Special Needs Planning: A Father-Son Team's Niche Playbook

Special needs planning is one of the most misunderstood corners of financial services — and few advisors do it well. On this episode of The Complete Advisor, we sit down with Michael and Chris, a father-son advisory team from outside Philadelphia who built a thriving practice almost entirely around serving families raising a child with special needs. They break down the hidden traps that can cost families their benefits overnight — like how a single joint bank account can push a child over Social Security's resource limit — and why advisors who dabble in this space without real expertise can do serious harm. You'll hear how life insurance can fund a special needs trust without touching a parent's own retirement savings, why finding the right specialized attorney matters more than almost anything else, and how they position themselves as advocates before families even reach a special needs attorney. Michael holds an undergraduate degree in special education and has spent more than 40 years building his practice around this community, inspired by a childhood friendship that changed the course of his life. His son Chris joined the practice after college and has been immersed in it ever since. Together, they've become a go-to resource for advisors and attorneys navigating special needs cases. If you're an advisor thinking about specializing — or you just want to understand what these families actually face — this conversation is worth your time. Subscribe and follow The Complete Advisor so you never miss an episode, and leave a review if this one hit home. #SpecialNeedsPlanning #FinancialAdvisor #SpecialNeedsTrust #EstatePlanning #FinancialPlanning #AdvisorNiche #SocialSecurity #WealthManagement