2 Ways to Create a Secure Future for Your Child with Special Needs

The thing about crisis is that it makes it REALLY hard–actually impossible–to think ahead to simple things like dinner, never mind a secure future of my child with special needs. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would still feel like I was recovering from our crisis 2 years out, but that’s exactly what has happened. I can tell that we’re making progress because my thoughts are able to form around things in the future–not just, “When is the next time I can crawl into bed and sleep?”

It's impossible to think ahead to simple things like dinner, never mind securing the financial future of my child with special needs. Click To Tweet

Confirming a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) diagnosis for Ty last year and realizing that he’s already in the double-digits was kind of a wake up call that we needed to start thinking pro-actively about what his future will look like. The fact of the matter is that he’s going to need assistance long term, and that type of assistance does not come free (as much our state’s Department of Developmental Disabilities website would like you to believe it could).

Since depending on tax-payer dollars and government assistance for Ty’s future stability does not give warm and fuzzy feelings, I’ve been contemplating other avenues for providing me with peace of mind that he’ll be taken care of long after we’re gone.

 

secure financial future special needs

Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash

Idea #1 Invest Some Money

If you’re like me, this sounds great in theory, but VERY overwhelming in practice. I wouldn’t know where to start or who to trust. I feel like I want to research the heck out of it, but I’m already getting my honorary PhD in navigating various therapeutic services and fighting with insurance companies. However, I recently learned about Ellevest.* Ellevest is a unique financial services firm built to help women get ahead. They are a fiduciary, which means they have a fundamental obligation to act and provide investment advice in their clients’ best interest. Ellevest offers education, insight, and a free, personalized investment plan that can be created in less than 10 minutes. The process is like completing a Madlib (and who doesn’t love a good Madlib?). The plan is goals-based, so you’re able to identify your financial priorities (like saving for a down payment on a home, or saving for kid-related expenses, in addition to goals like a retirement or emergency fund.) The plan is yours to keep, whether you decide to invest with Ellevest or not. #EASYbutton Click here to try it out. 

Idea #2 Build a Business with Residual Income

Four years ago, I started dabbling in essential oils. Three years and eleven months ago, I became slightly obsessed with essential oils. I started sharing them and couldn’t stop. I had stumbled onto a business opportunity that I was so NOT looking for. Until recently, I was doing it because I loved it and because I was able to bring relief and tools to so many families…specifically families struggling emotionally with kids from hard places. Those things haven’t changed per se, but someone older and wiser tipped me off that businesses are willable to our descendants. So basically, when I die, Ty could inherit my business. This may seem counterintuitive…giving a business to a severely math-challenged individual, but my business brings in residual, passive income every month even when I don’t work it. This is income that could definitely support Ty’s future. Most network marketing companies have residual income, or you can do some research (in your spare time…ha ha ha) on other residual income models. If you want to press the EASY button on this idea, contact me for an appointment to hear about how I have the flexibility to work from home, so I can manage Ty’s needs while building a dependable financial future for him.

The best news? These ideas are NOT mutually exclusive. You could definitely do both. I actually would recommend looking into both…in the name of diversifying.

If you have kids with special needs who will need lifelong assistance, what other ideas do you have for securing their future?


*We’re excited to be working with Ellevest to start this conversation about investing. We may receive compensation if you become an Ellevest client.

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One Comment

  1. Preparing for the future when you have a child with special needs is a unique challenge. And so often parents feel overwhelmed just getting through the day, never mind thinking years into the future. It is such an important issue to address and will help many parents!

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