Margaret Heiser Fulton attended the 10th annual meeting of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, held in Tucson, Arizona, March 10-12, 2016.  The 235-member Academy is the nation’s leading organization of special needs planning professionals.  Members of the Academy devote a significant part of their practices to working with individuals with special needs and their families to plan for the future and ensure that children with special needs receive ample financial protection.

The Academy’s annual meeting featured presentations by some of the nation’s leading experts in special needs planning, who kept attendees current on the latest regulatory changes and legal decisions and shared strategies for better serving clients and their families in this fast-growing legal field.  Meeting sessions included “An Update on SSI Rules,” “Special Needs Trusts and Retirement Benefits,” “Recent Trends in Special Needs Planning,” “Identifying and Handling ‘Tricky Issues’ in SNT Administration,” as well as an “Ask the Experts” panel discussion.  Perhaps most importantly, the meeting afforded the chance for attendees to exchange planning ideas and strategies with fellow members working in special needs planning around the nation.

This year’s meeting was held concurrently with the Society of Settlement Planners, giving attendees invaluable insights into how to best work with these key players in the special needs arena.