Feb 5-7, 2026Napa, California
Symposium
Agenda
2026 Special Needs Planning Symposium.
Opportunity
Sponsorships Available
Get your company or brand in front of leading fiduciaries and special needs attorneys during this intimate event, held at the luxury venue Meritage Resort & Spa, Feb 5-7, 2026
Day One
Thursday, Feb. 5th, 2026
Check-in
Registration and Continental Breakfast
7:30am – 8:30am
Welcome Sponsor:
Aspiriant
Breakfast Sponsor:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Welcome Sponsor:
Aspiriant
Breakfast Sponsor:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Optional
Fiduciary Pre-Session
Sponsored by PFAC
This pre-session program is designed to provide SNT fiduciaries with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of special needs trust administration. The program is divided into several focused segments, allowing attendees to tailor their experience based on their existing knowledge. Participants may choose to attend individual segments.
Optional
Attorney Pre-Session
Sponsored by Fisher Fiduciary Services, Inc
This pre-session is designed for attorneys seeking to deepen their understanding of key aspects of special needs planning. The program is divided into focused segments, offering flexibility for attendees to choose the topics most relevant to their practice. Participants may attend individual segments based on their level of experience or specific areas of interest.
Kevin Urbatsch and James Huyck
(Pre-Session) – Fundamentals of Public Benefits for Persons with Disabilities
8:30am – 10:30am
As the public benefits landscape shifts again, understanding the core programs that support individuals with disabilities has never been more important. With the return of the Medi-Cal asset test, the implementation of an asset test under Section 8, and new Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules around food, shelter, and support, professionals must revisit their foundational knowledge to keep planning strategies current and compliant.
This essential session offers a clear, practical overview of key programs, including SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Childhood Disabled Beneficiary (CDB) Benefits, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Section 8 Housing, Regional Center services, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). We’ll cover how these programs interact, where planning opportunities lie, and how new regulations are reshaping benefit eligibility and maintenance. Perfect for newcomers and experienced professionals alike, this session ensures you can confidently guide families and beneficiaries through a benefits system that’s evolving in real time.
As the public benefits landscape shifts again, understanding the core programs that support individuals with disabilities has never been more important. With the return of the Medi-Cal asset test, the implementation of an asset test under Section 8, and new Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rules around food, shelter, and support, professionals must revisit their foundational knowledge to keep planning strategies current and compliant.
This essential session offers a clear, practical overview of key programs, including SSI, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Childhood Disabled Beneficiary (CDB) Benefits, Medi-Cal, Medicare, Section 8 Housing, Regional Center services, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS). We’ll cover how these programs interact, where planning opportunities lie, and how new regulations are reshaping benefit eligibility and maintenance. Perfect for newcomers and experienced professionals alike, this session ensures you can confidently guide families and beneficiaries through a benefits system that’s evolving in real time.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
10:30am – 10:50am
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Frank Acuña and Tracy Regli
(Fiduciary Topic) – Fiduciary Under Fire: Risk Assessment, Avoidance, and Real-World Strategies in SNTs
10:50am –12:05pm
Private professional fiduciaries managing SNTs operate in a high-risk environment filled with legal complexity, interpersonal tension, and shifting public benefits rules. In this session, two experienced attorneys who represent fiduciaries will offer a candid look at how to assess and reduce exposure to liability while navigating the real-world challenges that come with the role.
Drawing on current legal developments and case-based insights, they’ll explore how fiduciaries can identify red flags early, document key decisions defensibly, and respond effectively to high-conflict families and unclear distribution requests. This program emphasizes proactive risk management, practical decision-making, and strategic collaboration with legal counsel, equipping fiduciaries to protect themselves while staying focused on the needs of their beneficiaries.
Private professional fiduciaries managing SNTs operate in a high-risk environment filled with legal complexity, interpersonal tension, and shifting public benefits rules. In this session, two experienced attorneys who represent fiduciaries will offer a candid look at how to assess and reduce exposure to liability while navigating the real-world challenges that come with the role.
