is the advisors job to educate you to make sure you feel comfortable making decisions. Financial planning is a team effort.

This is another case study where we review the basics of a new case. We can't share too many details but we are able to share enough to give you a good view or how we work and the common situations we run in to.

Directly from sethsmom.org:

About Seth’s Mom So, what about Seth’s Mom? We are the FREE NOW FREE FOREVER premier information, news, entertainment, education web portal.

What started as an idea in 2015 by Dr. Monique Day, Seth’s Mom was launched in May 2017 as a bridge between families and individuals diagnosed with disabilities and the wealth of information, accommodating vendors, and service providers. As the mother of a son diagnosed with autism, she experienced first hand the difficulty with navigating the vast amount of options and advocating for her son. Having supported many diagnosed with various psychological, cognitive, and physical conditions (autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, PTSD, paraplegia, intellectual disabilities), Dr. Day has dedicated her life to helping others through the same experiences and to providing a virtual “safe space” to connect and offer support.

Here.. we are FAMILY. Stop by Dr. Day’s profile (Doc Mo) and say hello! We can’t wait to hear from you.

This is a discussion between Colin Meeks and Ryan Stark about the value an advisor should bring. We discuss value vs. cost and how a financial advisor should bring you enough value to decrease the effects of the cost. For example, hopefully as advisors we are able to save you enough money so they cost is there, but it does not effect your bottom line because our advice helped you save money in other areas. Also, we hope that we bring enough value to make you feel better about your finances, so the cost feels more like an investment. The word "cost" is usually negative and applies to something you do not want, but an investment is something positive that will benefit your present of future. We do our best to make sure you feel like you are making an investment.

Here we talk about "selling" and what this word means to us as financial advisors. Please consider sharing if you enjoy the podcast. Thanks!

This is how much it costs to work with us. Surprisingly, we never get asked how we make money. We always end up explaining it to people so they understand how much we make from each thing we are doing, whether that be providing life insurance or producing a full financial plan and managing money. Listen to one of our most transparent episodes from The Financial Advocate podcast. As always, if you need to get in touch: ryan.stark@lpl.com

This is a recorded episode of our podcast 'The Financial Advocate' about timing the market. This is our opinion on trying to buy low and sell high and trying to invest at the right time. We get into some of our investing philosophy! Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions - ryan.stark@lpl.com

This is a real case study we did for one of our recent new relationships. We are working with a really great person and on top of that the situation was just busy enough for us to discuss. Listen to this podcast if you are curious about our process and how we handle our typical client.

Andrew Komarow, MSFS AEP® AIF® CAP® CASL® CFP® CHFC® CHSNC®CLU® FSCP® REBC® RHU® RICP®

Founder and President Andrew has been with us since the beginning and is the creator of Planning Across the Spectrum. Andrew is an advocate throughout Connecticut and throughout New England for Autism awareness as well as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and co-founder of Talcott Financial Group in Farmington, CT.

Andrew received his autism diagnosis late in life which answered a lot of questions about struggles he experienced growing up and as a young adult. Having had this experience, he has now dedicated himself to aiding the autism community, utilizing his certifications and skills in the financial world, and his own knowledge of an individual living with autism to help people on the spectrum and/or their families and caregivers plan for their future. He as personally experienced many medical, social, educational, legal, vocational, and relational issues that he can now aid his clients with while understanding that every situation is unique. He provides guidance for life decisions and resources that are available that may not be known about or easily accessible for average citizens. He helps individuals navigate the realities of living in a world that can be complicated to pilot with special needs.

You can find this and much more on their website below:

https://planningacrossthespectrum.com/

OUR MISSION:

The National Down Syndrome Society is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome.

Our Vision The National Down Syndrome Society envisions a world in which all people with Down syndrome have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life, realize their life aspirations and become valued members of welcoming communities.

Information about Ashley:

Ashley is the Director of Government Relations. She works with members of Congress and their staff, federal agencies and state and local leaders to help pass legislation that is beneficial to the Down syndrome community.

Check out the website below:

https://www.ndss.org/our-story/mission/

Better late than never! Here is the 2018 Year End Review about the market, crazy events and other podcasts we have done this year. Sorry if some of the content seems untimely. We have to get everything approved through a compliance department so sometimes our podcasts or videos are a week late due to the review. Thanks for understanding and thanks for continued listening in 2019!

This podcast case study is short sweet and to the point. Find out why we think most individuals would benefit from speaking with a financial advisor. This doesn't mean you need a long term or ongoing relationship with an advisor; however, simply sitting down with one once a year or even less can still be extremely beneficial for your financial future.

