210 - STOP Making These Special Needs Planning Mistakes! with Mary McDirmid

In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron welcomes financial planner and parent advocate Mary McDirmid for a practical conversation about preparing for the future of loved ones with disabilities. Drawing from her personal journey raising her daughter with a rare disease, Mary explains special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and common planning mistakes that can jeopardize essential benefits. Beyond finances, the discussion explores curiosity, respectful conversations, and why inclusion begins with assuming positive intent. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or advocate, this episode offers actionable guidance to protect your loved one's future while creating a more inclusive and understanding world. Key Takeaways: Future Planning - Planning early helps families protect benefits, provide long-term care, and reduce uncertainty for loved ones with disabilities. Avoid Costly Mistakes - Simple oversights, like incorrect life insurance beneficiaries, can unintentionally jeopardize disability benefits. Respect Differences - Inclusion grows when we acknowledge our differences, assume positive intent, and remain curious about others' perspectives. Sibling Support - Thoughtful financial planning helps siblings remain siblings instead of carrying unnecessary financial and legal burdens. Accessible Knowledge - Every family deserves access to special needs planning information, regardless of their financial situation. Mary McDirmid’s definition of inclusion: Inclusion is acknowledging the tension between our similarities and differences and working through it together. Mary McDirmid’s Bio: When Mary isn’t helping families navigate the world of special needs financial planning, she is being a wife to Jay and a mom to Charlie and Ruth. In addition to her leadership role at All Needs Planning and a volunteer advocate for kids with rare diseases. She takes the title “Mom Boss’ seriously, just ask her! Mary understands the emotional and financial aspects of caring for a loved one with special needs because she is the parent of a child with a rare disease. Connect with Mary McDirmid: Website: https://allneedsplanning.com/ Facebook:   / allneedsplanning   Instagram:   / allneedsplanning   YouTube:    / @allneedsplanning   TedX:    • The Power of Being Brave | Mary Mcdirmid |...   Buy her book: https://a.co/d/0dsKxDc6 SPAM© Count: Host: Yes Current Guest: No Cumulative Guest Stats: Yes - 92 No - 116 ☕ Buy me a Coffee: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theinclusive... Subscribe to Podcast Newsletter: ⁠https://www.theinclusivedad.com/podca... Want to be a guest on Inclusion and Advocacy from a Parent's Perspective: The Inclusive Dad? Send Aaron DeVries a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpr...