I look back on 2014 with great pride in the knowledge that there are now 118 new families that have secured their children’s financial future through a trust. To fund a trust of €50,000, €70,000 or €100,000 takes a big commitment from parents. At times, I am astounded at what length parents will go to, ensuring their child’s future access to entitlements and quality of life will be maintained.
As the government cut entitlements and services, you took it upon yourselves to put some of the Domiciliary Care Allowance or Disability Allowance away in to a trust so you are less reliant on future governments and your child will now be more financially independent.
I must also sincerely thank the following organisations for inviting me to present my Trust Planning Workshop to over 300 parents in the past 12-months; Down Syndrome Portlaoise, Cork, Donegal, Dublin and Down Syndrome Centre. Ennis Voice for Autism, Our Lady of Good Council, Ataxia Ireland, SNAP Dundalk, ASDI Wexford, One Step Forward, Spina Bifida Limerick and the Carers Association in Donegal.
I hope all the parents were motivated after my workshop and have now put in place a Special Needs Will, Trust, Letter of Wishes, Hospital Passport and Carer’s Bank Account.
Finally, I must say a big thank you to my wife Lisa and my two kids Zara & Ryan for their patience as I travelled all around Ireland. I love what I do but I wouldn’t be able to help families if it wasn’t for the support I get at home.
As Lisa is Scottish we are all off to Glasgow for Christmas and I am confident that Santa will be able to drop off all the toys to “Papa & Gran’s house.”
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Allan Cuthbert