Drawing on current legal developments and case-based insights, they’ll explore how fiduciaries can identify red flags early, document key decisions defensibly, and respond effectively to high-conflict families and unclear distribution requests. This program emphasizes proactive risk management, practical decision-making, and strategic collaboration with legal counsel, equipping fiduciaries to protect themselves while staying focused on the needs of their beneficiaries.
Cynthia Waterson
(Attorney Topic) Drafting Third-Party Special Needs Trusts: Structure, Strategy & Real-World Clarity
10:50am –12:05pm
Whether you have never drafted an SNT or have done dozens but want to ensure you’re doing it right, this session will ground you in the essential principles of third-party SNT drafting. This session will cover the structure, purpose, and planning role of third-party SNTs, focusing on how to draft clearly and compliantly while supporting the beneficiary’s long-term independence and benefit eligibility. It will cover the essential provisions, the optional provisions (and when to use them), and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can unintentionally compromise benefits. Whether you are new to this work or refining your drafting for more complex scenarios, this session will help you elevate your documents and confidence.
Whether you have never drafted an SNT or have done dozens but want to ensure you’re doing it right, this session will ground you in the essential principles of third-party SNT drafting. This session will cover the structure, purpose, and planning role of third-party SNTs, focusing on how to draft clearly and compliantly while supporting the beneficiary’s long-term independence and benefit eligibility. It will cover the essential provisions, the optional provisions (and when to use them), and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can unintentionally compromise benefits. Whether you are new to this work or refining your drafting for more complex scenarios, this session will help you elevate your documents and confidence.
Networking Lunch
12:05 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Heather Fisher, Jess Jones and Andrew DeVries
(Fiduciary Topic) Case Studies in SNT Distributions: Housing, Vehicles & Other Real-World Challenges
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
SNT distributions can be legally sound but are still incredibly tricky. In this case-driven session designed for licensed private professional fiduciaries, we’ll dig into real-world scenarios that test your judgment, knowledge of public benefits rules, and ability to balance beneficiary needs with long-term trust sustainability. We’ll examine challenging categories through detailed case studies like housing, vehicle purchases and maintenance, vacation expenses, and one-time or high-cost requests. Each scenario will prompt discussion about compliance with the sole benefit rule, tax considerations, Medi-Cal or SSI impacts, and practical decision-making in the face of gray areas or family pressure.
If you’ve ever faced a distribution request that made you pause, this session will help you think through your options, learn from peer approaches, and return to your practice with greater clarity and confidence.
SNT distributions can be legally sound but are still incredibly tricky. In this case-driven session designed for licensed private professional fiduciaries, we’ll dig into real-world scenarios that test your judgment, knowledge of public benefits rules, and ability to balance beneficiary needs with long-term trust sustainability. We’ll examine challenging categories through detailed case studies like housing, vehicle purchases and maintenance, vacation expenses, and one-time or high-cost requests. Each scenario will prompt discussion about compliance with the sole benefit rule, tax considerations, Medi-Cal or SSI impacts, and practical decision-making in the face of gray areas or family pressure.
If you’ve ever faced a distribution request that made you pause, this session will help you think through your options, learn from peer approaches, and return to your practice with greater clarity and confidence.
Michele Fuller
(Attorney Topic) Planning That Holds: Holistic Estate Planning for Loved Ones with Special Needs
1:15 – 2:30 pm
Too often, special needs estate plans are drafted, signed, quietly set aside, never reviewed, never tested, and ultimately unprepared to serve when the time comes. This session challenges that passive approach by focusing on holistic planning: building living, adaptable plans that protect individuals with disabilities on paper and in real life. We’ll examine the key components of a truly integrated plan, from choosing and preparing fiduciaries to coordinating public benefits, housing, caregiving, and supported decision-making. Attendees will learn how to spot planning gaps, create continuity after the parents are gone, and design systems that reflect the client’s real wishes, not just legal defaults. Designed for attorneys and fiduciaries who want to move beyond checklists, this session will help you ensure your plans hold up over time, and honor your clients’ intentions when it matters most.