Do you have a parent or spouse that may need to consider moving into a nursing home? This episode describes one way to prepare for nursing home costs and it is called the Medicaid Compliant Annuity. It offers you a way to save the hard earned money you saved over the years rather than spend it all in the first 2 years of nursing care. This is an annuity that only married couples can use, so if you are married or know a couple that could use this advice, please share! We have been using these annuities to help individuals for over 10 years but we still find most people have never heard of this technique before. If you have any questions, email or call us at ryan.stark@lpl.com or 410-663-0700.

My name is Lorraine Ell I’m the CEO of Better Money Decisions (B$D) and co-author of the blog Better Financial Decisions. As a principal of B$D, I’m excited to continue my long career as an investment professional which started when I worked in the 1980s as an advisor with Drexel, Burnham and Lambert and J.W. Charles and as co-owner of a Registered Investment Advisory firm.

 Living and working in places as diverse as Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Budapest, and Hungary has given me a unique perspective on the world of investing. Through these experiences I have learned that life can change in an instant and having a financial guide can make all the difference between a retirement fraught with worry and one with peace of mind.

Check out more and purchase the book on the website below:

https://bozosmonsterswhizbangs.com/

This is a real estate update with Mike Klijanowicz. His contact information can be found below. He is a local guy and we are located in Baltimore, MD. However, that doesn't mean Mike can't help you answer a few questions if you have them! There is a contact form on the website below if you prefer to us that, or you can call using the number below.

http://www.isellmdhomes.com/

Address:

9607 Belair RoadBaltimore, MD 21236

Mobile:

410-236-3331

"As a wife to Lamar and mom to Juliana and Jessa, I’m a passive journal writer. It means I have a journal that stays by my bed and I write in it every now and then to record life’s peaks and valleys.

But Juliana’s Journal is something different. When my husband and I accepted the responsibility of fostering a six day old baby, I didn’t know up from down. I wrote down schedules, sleep patterns, and what separated good days from bad ones.

Then, as we learned that Juliana wasn’t meeting her milestones and needed therapy, I jotted down the notes on that too. Fast forward eight years later. That beautiful baby girl is now our daughter Juliana.

Our life is crazier than I ever imagined. When I’m not chasing two kiddos, working or tackling a new DIY project around the house, you’ll find me reading, gardening, or writing. I love comments and feedback. So feel free to send me a line via the message box below.

We are not living the life that we imagined, but it’s still a good one. I’m glad that Juliana’s Journal has grown and continues to grow. Now, I hope to expand it so that it inspires and reaches so many more. It’s my plan to continue scribbling down all those important things I need to keep quickly within reach.

Hopefully, you’ll find some things here that will reach you too."

Check out so much more on the blog : https://www.julianasjournal.com/a-blog-for-special-needs-parents/

"Christopher S. Norman has the unique honor of having been named a “Super Lawyers Rising Star” first for his work defending healthcare providers, and most recently for his work advocating on behalf of injured patients. Chris leverages the “inside knowledge” that he gained as a “Rising Star” medical malpractice defense attorney in his unrelenting effort to get the most for the injured patients that he now represents. Chris was also selected to serve on the Board of Governors of the Maryland Association for Justice, Maryland’s principal assembly of trial lawyers which is dedicated to improving the civil justice system through legislative advocacy and the professional development of other attorneys who represent the injured."

Check out more about Mr. Norman and how he can help on his website below:

https://www.malpracticeteam.com/attorneys/christopher-s-norman/

Annuities can be good or bad depending on the product and the situation. Products have to serve a specific purpose and never a one size fits all solution to a problem. Commercials, Radio shows, advertisements can display annuities as good or bad but it is always dependent on your situation. Listen to this case study about annuities and make sure to do your due diligence before investing in such a product.

The stock market can be a scary place. No one can predict what is going to happen, regardless of the software used or the intelligence of the guy on the TV or radio, no one really knows, not even us. However, we do know a few consistent factors that seem to stick around, such as: the stock market goes down and it goes back up (as long as you are invested properly). In this podcast case study we talk about the pain of losing money versus the joy of making money. Rarely do we ever sit down with anyone who matches the pain of losing $20,000 with the euphoria of making $20,000. I think we all expect to make money in the stock market. That is why when it goes up, we aren't necessarily happy, because it is expected. However, when the market goes down, we are losing our hard earned savings and get nervous it may never recover. Listen to this case study as we describe the phenomenon called "Loss Aversion" and how you can survive these volatile times.

