By Moryt Milo For parents whose children have mental health conditions, the question of who cares for them once they are gone is ever present. Mark Gilfix, a partner at Gilfix & La Poll Associates and an expert in special needs planning, said this fear can be abated with the right tools. Once established, these…
Mark Gilfix, a special needs planning expert and partner at Gilfix & La Poll Associates, will discuss how to set up a Special Needs Trust for loved ones with a mental illness. He will explain how establishing such a trust prevents individuals from losing their public benefits—SSI and SSDI. Gilfix is a nationally published author…
By Moryt Milo For individuals living with mental illness, proper treatment and safe housing top the list. The right treatment can enable some individuals with mental illness to live independently. But finding affordable housing on a fixed income in the Bay Area is challenging. The county is trying to change that for low-income individuals and…
Ellen Cookman is an attorney whose practice specializes in Estate Planning and helping families set up Special Needs Trusts. Five years ago, Cookman’s profession touched her directly when her older son, now nine, was diagnosed with autism. “I went from being an advocate to a parent,” said Cookman, who gravitated toward the field of special…
By Moryt Milo Simple gestures of financial kindness can end up costing someone who relies solely on government subsidies for their benefits. The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) program is a way for those with a qualifying disability to achieve financial independence without worrying about breaching the $2,000 asset threshold. The program is…