Too often, special needs estate plans are drafted, signed, quietly set aside, never reviewed, never tested, and ultimately unprepared to serve when the time comes. This session challenges that passive approach by focusing on holistic planning: building living, adaptable plans that protect individuals with disabilities on paper and in real life. We’ll examine the key components of a truly integrated plan, from choosing and preparing fiduciaries to coordinating public benefits, housing, caregiving, and supported decision-making. Attendees will learn how to spot planning gaps, create continuity after the parents are gone, and design systems that reflect the client’s real wishes, not just legal defaults. Designed for attorneys and fiduciaries who want to move beyond checklists, this session will help you ensure your plans hold up over time, and honor your clients’ intentions when it matters most.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Robert Nuddleman, Meredith Taylor and Dawn Barnes
(Fiduciary Topic) Caregiving Under Contract: Legal, Fiduciary, and Payroll Strategies for Hiring In-Home Support
3:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Hiring caregivers for Special Needs Trust beneficiaries is one of the most vital and most legally complex tasks fiduciaries face. From employment classification and wage laws to public benefits compliance and family dynamics, the risks and stakes are real. In this session, a panel of experts, including a fiduciary, an employment attorney, and a specialist in employing caregivers, will walk attendees through what it truly takes to hire, supervise, and compensate in-home caregivers correctly. We’ll explore hiring models (agency, direct hire, employer-of-record services), best practices for contracts and compliance, how to navigate Medi-Cal implications, and strategies for mitigating risk while preserving quality care. Attendees will walk away with actionable tools and updated legal guidance on protecting the beneficiary, the trust, and themselves in today’s evolving employment and regulatory landscape.
Hiring caregivers for Special Needs Trust beneficiaries is one of the most vital and most legally complex tasks fiduciaries face. From employment classification and wage laws to public benefits compliance and family dynamics, the risks and stakes are real. In this session, a panel of experts, including a fiduciary, an employment attorney, and a specialist in employing caregivers, will walk attendees through what it truly takes to hire, supervise, and compensate in-home caregivers correctly. We’ll explore hiring models (agency, direct hire, employer-of-record services), best practices for contracts and compliance, how to navigate Medi-Cal implications, and strategies for mitigating risk while preserving quality care. Attendees will walk away with actionable tools and updated legal guidance on protecting the beneficiary, the trust, and themselves in today’s evolving employment and regulatory landscape.
Mercy Hall
(Attorney Topic) When the Person with a Disability Has Money: Essentials of First-Party Planning
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm
First-party planning involves legal strategies for a person with disabilities who receives, or already has, money, whether from a lawsuit, inheritance, or other source. This session gives attorneys a clear foundation in the core issues in these cases, including how to navigate conservatorship, explore spenddown options, and use ABLE accounts effectively. We’ll also review the legal mechanics of establishing and administering first-party Special Needs Trusts, including when an OBRA ’93 payback trust is still appropriate. Designed as a practical, case-informed overview, this program equips attorneys to offer compliant, thoughtful advice in high-stakes scenarios.
First-party planning involves legal strategies for a person with disabilities who receives, or already has, money, whether from a lawsuit, inheritance, or other source. This session gives attorneys a clear foundation in the core issues in these cases, including how to navigate conservatorship, explore spenddown options, and use ABLE accounts effectively. We’ll also review the legal mechanics of establishing and administering first-party Special Needs Trusts, including when an OBRA ’93 payback trust is still appropriate. Designed as a practical, case-informed overview, this program equips attorneys to offer compliant, thoughtful advice in high-stakes scenarios.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
4:15 pm – 4:30 pm.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Daniel Cutter and Donovan Filpi
(Fiduciary Topic) Investing for the Future: Prudent SNT Strategies in Uncertain Times
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
In today’s volatile markets and unpredictable policy landscape, trustees of Special Needs Trusts must make investment decisions with even greater care. This session provides private professional fiduciaries with clear, actionable guidance on how to apply the Prudent Investor Rule in uncertain economic conditions—while still meeting the long-term needs of the beneficiary.
