Stephen Ehrens, Expert in Special Needs Financial Planning

Based in Fairfield Connecticut, Stephen Ehrens specializes in financial planning for families with children who have special needs. As a Wealth Management Advisor and a passionate advocate for his child with special needs, Stephen is uniquely positioned to guide parents through the process of developing a customized financial and estate plan for their families.
 
A plan tailored to meet their child's future needs, ensuring that families look beyond one day at a time empowered with knowledge, optimism and the confidence knowing their child’s future is not left to chance.

Special Needs Planning Kit

To obtain a Special Needs Planning Kit, please click on the Lets Connect tab and request your Kit today!

 Special Needs Workshops and Webinars

One of Steve's passions is to address special needs groups in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey to help empower parents and caregivers on the value of developing a special needs trust life care plan.

Steve works with special education PTA's, private schools, and other special needs organizations in planning special needs trust workshops and webinars. Steve invites a highly respected estate planning attorney to accompany him, in order to provide parents with the best legal advice when making future decisions for their special needs child.

Close up of woman in deli with two workers in background

Additional Online Resources

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Ed and Rehabilitative Services
Connecticut Birth to Three Program
Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities
Connecticut State Department of Education Special Education Link
SERC State Education Resource Guide
Autism Spectrum Resource Center
Connecticut Down Syndrome Congress
Connecticut Parent Advocacy Center (CPAC)
SEPTA (Special Education PTA'S)
Special Olympics Connecticut 
Autism Spectrum News
 

In December 2014, President Obama signed into law the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. The ABLE Act allows individuals to set up a tax-deferred account to save funds for the future benefit of a person with disabilities without having to give up eligibility for certain government benefits.  Assets of up to $100,000 may be held in a 529-ABLE account without risking eligibility for certain government programs. The 529-ABLE accounts, similar to 529 College Savings Plan accounts, will allow for earnings to grow and be distributed free from federal taxes as long as the funds are used to pay for qualified expenses like education, health care, transportation, housing, and a few other allowable expenses. While the new law changes federal tax code to allow for these types of accounts, the accounts will be operated by states and will become available when states put the new regulations into action.  Northwestern Mutual continues to monitor the offering of these accounts through states and will provide updates on 529-ABLE accounts availability as there are developments.

The Northwestern Mutual difference

No. 1

Best life insurance company for consumer experience, 2023. (NerdWallet)1

Top 5

We're one of the Top U.S. Independent Investment Broker-Dealers.2

$8.2B

In dividends expected to be paid in 2025.3

A++

AAA, Aaa, and AA+ - we've earned the highest financial strength ratings awarded to life insurers from all four major rating agencies.4

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