Life Insurance is an important piece of the financial planning puzzle. However, not everyone needs life insurance. For example, we work with a lot of individuals who are deep into retirement, their kids are adults and the house is paid off. This person may still need life insurance for their spouse but in a lot of these cases, after analyzing the policy and doing our due diligence, we find this type of individual no longer needs to pay the premium for a policy has already done it's job. On the other hand, new parents need life insurance right away to protect their loved ones from having to survive on their own should one parent pass away. We commonly use a second to die life insurance policies for special needs families because we are preparing for the death of the parents who know their special needs child will never live on their own. There are a lot of situations where life insurance can help, and we have a checklist that can help you as well. Check out the life insurance shoppers checklist here to get started.

This is another case study about how we do business, but different than our previous podcast about our specific process step by step. We do mention the process again here but it is important to notice the situation that occurs and why we stick to said process. We believe as financial planners it is our duty to prepare you for a full financial plan. Your plan is not just about investing money; it involves Wills, Beneficiaries Taxes, Insurance, College Planning, etc. We look at the full picture because we feel it is the only way to plan for your goals is to look at everything all at once.

www.marylandfinancialadvocates.com

ABLE Account update. We will continue to make videos about this account as it changes, providing you with updates as they happen. This account is still very new and we expect changes to continue. Stop back and check us out every once and a while to see if there have been any more changes! We have a lot of resources on our website as well:

www.MarylandFinancialAdvocates.com

This case study is about caring for your aging parents and keepings an eye on their investments, especially if your parents are showing signs of cognitive impairment. This New York Times Article tells a story about a family dealing with a broker who made excessive trades in order to gain more commissions. It is important to always review your statements and know how much you are paying your advisor / broker.

This was a great podcast interviewing Rosemary Calderalo, Director of Gift Planning at the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF). We talk about the many ways you can invest in Baltimore using the many funds provided by BCF. You may research their website to learn more but I would suggest spending less time on the website and more time calling and talking to someone directly for two reasons: 1) You will get your questions answered faster. There is a lot on the website and while I found it informative, I also felt overwhelmed and wasn't exactly sure where to start. Calling will allow you to talk to a real person and get you questions answered. We all want something specific: to leave a legacy, invest in something you care deeply about, or invest back in Baltimore and the community. Calling will allow you to see what your next step should be based on your goals. 2) You will get to see how BCF handles your call with care and decide if they are right for you. I have nothing but great things to say about their customer service and dedication to their clients and this community, but you need to see it for yourself to feel comfortable. Don't be afraid to contact Rosemary Calderalo using the information below to get your questions answered:

Rosemary Calderalo, Ph.D.

Director of Gift Planning

Baltimore Community Foundation

2 E. Read St. 9th Fl., Baltimore, MD 21202

410-332-4172 x 132 rcalderalo@bcf.org

www.bcf.org

Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D. is back! She was on our podcast previously where she discussed her first business, Meds MASH. Meds MASH provides services such as medication management, assessment of risk, safety assessments and healthcare coaching. The episode is called "Managing Your Parents Medications." It was our 4th episode so you may have to scroll down to the bottom to find it! On this episode, Ms. Fritsch, Pharm.D returns to present her new venture called "Retirement Wellness Strategy." Ms. Fritsch, Pharm.D. assists retirees or those preparing for retirement handle the tough mental hurdles that can make retirement uncomfortable. Ms. Fritsch, Pharm.D explains the 3 common negative outcomes of retirement (1) divorce, (2) stress/health issues, & (3) suicide and how she works to prevent them. Unfortunately, retirement isn't always what someone thinks it is going to be. It can be lonely and depressing. Michelle Fritsch, Pharm.D provides a realistic outlook on retirement to prepare her clients for life after work and uses techniques to prevent her clients from ending up in those 3 outcomes mentioned above.