We’ll explore how to build resilient portfolios, work effectively with financial advisors, and create an investment policy that prioritizes both capital preservation and quality-of-life distributions. Attendees will also learn how to document investment decisions, evaluate advisor performance, and respond to shifting economic, medical, or benefit-related risks that may affect trust assets. Whether you are managing a simple SNT or a multi-million-dollar trust, this session equips you to lead with prudence, flexibility, and confidence in any market.
In today’s volatile markets and unpredictable policy landscape, trustees of Special Needs Trusts must make investment decisions with even greater care. This session provides private professional fiduciaries with clear, actionable guidance on how to apply the Prudent Investor Rule in uncertain economic conditions—while still meeting the long-term needs of the beneficiary.
We’ll explore how to build resilient portfolios, work effectively with financial advisors, and create an investment policy that prioritizes both capital preservation and quality-of-life distributions. Attendees will also learn how to document investment decisions, evaluate advisor performance, and respond to shifting economic, medical, or benefit-related risks that may affect trust assets. Whether you are managing a simple SNT or a multi-million-dollar trust, this session equips you to lead with prudence, flexibility, and confidence in any market.
Deborah Fox and Lianne Dumas
(Attorney Topic) CARE Court in Context: A New Option for Families Facing Severe Mental Illness
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
For years, special needs planning attorneys have struggled to offer meaningful legal options to parents of children with severe mental illness — particularly those who are not conserved but are unable or unwilling to engage in voluntary treatment. With the rollout of CARE Courts across California, a new, though limited, option has emerged.
This session will provide estate and special needs planning attorneys with a practical understanding of the CARE Court framework: who qualifies, how it is initiated, what it requires, and how it differs from LPS and probate conservatorships. Attendees will learn what CARE Court is, and what it is not, so they can give accurate, realistic guidance to families desperate for tools to support a loved one in crisis.
By the end of the session, attorneys will be better equipped to counsel families with empathy, realism, and a new set of tools.
For years, special needs planning attorneys have struggled to offer meaningful legal options to parents of children with severe mental illness — particularly those who are not conserved but are unable or unwilling to engage in voluntary treatment. With the rollout of CARE Courts across California, a new, though limited, option has emerged.
This session will provide estate and special needs planning attorneys with a practical understanding of the CARE Court framework: who qualifies, how it is initiated, what it requires, and how it differs from LPS and probate conservatorships. Attendees will learn what CARE Court is, and what it is not, so they can give accurate, realistic guidance to families desperate for tools to support a loved one in crisis.
By the end of the session, attorneys will be better equipped to counsel families with empathy, realism, and a new set of tools.
Day Two
Friday, Feb. 6th, 2026
Gourmet
Full Breakfast
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Trisha Beckmann, Elliot Vice and Maura Gibney
Public Benefits on the Brink: What’s Changing in Washington and Sacramento
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Public benefits face their most serious legislative threat in over a decade, at the federal and state levels. In Washington, proposed budget cuts could significantly reduce funding for programs that individuals with disabilities rely on, including Social Security, Medi-Cal, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP. At the same time, California’s budget crisis is leading to new policies that may restrict access to Medi-Cal and reduce funding for IHSS, Regional Centers, and other vital services.
This timely session will explore the latest federal and state developments, focusing on how these shifts could affect eligibility, service availability, and long-term care planning. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what’s at stake, what changes may be coming, and how to advise clients in an increasingly unstable public benefits environment.
Public benefits face their most serious legislative threat in over a decade, at the federal and state levels. In Washington, proposed budget cuts could significantly reduce funding for programs that individuals with disabilities rely on, including Social Security, Medi-Cal, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP. At the same time, California’s budget crisis is leading to new policies that may restrict access to Medi-Cal and reduce funding for IHSS, Regional Centers, and other vital services.
