Want to feel confident in your ability to navigate retirement and prepared to begin your journey?
Click to enroll in our free Retirement Basecamp™ online course today.

I have a Dependent Child

Retirement Scenario

Dennis (64) and Christie (62)

Dennis (64) and Christie (62)

Retiring with a Special Needs Child

Unlike other retirees, I cannot just live for myself in retirement. I have a special needs child. Leaving a family legacy and plan for financial management is not just a nice to have, it’s a necessity.

Congratulations. If you’re reading this it’s likely that you’ve done the right things to put yourself in a good place to retire.  You may not feel that way now. That’s normal. Many of our clients don’t feel that way either at first.  But after working with us to envision and create a well-planned retirement, they feel confident and excited about their futures.  (Well-planned does not mean this is going to be hard. We don’t think it will be.)

You may be facing the necessity of planning your own retirement as well as for the financial security and futures of others who depend upon you.  In this example, we’ll show you how a couple with a special needs child might approach the process of preparing for retirement.  

Background: 

Dennis (64) and Christie (62) would like to retire in the next few years, but they have a special needs daughter whose future must also be planned for.  Although their daughter is now a young adult, it would be difficult for her to live a comfortable independent life without their care and financial support.  

Dennis and Christie have around $750,000 in retirement accounts, $200,000 in savings, a good pension from Dennis’s employer and they will both have Social Security retirement benefits.   

They are looking forward to their retirement, but they know they cannot just plan for their own future.  For Dennis and Christie, leaving an inheritance for their daughter is a must.  They know they need a plan that protects their daughter’s future while also creating enough retirement income for themselves so they can enjoy their retirement, not just survive it.  They’re not even sure if retirement is possible for them and they want a professional opinion on what their options are.    

After getting to know the couple, Hunt Country Wealth Management will design a Sovereign Series™ Retirement Plan with the following goals: 

  • Emphasis placed on protecting an inheritance for their daughter.
  • Ensure proper estate planning techniques are used in order to protect their daughter (Trusts etc.).
  • Minimize the risk of a bad stock market derailing their retirement date.
  • Plan to preserve the principal.
  • Plan to know how much income they can expect from their resources.
  • Plan to make the best choice as to which retirement savings accounts to use first, when, and how.
  • Plan for health insurance costs until they reach age 65 and qualify for Medicare.
  • Plan for a rising income to maintain a standard of living for a 25-year retirement.
  • Create a system for how their income will be directly deposited into their bank account and taxes will be withheld.

    Expected Results for Dennis and Christie: 

    • They have a plan showing them exactly how much income they can expect.
    • They have a balanced plan that allows them to retire while also leaving their principal and possibly more as an inheritance for their daughter.
    • They use proper estate planning techniques to ensure their daughter and the money they leave to her are protected.
    • With HCWM by their side, planning was easier than they thought it would be.

    Read Additional Scenarios:

    Retirement Scenario | I’m Ready to Retire

    Retirement Scenario | I Recently Experienced a Financial Windfall

    Retirement Scenario | I Plan to Retire in Three-to-Five Years

    Retirement Scenario | I Recently Lost My Spouse

    Retirement Scenario | I Plan to Retire Early

    Our Services

     

    The Sovereign Series™ Retirement Plan is our signature planning service that will show you how to retire. Our guided step-by-step framework is easy to follow and provides a written financial plan that outlines the best use of your resources and a path to produce reliable income. Gain clarity of direction and a stable foundation to experience the freedom of a well-planned retirement. 

    This service was designed for those who want to...

    • Feel confident and prepared for retirement
    • Know the amount/regularity of income your resources can produce 
    • Have control over your financial future and clarity of direction. 

    Guided Investing™ is our comprehensive investment management service. It was designed to help you create a master plan for your finances and offer a strategy to help you optimize and preserve your resources. This process starts with defining your why. It can be applied to investors who are saving for retirement, building wealth, wanting to manage risk or all of the above.

    This service was designed for those who want to...

    • Feel more confident in their investment decisions 
    • Design a strategy to reach planned financial milestones such as retirement 
    • Collaborate with an professional to manage risk and monitor performance

    The 90-Minute Strategy Session is a 1:1 session with Chris Merchant, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Sometimes you just want to talk to a professional. Whether you want to tap into a broader understanding of a financial topic such as How to Prepare for Retirement or you seek a second opinion on your investment strategy, this session is a great time to discuss the financial considerations on your mind.

    This service was designed for those who want to...

    • Feel confident and prepared for retirement
    • Know the amount/regularity of income your resources can produce 
    • Feel supported and reinforced working with a Retirement Income Professional
    We believe retirement should free you. It all starts with a plan.

    Have Questions? Schedule 15-Minute Discovery Call™