Ms. Fritsch, Pharm.D is a geriatric specialist and pharmacist and has many years of experience helping those getting ready to retire and those settling into retirement. If you would like to get in touch, see below:

Website: https://www.retirewellness.com/ Phone: 410-472-5078 Email: michelle@retirewellness.com

This episode highlights the 2018 Tax updates directly from CPA and CFP® Ryan Levy. We discuss deducting real estate taxes, itemizing and the new standard deduction and charitable distributions. Interesting fact, you may use your charitable distribution as your Required Minimum Distribution - RMD. Thanks for listening! If you are interested in speaking with Mr. Levy, you may contact him with the information below:

thebaltimorecpa@gmail.com (email)

410-946-6050 (office phone)

410-493-5320 (cell phone)

website: www.thebaltimorecpa.com

Death is an uncomfortable subject, but a necessary one to discuss. In my opinion, it is wrong to hide from estate planning and it is selfish. I know that sounds harsh, but allow me to explain. You have all of these hard earned assets - money, cars, homes, etc. - and you have 3 children. One of the children is the go getter, the one who does their own laundry and possibly cleans up the kitchen after dinner, the one who you know will take care of you if you get sick. This is who we are planning for. When you die, your problems are not over, they just pass down to someone else and probably someone you really care about. Was Aretha Franklin a bad person for never getting her will done? Absolutely not. Was it irresponsible? Yes. We have to come to grips with death and plan around it like any other obstacle because the burden you fear will eventually be someone else's problem. Death is emotional and your family will need time to heal and the amount of work left without proper estate planning can heavily take away from the grieving process. I urge you to push through your fear of death and plan.

If you would like to contact Ricky about estate planning:

Richard Adams

Rosenberg Martin Greenberg, LLP
25 South Charles Street, 21st Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
(410) 727-6600
(410) 727-6674 Direct
(410) 727-1115 Fax
radams@rosenbergmartin.com
www.rosenbergmartin.com

This is a podcast interview with Colin Meeks and Dr. Susan Daniels from the NIH. Dr. Daniels is Director of the Office of Autism Research Coordination at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)/NIH and manages the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), a federal advisory body that collects public input and provides advice to federal agencies on issues related to autism spectrum disorder. There are a lot of amazing resources that the NIH provides. Check out their websites and listen to the entire podcast so you can see how the public cam get involved. Also, we have one correction: the actual figure for children with Autism is 1 in 59 (podcast states 1 in 58).

All information regarding the September workshop is on our IACC website iacc.hhs.gov

This is a podcast case study about Aretha Franklin, Death Without A Will. There are numerous cases of wealthy super starts that have failed to execute proper estate planning. Not even a will? It is hard to believe for us in the world of financial planning but we see it far too often. Here we discuss the importance of basic estate planning and briefly review the queen of soul's estate issues as she passed away without a will.

Estate planning is a huge part of the financial planning process. "What if you die?" is a morbid but necessary question. Where do you want your assets to go? Beneficiaries make the financial transfer of assets as painless as possible and all it takes it filling out a name on a form yet we find this section often goes overlooked. If there is no beneficiary placed on an account, then the assets will go through probate and could be taxed unnecessarily. Estate planning is more than just filling in your beneficiaries, but it is a great place to start! Don't forget to check your beneficiaries on all of your accounts and if you aren't sure if you can add one, just call whoever your money is with and ask. Let us know if you have any questions: ryan.stark@lpl.com

"100% of money raised will be donated to Autism Speaks. Now in it’s 12th year, Autism Speaks has grown into the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families."

Read more about Stacey's mission on http://www.voicesforautism.org/

Colin and Ryan discuss what drives people to get advice. What drives you to make a move? There are many factors that drive people to begin planning, listen to find out what Colin and Ryan see the most often. Sometimes life presents a problem that has to be solved right away and other times you just "decide" to see an attorney for estate planning, accountant for taxes, or financial planner. Maybe you saw a relative go through something horrible - whatever the reason - it is important to plan if you have the means to do so.

Nervous about paying a fee when you sit down with someone? Why is it that some advisors are free and some charge? Listen to this case study to find out why we charge a fee to meet and why it is beneficial for you to pay! We believe free advice is free advice. In our industry, someone sitting down with you for free is most likely a young advisor with minimal experience or a commission based advisor looking to provide you with a product. We charge a fee because that is how we make a living, with fees. We do not look to make money from providing products. Not all advisors who will meet you for free is bad but we do believe you get what you pay for.

We have been doing a lot of research with 529 plans because of college savings and the newly introduced ABLE Accounts. After you get done with this podcast, check out our previous podcast posted specifically about ABLE Accounts!

"Paul Curley, CFA, is Director of College Savings Research at Strategic Insight, where he oversees data, research, consulting and events on 529 savings plans, 529 prepaid plans and ABLE accounts for institutional clients. He is also the Editor of the 529 Dash e-newsletter and 529 Insiders website for advisors, accountants and estate planners."

Check out more about Mr. Curley and Strategic Insight on their website below:

https://www.strategic-i.com/our-research-team/paul-curley/

Bette Ann Mobley is the Director at Maryland ABLE and does amazing work with the special needs community. This is a podcast you won't want to miss!