This timely session will explore the latest federal and state developments, focusing on how these shifts could affect eligibility, service availability, and long-term care planning. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what’s at stake, what changes may be coming, and how to advise clients in an increasingly unstable public benefits environment.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
9:15 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
Sponsored by:
ARC – Alternative Resolution Centers
Sponsored by:
ARC – Alternative Resolution Centers
Josh Brothers and Kevin Urbatsch
Pooled Special Needs Trusts in Practice: Evaluating Programs and Protecting Beneficiaries
9:40 am– 10:55 am.
Pooled SNTs are a vital planning option for individuals with disabilities, particularly those with modest settlements or no reliable trustee. When properly managed, they offer professional administration, access to public benefits, and long-term protection for vulnerable beneficiaries.
But not all pooled trusts are created equal. In early 2024, the Centers for SNT Administration, once one of the largest pooled trust providers in the country, collapsed after it was discovered that $100 million had been misappropriated from more than 1,500 trusts. The resulting federal indictment revealed a decade-long fraud scheme that exploited some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.
This session will examine both the promise and the pitfalls of pooled SNTs. You will learn:
• How pooled trusts work, who they serve best, and why they remain an essential planning tool
• Key benefits of using a reputable, well-managed pooled SNT
• What went wrong in Florida, including overlooked warning signs and governance failures
• What questions attorneys, fiduciaries, and advocates should ask before recommending or selecting a pooled trust
• How to read 990s, audit reports, and program policies to assess trust integrity and accountability
• The ethical responsibilities professionals carry when referring clients to pooled SNT programs
Whether you advise clients, administer trusts, or serve as a fiduciary, this session will empower you to support pooled SNTs, wisely, responsibly, and with the right due diligence.
Pooled SNTs are a vital planning option for individuals with disabilities, particularly those with modest settlements or no reliable trustee. When properly managed, they offer professional administration, access to public benefits, and long-term protection for vulnerable beneficiaries.
But not all pooled trusts are created equal. In early 2024, the Centers for SNT Administration, once one of the largest pooled trust providers in the country, collapsed after it was discovered that $100 million had been misappropriated from more than 1,500 trusts. The resulting federal indictment revealed a decade-long fraud scheme that exploited some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.
This session will examine both the promise and the pitfalls of pooled SNTs. You will learn:
• How pooled trusts work, who they serve best, and why they remain an essential planning tool
• Key benefits of using a reputable, well-managed pooled SNT
• What went wrong in Florida, including overlooked warning signs and governance failures
• What questions attorneys, fiduciaries, and advocates should ask before recommending or selecting a pooled trust
• How to read 990s, audit reports, and program policies to assess trust integrity and accountability
• The ethical responsibilities professionals carry when referring clients to pooled SNT programs
Whether you advise clients, administer trusts, or serve as a fiduciary, this session will empower you to support pooled SNTs, wisely, responsibly, and with the right due diligence.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
10:55 am – 11:15 am.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Networking Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Break Visit with Exhibitors
2:45 p.m. – 3:05 p.m.
sponsored by:
sponsored by:
Eric Ochmanek and Anne Osborn
Integrating ABLE Accounts: What Attorneys and Fiduciaries Need to Know Now
3:05 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.
At the 10th Annual Special Needs Planning Symposium, we bring a sharper focus to one of the most versatile and underutilized tools in disability planning: the ABLE account. With policy shifts, tax considerations, and benefit interactions evolving rapidly, it’s never been more critical for attorneys and licensed private professional fiduciaries to understand how ABLE accounts can support, and sometimes enhance, traditional planning approaches. This session will cover what is new and misunderstood, and how to apply ABLE strategies in real-life scenarios. Whether you’ve used ABLE accounts before or want to integrate them into your practice, this session will equip you with practical, California-relevant guidance you can use immediately. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in a year that marks a decade of leading-edge education.
