What happens when traditional financial planning falls short for families caring for loved ones with disabilities?

How do you create a comprehensive plan that addresses not just money, but government benefits, legal structures, and quality of life for someone who will need support forever?

In this episode, Jeremy Houser interviews Mary Anne Ehlert, CEO and Founder of Protected Tomorrows, about her personal journey caring for her sister with cerebral palsy and building a specialized practice serving Americans with disabilities.

Mary Anne shares her eight-step planning process, why most advisors overlook this demographic, and how the SECURE Act transformed planning strategies for these families.

Key points:

The childhood experiences that shaped Mary Anne’s lifelong path to helping families with disabilities
The emotional and logistical burdens families face when children or adults require long-term care
Why parents must plan for themselves before planning for their child
How Protected Tomorrows blends financial planning with social support and community building
The eight-step planning process that gives families clarity, structure, and direction
And more!

Connect With Mary Anne Ehlert:

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About Our Guest:

Mary Anne Ehlert is a nationally recognized expert in special needs planning. As a Partner of Simplicity Group and Founder of Protected Tomorrows, a Simplicity Group commitment, she leads the organization in providing advocacy, education, and planning support to families with loved ones who have disabilities.

Mary Anne founded Protected Tomorrows more than 35 years ago after her family’s personal journey with special needs planning for her sister Marcia’s future revealed a lack of available resources. She has since dedicated her life to building those resources for others.

Prior to founding the company, Mary Anne spent over two decades in corporate financial services. Today, she speaks at national conferences, hosts educational webinars, and leads virtual training programs for families and caregivers of people with special needs and disabilities.

Mary Anne has served on the boards of several disability-focused organizations, including the National Disability Institute, Special Olympics Illinois, a SEDOL Foundation and Gateway to Learning. She currently serves on the boards of the Special Olympics Illinois Foundation, Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Foundation, Integrative Touch, and the Tails for Life Advisory Board.

Mary Anne resides in Barrington, Illinois with her life partner and her three pups. She is a proud mother of three stepsons, one who lives independently and shares his life experiences with his peers with disabilities.

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