This is all about the ABLE Account! This account can be an extremely helpful tool in helping you afford the costly lifestyle that comes with your special needs person. This account isn't just for poor people or just for rich people, it is simply a tool you should consider if you are taking care of a special needs individual. Listen to this amazing podcast to learn more details!

Check out more information on their website below:

https://www.marylandable.org/

Angela Lello is the Senior Director of Public Policy for the Autism Speaks Advocacy Team. Earlier this year, there was an announcement that RAISE Family Caregivers Act was signed into law! But, what does that means for families and caregivers? Check out this weeks episode to get some more details! You can find out more about Ms. Lello and the amazing work done over at Autism Speaks by looking at their website below. They are a huge organization and do so much for the special needs community.

Check out their website below to learn about Autism Speaks and the RAISE Family Caregivers Act:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/advocacy/advocacy-news/raise-family-caregivers-act-signed-law

"Illness has no off season, no matter the outcome we know the game is never over. The Team Up For 1 Foundation (TU41) mission is to enhance the quality of life for children (and their families) with developmental disabilities, chronic and life threatening illnesses. TU41 engages the sports world by matching children with teams from every competitive level – college, high school and professional. Through MVP Ceremonies, team activities and endless TU41 programs – children and families leave behind their heavy burden and receive support and compassion to improve their quality of life. TU41 offers programs supporting parents and siblings as part of caring for the child."

Check out more great information and resources on their website below. See what this amazing non-profit is doing to make a strong impact in the special needs community!

https://www.teamupfor1.org/

Cathy Schmidt
Founder and*Executive Director*

PATH International Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor
and Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning

"Established in 2003, CTR’s mission is to “encourage healing and celebrate life with individuals and groups whose minds, bodies and spirits will benefit from the transformative connection between people and horses.” CTR’s certified staff and trained volunteers are dedicated to serving individuals and groups through customized, innovative programming that occurs year-round."

Check out more about Cathy and her team on their website!

http://ctrchanginglives.org/about-us-2/our-team-3/

Check this bio out below, see their three newly released titles from their social book series "Lou Knows What To Do" & much more on their website: http://www.sociabilitybooks.com/about.html

Kimberly Tice, M.S, CCC-SLP has over 10 years experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as a certified special education teacher and speech-language pathologist in both New York and Florida. She has experience in providing individual and group interventions in the areas of literacy, social skills, feeding, and language in a variety of settings. In 2013, Kim opened a private practice to focus on providing social language skills intervention to children with ASD. Re-directing her efforts to being the ultimate speechie mom, she currently holds a part-time position at a charter school that primarily serves students ages 5-18 with ASD. Aside from her professional background, Kim enjoys running marathons and spending time with her family.

Venita Litvack, M.A., CCC-SLP has over 5 years experience working with individuals with ASD as a behavioral assistant and speech-language pathologist. She has delivered several presentations at the national American Speech-Language Hearing Association Convention and has assisted research projects targeting literacy-based interventions. For leisure, Venita enjoys spin class and cycling with her husband in addition to seeking out new places to visit.

I have been on a mission to help others restore themselves to a vibrant and healthy state, using holistic approaches that empower you to take back your life. I firmly believe that just because you have a challenging child doesn’t mean you have to be “sick” with stress, worry, or despair. You can find emotional wellbeing, peace, and happiness again.

http://www.mad2glad.com/

My approach in health coaching helps you recover your child from symptoms of:

▪ Autism

▪ ADHD

▪ Sensory Processing Disorder

▪ “Almost autism”

▪ PDD-NOS

"This type of coaching supports your child’s adrenal health and thyroid health while controlling inflammation, which is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental disorders.

I can teach you which diet, lifestyle and therapy choices can help recover your child’s health as well as how they affect gut dysbiosis and immune dysregulation.

In addition, each child is different, so I help you understand the pros and cons of each type of intervention as it relates to your child.

I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your child’s life are connected."