At the 10th Annual Special Needs Planning Symposium, we bring a sharper focus to one of the most versatile and underutilized tools in disability planning: the ABLE account. With policy shifts, tax considerations, and benefit interactions evolving rapidly, it’s never been more critical for attorneys and licensed private professional fiduciaries to understand how ABLE accounts can support, and sometimes enhance, traditional planning approaches. This session will cover what is new and misunderstood, and how to apply ABLE strategies in real-life scenarios. Whether you’ve used ABLE accounts before or want to integrate them into your practice, this session will equip you with practical, California-relevant guidance you can use immediately. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve in a year that marks a decade of leading-edge education.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
4:20 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
sponsored by:
sponsored by:
Tracy Potts
AI and Special Needs Planning: What Attorneys and Fiduciaries Must Know Now
4:45 pm – 6:00 pm
Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon; it is reshaping how legal and fiduciary professionals serve clients in special needs planning. From automated drafting to predictive analysis, AI offers unprecedented efficiency but introduces new challenges in compliance, ethics, and client trust. In this forward-looking session, attorney Tracy Potts demystifies AI’s current role and potential in estate and special needs planning. With a balanced lens on opportunity and risk, she explores how attorneys and private professional fiduciaries can thoughtfully adopt AI tools without compromising their ethical obligations or client-centered service. You will gain practical insights on:
· Safeguarding client confidentiality when using AI tools
· Developing responsible internal policies and training protocols
· Communicating AI usage transparently with clients
· Navigating emerging ethical standards and compliance frameworks
· Staying ahead of rapid advancements in legal tech
Whether you are exploring AI adoption or refining your approach, this session equips you with a foundation for integrating AI strategically and ethically into your practice.
Artificial intelligence is no longer on the horizon; it is reshaping how legal and fiduciary professionals serve clients in special needs planning. From automated drafting to predictive analysis, AI offers unprecedented efficiency but introduces new challenges in compliance, ethics, and client trust. In this forward-looking session, attorney Tracy Potts demystifies AI’s current role and potential in estate and special needs planning. With a balanced lens on opportunity and risk, she explores how attorneys and private professional fiduciaries can thoughtfully adopt AI tools without compromising their ethical obligations or client-centered service. You will gain practical insights on:
· Safeguarding client confidentiality when using AI tools
· Developing responsible internal policies and training protocols
· Communicating AI usage transparently with clients
· Navigating emerging ethical standards and compliance frameworks
· Staying ahead of rapid advancements in legal tech
Whether you are exploring AI adoption or refining your approach, this session equips you with a foundation for integrating AI strategically and ethically into your practice.
Party Time
Strolling Veranda Dinner
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Strolling Dinner in Wine Cave and Poolside Patio
Delicious hors d’oeuvres with Napa wine, craft beer and creative non-alcoholic beverages
Sponsored by:
Strolling Dinner in Wine Cave and Poolside Patio
Delicious hors d’oeuvres with Napa wine, craft beer and creative non-alcoholic beverages
Sponsored by:
Day Three
Saturday Feb. 7th, 2026
Gourmet
Full Breakfast
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Sponsored by:
Bishop Fiduciary Services
Ann Koerner and Kristen Sabo
Life Transitions in the Real World: Bridging Advocacy, Benefits & Planning for Families Across the Wealth Spectrum
8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Even the most sophisticated legal and financial plans can falter when life transitions are poorly supported. This session brings the advocacy lens to the forefront, drawing on the deep field experience of NCA’s team. We will explore families’ crucial (but often overlooked) transitions: school to adulthood, dependency to independence, family caregiving to professional support, and more.
Attendees will gain insights into the gaps between planning and implementation, especially where benefits access, emergency protocols, successor support, and realistic life design intersect. The session will include strategies for both modest-income and high-net-worth families, highlighting the very different challenges each faces in navigating transitions with dignity and sustainability.
Even the most sophisticated legal and financial plans can falter when life transitions are poorly supported. This session brings the advocacy lens to the forefront, drawing on the deep field experience of NCA’s team. We will explore families’ crucial (but often overlooked) transitions: school to adulthood, dependency to independence, family caregiving to professional support, and more.
