National Conference

Friday, October 14, 2022

8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Welcome and Announcements

8:30 a.m. - 9:20 a.m.

Including Individuals with Autism and Other Unique Needs in the Financial Planning Process

Elizabeth Yoder

Learn about how Liz Yoder and her firm works with autistic individuals and includes them in the decision-making process, she has invited an ABLE account holder, self-advocate to talk about his experience planning, what his journey has been like with the legal and decision-making process. Andrew will talk about his experience obtaining a job, being under conservatorship, dealing with Medicaid/Medicare and ultimately achieving independence off government programs with the right support.

9:20 a.m. - 10:10 a.m.

CMS Update

Gene Coffey

CMS has recently proposed a new rule that would modify and streamline Medicaid eligibility and enrollment processes. CMS has also continued to prepare state Medicaid agencies for the resumption of routine operations when the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ends and has issued guidance to states on new flexibilities they have to expand Medicaid coverage, including coverage for home and community-based services. Gene Coffey of the Division of Medicaid Eligibility Policy at CMS has been significantly engaged in this work and will provide an overview of these developments.

10:10 a.m. - 10:25 a.m

Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

10:25 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

The Weight of Caring: When Dealing with Death Comes with the Job

Brenna M. Galvin

Compassion fatigue is a well-studied phenomena in health care. It describes the exhaustion that professionals experience resulting from prolonged exposure to secondary trauma and compassion stress. In our special needs planning practices and as fiduciaries, we serve individuals with disabilities and chronic illness day-in and day-out. After clients die, we are often near the top of their call trees, and their survivors look to us for guidance and answers. This constant exposure to trauma and compassion stress affects our wellbeing, and it has a ripple effect on our practices, our clients, our staff, and our families. In this session, we will discuss compassion fatigue in our practices in order to grow awareness to this issue and identify strategies for how to cope with the weight of caring.

11:15 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.

The Update

Fechtman and Robert Fleming

A review the year’s most significant, interesting and/or quirky cases, and statutory or regulatory changes. Join us for a fast-paced review of a bumpy year.

12:05 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.

Lunch

1:10 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Breakout Session 1

  • Working with Out-of-State Trusts: Provisions from the Wild West (and elsewhere)

    Bryn Poland

    You've just received a call from a long-time trust Beneficiary with exciting news: She's moving to Texas! You need to make sure your trust is ready to move with her. This presentation will give you the tools to evaluate trust provisions from all over the country and compare and contrast various provisions that may require changes between states. Whether your beneficiary is moving out of or into your state, being able to evaluate and properly advise Trustees and Beneficiaries about potential changes and to assist in such transition will add value to your clients and to your practice.

  • 20 Special Resources You Sould Not Be Without (Basic)

    Janet Lowder, Valerie Peterson, and Stuart Zimring

    There are a number of resources that special needs planning attorneys can use to stay on top of recent developments, to help with business development, and for support with staffing and operating a law practice. During this interactive session our panelists will provide 20 resources in the legal, business development and practice management areas that they have found helpful for building and growing a special needs planning practice.

  • The Nuts and Bolts of Unconventional Uses for High End Trusts

    Jennifer L. VanderVeen

    When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. But, what if it’s really a bolt. It doesn’t need help getting where it needs to go, it just needs to be secured in place...

2:05 p.m. - 2:55 p.m.

Breakout Session 2

  • Life Happens…Drafting for Flexibility with Trigger Provisions in Trusts

    Michael Amoruso

    In this session you will learn how to take your drafting to the next level by utilizing trigger provisions to bring flexibility into the planning process as life happens for your beneficiaries. These techniques separate a basic estate planner from a comprehensive estate planner.

  • Leveraging 529A ABLE Accounts For Disabled Beneficiaries To Gain Greater Financial Autonomy

    Elizabeth Yoder

    529A plans are about more than just accumulating assets for a disabled beneficiary on a tax-preference basis, or preserving the beneficiaries ability to utilize crucial government programs. Instead, ABLE accounts also provide a pathway to developing the self-confidence and financial autonomy of the beneficiary, as part of a supported decision-making approach, which over time can provide far greater emotional benefits than the mere financial benefits alone.

  • From A(ccess) to Z(ipping Files): Technology Considerations When Dealing with SNTs

    Ashley Krenelka Chase and Scott Turnquest

    In this panel, a software engineer and attorney will discuss technical and practical aspects of incorporating technology into your business or practice. They will cover topics ranging from portals and security, to use of the cloud and storage of information, with ample time for Q&A at the conclusion of the panel.

2:55 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Break and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Breakout Session 3

  • The Rise of Directed Trusts in Special Needs Planning

    Jennifer Tindell

    This session focuses on the increasing use of Directed Trusts in Special Needs Planning. Discussion will center around the benefits of directed powers in drafting, the importance of relying on expertise as a fiduciary, and recent state adoptions and updates concerning the Uniform Directed Trust Act.

  • Considerations at the Intersection of Special Needs and Substance Abuse

    Dr. Monica Sosnowitz

    Using a clinical lens, Dr. Sosnowitz will speak to the particular challenges of working with beneficiaries experiencing substance abuse disorders. Learn about what logistical considerations to make, the emotional impacts on both the beneficiary and the grantor, and how this all ties into the legal framework. Dr. Sosnowitz will share learnings from her 30 years in the clinical field.

  • Marketing to Personal Injury Attorneys

    Shannon Laymon-Pecoraro

    This session will cover the issues that personal injury attorneys look to elder law attorneys to assist with and how we can be proactive in educating and developing a trusted relationship with personal injury attorneys as they navigate the complexities of public benefits and trusts for their claimants.

4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Ethics Panel: The Real World Never Takes a Day Off

Mary Alice Jackson, Robert Fleming and Rebecca Morgan

It’s 2 pm on Friday afternoon and you are getting ready for the next fabulous session at Stetson’s SNT conference, when your paralegal calls you with an ethics emergency for one of your long-term clients. At TWO on Friday. What do you do??You come to the closing session at SNT to hear from two national experts who will discuss actual ethics cases and how they resolved them.