For more information about Maria Rickert Hong, please check out her website below:

www.mariarickerthong.com

Rich Weinfeld describes the importance of collaboration between parent and school staff when planning for students with special needs; his online training program for parents and professionals who want to learn to be more effective advocates for student with special needs. He also discusses the yearly Diamonds in the Rough Conference that trains professionals and parents about interventions that work for these students. You are encouraged to visit his website, listed above, to learn more about all of these endeavors. http://www.weinfeldeducationgroup.com/wegteam.html

Check out our newest podcast about the increasingly popular #ABLEaccount. Our special guest Adam C. Zimmerman - Attorney and Maryland Financial Advocates own Colin and Ryan talk about ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, the limits involved with qualifying for SSI, and much more. Please share this podcast with anyone or any family dealing with a disability. Check us out on iTunes below and don't forget to subscribe so you can listen to us on your own time! #specialneedsplanning

Adam Zimmerman contact information:

Adam C. Zimmerman, Esq. Member
Thomas, Ronald, Cooper and Krumpe
110 West Road, Suite 410 Towson, Maryland 21204
Ph: 410-296-6777 Direct Dial: 443-579-4529
Fax: 410-821-8406
e-mail: zimmerman@thomasronald.com

Disclosure: Adam C. Zimmerman - Attorney, Thomas, Ronald, Cooper & Krumpe, P.A., Maryland Financial Advocates, and LPL Financial are separate entities. Adam C. Zimmerman - Attorney, Thomas, Ronald, Cooper & Krumpe, P.A. is not endorsed by LPL Financial or Maryland Financial Advocates. The information provided here is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Your situation will vary and you should discuss your specific situation with the appropriate professional prior to making a decision.

We offer a dynamic educational program for intellectually curious students with challenges in the areas of communication, socialization, pragmatic language, and organization. Our program is appropriate for students who can learn successfully and appropriately in a small classroom setting. Auburn's program simultaneously supports the development of academic skills, social competency and pragmatic language in an engaging educational environment.

To achieve this mission, The Auburn School:

Integrates social skills and pragmatic language development throughout the curriculum and school day using research-based programs and educational best-practices;
Provides a challenging academic curriculum featuring multi-sensory instruction, research-based curriculum and appropriate student accommodations;
Offers a safe, nurturing and highly personalized learning environment for children through small class sizes, individualized learning plans and a supportive school setting;
Identifies and develops individual student strengths, talents and interests; and
Seeks out, employs and supports the very best educators and staff.

In this quick yet informative interview, Britt Stouffer explains the basics of special needs trusts and how they may help in your plan.

Special Needs benefits are complicated and delicate. If the beneficiary receives too much income, they could be disqualified for a period of time from Social Security benefits.

A Special Needs Trust allows for the family to move funds into a safe and protected financial vehicle where an appointed Trustee can spend money on the beneficiary without affecting their income.

For more information contact Britt directly at 443-470-3599 or go to www.MarylandEstateLawyers.com

Hi and thanks for visiting Real Look Autism! I’m hopeful that this website will give you some great ideas for working with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders and also serve as a place to share your own insights. There’s a lot of information out there so we are attempting to present different therapies and strategies using video in a very focused and thoughtful way. Our edited stories will only be a few minutes in length and will be partnered with an article on the same topic written by a parent or specialist…Or both!

Who am I? Well, I guess the most relevant fact is that I have a daughter with an ASD. She was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD) when she was 3 years old. During that time, and for more than 20 years, I was a local television news anchor/reporter at WMAR-TV in Baltimore. If you want to check it out…You can find my YouTube Channel. Now, I’m basically producing stories in very much the same way as any broadcast news organization…Except these stories are all about wonderful kids who have Autism. I like to call them “SPECtacular Kids” on the spectrum!

Real Look Autism is, first and foremost, a visual resource. RLA will be funded through sponsorships and contributions. We are not directly fundraising or selling a particular product. Real Look Autism is a non-profit organization and we are open to many avenues of support.

Please contact us at reallookautism@gmail.com and sign up for our e-mails…that way you’ll know when we post a new video. We look forward to your comments and mostly look forward to hearing your stories. Real Look Autism-growing up on the spectrum…you tell us something that’s working for you…and we’ll show everyone else.

Check out our first podcast on the ABLE Account a few episodes ago if you need more information or head right to the Maryland ABLE website to get your questions answered:

https://www.marylandable.org/

We do not get any commissions or work with Maryland ABLE in any capacity. You would work with them directly if you decided to open an account.

Public benefits programs alone can never meet all the needs of an individual with disabilities; for this reason, preservation of assets in a special needs trust is often preferable to spending down excess income and assets to program limits.

Individuals with disabilities often depend on public benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medical Assistance (also known as Medicaid). These programs have strict limits on income and assets. For example, countable assets cannot exceed $2,000.00 for SSI. If the individual acquires income or assets in excess of program limits, such as an inheritance or an insurance settlement, he or she may lose benefits unless or until the assets are spent down or preserved in a special needs trust which meets the SSI and Medicaid rules.

