Introductory Discussion on Estate Planning — Webinar

With Denny Haugen, Don Meyer, and Missy Zolecki

Thinking about the future can be challenging and emotional. Planning is important throughout all stages of life, especially when the time comes that a parent or caregiver will no longer be able to provide the support. This one-hour Q&A session provided an introductory discussion on preparing a plan for the future to ensure your legacy is preserved and your loved ones are well cared for.

An estate consists of everything you own: car, home, financial accounts, life insurance, furniture, personal possessions, etc. No matter how large or modest, everyone has an estate. It is recommended to review and update your plan for your estate as your family and/or financial circumstances change over your lifetime. Estate planning is an ongoing process, not a one-time event, and the time to start planning is now.

NFXF Webinar Series: Estate Planning – An Introductory Discussion

Estate Planning is for Everyone

Taking the steps to create an estate plan to protect your family can bring peace of mind. Whether you are beginning the process or updating an existing plan, it is important to consider what your loved one would require so their daily routine is maintained.

Identifying experienced professionals to assist with creating your plan can be overwhelming. Request recommendations from your family, friends, or professionals you trust for assistance with selecting members of your professional planning team. Questions you may consider asking the professional:

• How much of their practice and experience relates to federal and state specific laws, tax provisions, and estate planning for people with disabilities?
• How much experience do they have in applying for public benefits? ABLE accounts?
• What is their cost or fee structure?

It is important to remember that many aspects of the planning process do not require fees. Future planning is possible regardless of income. Public benefits and resources can vary state-by-state. The links below may help locate professionals and programs to assist with the planning.

• National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
• https://www.americanbar.org/groups/real_property_trust_estate/resources/estate_planning/
• https://futureplanning.thearc.org/
  • Public benefits
  • ABLE Accounts
  • Special Needs Trusts

Before the live webinar, the panelists prepared introductory videos sharing about their professional and personal experiences. We asked registered attendees to review them prior to the live webinar so they could prepare their questions, which were discussed during the live event.

Denny Haugen

Denny is a NFXF Board member and parent of an adult son, Aaron, who lives with Fragile X syndrome.

Don Meyer

Don shares his 30+ years of experience in estate planning and ensuring your legacy is preserved.

Missy Zolecki

Missy is the NFXF’s Director of Community Empowerment and a parent of a young adult, Matt, who lives with Fragile X syndrome.

Additional Resources

Planning for the future is important for all families. It is an ongoing process, and it is never too soon to begin to create a plan. We recommend reviewing these webinars from 2019:

• Estate Planning
• Guardianship

The National Fragile X Foundation (NFXF) does not provide medical, financial, or legal advice or services. Rather, the NFXF provides general information about Fragile X as a service to the community. All information and content are for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation, referral or endorsement of any resource, therapeutic method, or service provider and does not replace the advice of medical, financial, legal or educational professionals. The NFXF has not validated and is not responsible for any information, opinions or services provided by third parties. You are urged to use independent judgment and request references when considering any resource associated with the provision of services related to Fragile X.