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Thoughtful Planning for Families Who Carry More Than Most

Special needs financial planning is one of the most underserved areas of financial planning — and one of the most important.

Studies from The American College of Financial Services show that nearly 90% of special needs and disability caregivers say retirement planning is not their top priority. Instead, their primary focus is caring for their loved one. Among caregivers who are trying to save, 70% worry they’ll have to stop altogether to provide proper support.

While this sacrifice comes from a place of love, the reality is this: You can’t support your loved one long-term if you jeopardize your own financial future.

That’s where intentional planning makes all the difference.

Planning for Individuals with Special Needs

A More Integrated Approach to Special Needs Planning

Families navigating disability planning face unique and complex questions:

  • How do we support our loved one without putting benefits at risk?
  • How do we plan for the future — especially when we’re no longer here?
  • How do we protect both government benefits and family resources?
  • How do we ensure fairness for all children?

At Lakeshore, our role is to help families balance today’s needs with long-term stability, so no one has to choose between caring for a loved one and caring for themselves.

We also connect families with trusted attorneys and CPAs who concentrate in wills, special needs trusts, and guardianship — ensuring the right legal structures are in place to support your plan.

➜ View upcoming and on-demand webinars

Our Partnership With
Special Needs Funding Coach

As a longstanding partner of Special Needs Funding Coach, Donald T. Brown, we host educational webinars throughout the year to help families make more informed decisions by breaking down complex topics in a simple, approachable way.

More than 30 years ago, Donald Brown began his career as a financial advisor. Through personal and family experience, he quickly recognized a critical gap: there was no single place where families could address the full scope of financial, legal, and benefits-related challenges associated with special needs planning.

With our partnership, we continue to close that gap by bringing trusted guidance and education together in one place.

What Families Need to Understand

Families supporting individuals with disabilities often need guidance across several areas at once:

  • Government benefits (SSI, Medicaid, housing)
  • How income, assets, and work impact eligibility
  • Long-term care planning
  • Estate and trust planning
  • Guardianship considerations

While these areas are often handled by different professionals, they all revolve around financial resources and how to use them effectively without unintended consequences.

How Lakeshore Helps

How Lakeshore Helps

Special needs planning is not one decision — it’s an ongoing process.

Our financial planners work closely with families to help integrate government benefits with family financial resources, creating a coordinated plan that evolves as life changes.

Our team includes professionals holding:

  • CFP® – Certified Financial Planner™
  • ChFC® – Chartered Financial Consultant

We collaborate with attorneys and CPAs to help ensure financial, legal, and tax considerations remain aligned throughout the planning process. This team-based approach supports continuity and informed decision-making at every stage.

As part of that process, families often begin by exploring tools that support day-to-day needs while protecting benefit eligibility.

CFP® is a certification mark owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.

Illinois ABLE Logo

ABLE Accounts for Day-to-Day Flexibility

ABLE accounts are often one of the first tools families use as part of a special needs plan.

They allow individuals with qualifying disabilities to save and spend money for disability-related expenses without automatically impacting certain government benefits.

Families commonly use ABLE accounts for:

  • Everyday and short-term expenses
  • Building modest savings
  • Added flexibility for ongoing needs

While helpful, ABLE accounts are typically most effective when used alongside a broader financial and legal strategy.

Legal Coordination and Planning Support

As planning becomes more established, legal structures play an increasingly important role.

We collaborate with attorneys who focus on:


Wills and
Estate Planning


Special
Needs Trusts


Guardianship for Individuals with Disabilities


Setting up
ABLE accounts

This collaborative approach helps ensure financial and legal planning remain aligned as circumstances change.

Special Needs Trusts for Long-Term Care

Over time, many families realize that relying solely on benefits or informal arrangements can create unintended risks.

A Supplemental (Third-Party) Special Needs Trust is often used to support long-term care by:

  • Managing funds for someone unable to do so independently
  • Preserving eligibility for public benefits such as SSI and Medicaid

These trusts provide structure and oversight designed to support a loved one over many years.

How Lakeshore Helps

Protecting Public Benefits

As plans grow more complex, protecting benefit eligibility becomes critical.

While a properly structured trust can help preserve eligibility, how funds are used matters:

  • Direct distributions may reduce SSI benefits
  • Payments for food and shelter can impact eligibility
  • Trustee discretion and flexibility are essential

Well-designed plans allow distributions to adapt as benefit rules and personal circumstances evolve.

How Lakeshore Helps

Special needs planning is rarely linear. Families are often balancing immediate concerns while trying to plan for a future that feels uncertain. Our role is to help bring structure to that process — so each decision supports the next.

Below are some of the most common questions families ask, and how we help address them.

  • Our financial planners work closely with families to help integrate government benefits with family financial resources, creating a coordinated plan that evolves as life changes.

    This approach helps families care for their loved one today while still protecting their own long-term financial well-being.

    Our team includes professionals holding:

    • CFP® – Certified Financial Planner™
    • ChFC® – Chartered Financial Consultant

  • Protecting benefit eligibility is a critical part of special needs planning. We help families understand how income, assets, and financial decisions may impact programs such as SSI and Medicaid, and how different planning tools can work together without unintended consequences.

    Rather than focusing on a single solution, we look at how each piece fits into the bigger picture.

  • Yes. We collaborate with attorneys and CPAs to help ensure financial, legal, and tax considerations remain aligned throughout the planning process.

    This coordination helps avoid gaps between financial strategy and legal documentation, especially as family circumstances and regulations change over time.

  • ABLE accounts are often one of the first tools families use as part of a special needs plan. They allow individuals with qualifying disabilities to save and spend money for disability-related expenses without automatically impacting certain government benefits.

    Families commonly use ABLE accounts for:

    • Everyday and short-term expenses
    • Building modest savings
    • Added flexibility for ongoing needs

    While helpful on their own, ABLE accounts are typically most effective when used alongside a broader financial and legal strategy.

  • As planning becomes more established, many families recognize the need for additional structure and long-term protection.

    A Supplemental (Third-Party) Special Needs Trust is often used to:

    • Manage funds for someone unable to do so independently
    • Preserve eligibility for public benefits such as SSI and Medicaid

    These trusts are designed to support a loved one over many years, especially as needs, benefits, and family dynamics evolve.

  • While a properly structured trust can help preserve eligibility, how funds are used matters.

    We help families understand considerations such as:

    • How direct distributions may reduce SSI benefits
    • How payments for food and shelter can impact eligibility
    • Why trustee discretion and flexibility are essential

    Well-designed plans allow distributions to adapt as benefit rules and personal circumstances change.

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We Want To Hear From YouYour Plan.
Your Peace of Mind.

Everyone’s financial journey looks different, but one thing stays the same — having a plan makes the path clearer. Our financial professionals are here to help you protect what matters most, prepare for what’s ahead, and feel confident in the choices you make along the way.

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