It is the mission of the First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc., to enhance the quality of life, autonomy and dignity of Marylanders with disabilities by offering cost effective trust services to protect, manage and use trust assets for our beneficiaries while preserving their eligibility for public and private benefits.

Be sure to listen to part 1 (below) before jumping into this one. A expert's expert, Maedi Tanham Carney explains how to plan for your child with special needs as they get older and qualify for government benefits.

Navigating through the complex world of government benefits can be tricky, time consuming, and overwhelming. Often, due to a lack of understanding, (and a lack of clarity in government language) families often apply for these benefits with incomplete documentation, and/or make errors during the application process. Aside from being frustrating, these mistakes can be costly; they can prolong the amount of time it takes for your child to receive these benefits, and can sometimes jeopardize your child’s eligibility.

We will discuss the process of transitioning between SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) and SSI (Supplemental Security Income), and how to keep Medicaid and/or Medicare without the government benefits of SSI or SSDI. We also briefly touch on work incentives, and how they assist beneficiaries with their employment efforts.

This is not a complete discussion and you should seek professional guidance before taking any action.

For the first time in public policy, the ABLE Act recognizes the extra and significant costs of living with a disability. These include costs, related to raising a child with significant disabilities or a working age adult with disabilities, for accessible housing and transportation, personal assistance services, assistive technology and health care not covered by insurance, Medicaid or Medicare.

Eligible individuals and their families will be allowed to establish ABLE savings accounts that will not affect their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid and other public benefits. The legislation explains further that an ABLE account will, with private savings, "secure funding for disability-related expenses on behalf of designated beneficiaries with disabilities that will supplement, but not supplant, benefits provided through private insurance, Medicaid, SSI, the beneficiary's employment and other sources."

Vicki Clarke is the CEO, Lead SLP, AAC Specialist, DTA Schools Consultant at Dynamic Therapy Associates located in Kennesaw, GA. Ms. Clark and her team are changing the ways schools communicate with their kids. Communication is the bridge that connects us all and Ms. Clark is excellent at communicating with everyone. Head to their website to learn more about their success with Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

http://www.mydynamictherapy.com/

Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) Founder, Jenerations Health Education, Inc. Jennifer L. FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP is the founder of Jenerations Health Education, Inc., a full service healthcare education organization. With over 20+ years experience in healthcare, Jennifer is also a gerontology instructor at Johns Hopkins University’s Certificate on Aging program. Her mission is to help healthcare organizations and professionals grow while empowering patients and their caregivers.

Check out more about Ms. FitzPatrick, MSW, LCSW-C, CSP, and her company, Jenerations by clicking on the website below!

https://jenerationshealth.com/about/

Here is the focus of what Mr. Bryant, CDFA® at SYNERGY DIVORCE SOLUTIONS can help you with:

"DIVORCE PLANNING, FINANCIAL MEDIATION, SETTLEMENT ANALYSIS, FINANCIAL DATA PREPARATION, MARITAL PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION, CHILD SUPPORT & ALIMONY MODIFICATION ANALYSIS

Divorcing spouses usually have plenty to disagree about; money shouldn't be one of them. Divorce settlement agreements come down to numbers, and the numbers don’t lie. They can be analyzed to determine how fair or unfair any settlement offer would be.

That’s why divorcing spouses should seek the guidance of a financial professional experienced in divorce settlements. While attorneys are essential to the process, they generally do not possess the financial skills to assess the short & long-term consequences of the divorce settlements they help negotiate."

Learn more about the company and how they can help you on their website below!

http://synergydivorcesolutions.com/

Check out Joanne and the rest of the team over at The Boomer Health Group as well as their blog that answers a lot of frequently asked Medicare questions. Medicare can be tricky and Joanne does a great job and breaking down the details and making it easy to understand.

http://www.boomerhealthgroup.com/

Britt L. Stouffer is a Maryland attorney experienced in Estates, Trusts, and Elder Law. With over 10 years of experience in Estates and Trusts, she has learned to appreciate how unique each client truly is. On a typical day, you will find her working on Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advance Medical Directives, Tax Planning cases, Estate Administration filings, Petitions for Guardianships, Special Needs Planning, and Asset Protection.

Check out more about Britt on her website:

https://www.stoufferlegal.com/about/britt

Read more about Oak Crest on their website: https://www.ericksonliving.com/oak-crest and you may contact Cara Miranda using the information below!

Relationships mean everything to us. Oak Crest is in the business of cultivating meaningful relationships with residents, staff, and family members. We value a diverse and caring workforce and strive to create an environment of teamwork and communication in all that we do.