Attendees will gain insights into the gaps between planning and implementation, especially where benefits access, emergency protocols, successor support, and realistic life design intersect. The session will include strategies for both modest-income and high-net-worth families, highlighting the very different challenges each faces in navigating transitions with dignity and sustainability.
Break Visit with Exhibitors
9:45 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Stuart Zimring and Justin McDermott
Section 8 Shake-Up: New Housing Rules Every SNT Attorney and Fiduciary Needs to Know
10:05 a.m. – 11:35 a.m..
HUD’s attempt to modernize housing programs has created real-world headaches for California professionals working with public benefits. If you advise individuals with special needs or administer SNTs, these changes demand your attention. New federal regulations are now in effect and are reshaping how Section 8 housing programs calculate income and assets. The implications are significant for trustees, attorneys, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries.
In this critical session, national experts Stuart Zimring and Justin McDermott will walk you through the regulatory overhaul brought on by the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA). They will explain what has changed, how enforcement unfolds, and where SNTs are most vulnerable. Whether you are advising clients, drafting or administering trusts, or litigating public benefits issues, you will gain practical guidance on:
• How the new rules impact SNT distributions and third-party payments
• What verification requirements now apply, and who’s responsible
• Why even compliant trusts may unintentionally threaten housing
• Practical strategies to maintain eligibility and minimize legal exposure
HUD’s attempt to modernize housing programs has created real-world headaches for California professionals working with public benefits. If you advise individuals with special needs or administer SNTs, these changes demand your attention. New federal regulations are now in effect and are reshaping how Section 8 housing programs calculate income and assets. The implications are significant for trustees, attorneys, fiduciaries, and beneficiaries.
In this critical session, national experts Stuart Zimring and Justin McDermott will walk you through the regulatory overhaul brought on by the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act (HOTMA). They will explain what has changed, how enforcement unfolds, and where SNTs are most vulnerable. Whether you are advising clients, drafting or administering trusts, or litigating public benefits issues, you will gain practical guidance on:
• How the new rules impact SNT distributions and third-party payments
• What verification requirements now apply, and who’s responsible
• Why even compliant trusts may unintentionally threaten housing
• Practical strategies to maintain eligibility and minimize legal exposure
Break Visit with Exhibitors
11:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
Hon. Mary Thornton House and Hon. Roger Lund
I’ll Take Attorney Mistakes for $500: A Decade of SNT Lessons in Jeopardy Format
11:50 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Join us for an interactive, fast-paced session that blends education with entertainment – Jeopardy-style! In this lighthearted but substantive game, we will test your knowledge of the most significant special needs planning pitfalls, drafting disasters, accounting errors, and other missteps from the past 10 years in special needs planning and fiduciary work. Play along (or cheer from the sidelines) as our panel of California judges navigates categories like:
• Biggest Mistakes Fiduciaries Make
• Accounting Errors That Triggered Court Scrutiny
• How Much Were Those Attorney’s Fees?
Each correct answer earns points and a deeper understanding of how to avoid costly errors in real-world practice. We’ll close with a Final Jeopardy-style showdown.
Join us for an interactive, fast-paced session that blends education with entertainment – Jeopardy-style! In this lighthearted but substantive game, we will test your knowledge of the most significant special needs planning pitfalls, drafting disasters, accounting errors, and other missteps from the past 10 years in special needs planning and fiduciary work. Play along (or cheer from the sidelines) as our panel of California judges navigates categories like:
• Biggest Mistakes Fiduciaries Make
• Accounting Errors That Triggered Court Scrutiny
• How Much Were Those Attorney’s Fees?
Each correct answer earns points and a deeper understanding of how to avoid costly errors in real-world practice. We’ll close with a Final Jeopardy-style showdown.
Thank you
Grand Prize Drawing
1:00pm
Thank You Esteemed Attendees, Sponsors, and Exhibitors
Thank You Esteemed Attendees, Sponsors, and Exhibitors