Here are the values we live and work by:

Integrity, so that we may continue to be the most trusted and respected name in retirement living.
Responsibility and ownership of the work we create.
Diversity of thought, experience, and background.
Excellence in everything we do.
Respect and caring for our co-workers, our residents, and our community.
Teamwork to promote great thinking and extraordinary growth opportunities.
Friendliness and enthusiasm in the way we work and interact with each other and those we serve.

Check out more with Dr. Ira Pastor and Bioquark:

http://www.bioquark.com/about-us/

Bioquark, Inc. is a life sciences company developing proprietary combinatorial biologic products for both the regeneration and repair of human organs and tissues, as well as the reversion of a range of chronic degenerative diseases.

The company is focused on merging knowledge from various disciplines, including regenerative biology, evolutionary genomics, and bio-cybernetics to develop a set of novel bio-products capable of directly remodeling diseased, damaged, or aged tissues, creating micro-environments that induce efficient and controllable regeneration and repair.

The company takes a unique approach to mimic the dynamics found during natural reversal of disease, degeneration and aging found throughout the non-human biologic kingdom, as opposed to only affecting the genomic outputs (symptoms) of such conditions, as most marketed pharmaceutical products do today.

Founded in 2007, Bioquark Inc.’s corporate offices are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with discovery laboratories located in Tampa, Florida

Eye Love Vision: We believe that everyone deserves great vision. But 703 million people are blind due to lack of glasses. By providing affordable, high-quality products to our customers, we’re able to give a portion of the profits back to those who can neither afford nor obtain quality eye care in Jamaica and South Carolina.

They have a successful track record of helping individuals with their holistic approach. Check out their website linked below to see what else they offer and if they can help you!

https://eyelovethesun.com/pages/2020-vivid-vision-for-eye-love

Lori La Bey is a passionate advocate who searches for ways to shift our dementia care culture from crisis to comfort. She was recognized by Sharecare and Dr. Oz. as the #1 Influencer Online for Alzheimer's. As a professional speaker and daughter of a mother with dementia for over thirty years, Lori gets it! Change is needed on multiple levels.

As host of Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio and the webinar series Dementia Chats™ Lori connects people to best practices and facilitates conversations regarding needs for dementia care worldwide. She addresses large and small groups as a recognized calming force with insights. She does this in a fun, enlightening way. Audience members say, “Lori has changed my perspective and empowered me to care better.”

Don't forget to check out the resources below and see more at: https://www.alzheimersspeaks.com/our-founder

Suggested Resources from Lori:

->Dementia Resources - People Diagnosed with Dementia: Blogs, Websites or Resources

-> Lori La Bey Resources and Services

-> Lori La Bey Bio

-> Tips and Resources to Prevent Emergency Situations

"Lisa frequently speaks on topics ranging from Alzheimer and dementia care to technology at senior living industry conferences as well as general business forums. She has been published worldwide and is a monthly contributor to national senior living websites and magazines. Considered a visionary in her field, she is credited with developing repeatable, sustainable and durable designs that save her clients time and money because they can use them at all of their facilities." Check out more information including resources, podcasts, videos and her book: "The Future is Here...Senior Living Reimagined" on Lisa's website below:

http://mosaicdesignstudio.com/

Jon Braddock is an author, speaker and professional advisor/coach. After more than 30 years as a successful employee benefit and retirement planning consultant, his personal life experience led him to focus in a new direction – getting our digital lives in order.

Our team of professional Geriatric / LifeCare Managers, Vocational Counselors, Rehabilitation Counselors, and Nurse Case Managers are dedicated to providing the best options for their clients. Our staff will provide them with tools and guide them to safe and cost effective outcomes. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, our counselors and nurses are trusted advisers that understand the important relationship between their high level of competency, knowledge, and creativity to achieve a cost effective resolution that can help their clients reclaim their lives, increase their quality of life, and remain as independent, safe, and comfortable as possible.

Your specific purpose-built gun trust will help you enjoy your firearms and share them even when you are not present ....legally and safely.

Firearms are important tools of freedom.

Clients want to enjoy and transfer firearms within the law.
Gun ownership speaks to basic concepts of freedom, individual liberty, and other basic rights.
Some firearms are family heirlooms. We want them to be used responsibly and passed on to those who appreciate them.
The simple fact is that gun ownership and uses creates risk in our legal system, even without pulling the trigger. There is a confusing array of local, state, and federal laws that expose the unwary commission of the "accidental felony."