Abbey practices exclusively in the area of estate planning and administration. She assists individuals and families with estate and tax planning in both New Jersey and New York, preparing both simple and complex estate plans for her clients as appropriate to ensure their assets are distributed consistent with their wishes. Abbey is experienced in preparing wills, insurance trusts, revocable trusts, qualified domestic trusts, grantor-retained annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, charitable trusts, supplemental benefits trusts, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care.
In addition, Abbey handles all aspects of trust and estate administration in New Jersey and New York. Her estate administration practice includes preparing estate, trust, and guardianship pleadings, estate and trust accountings, estate and inheritance tax returns, and preparing releases and waivers for distributions from estates and trusts; and handling estate and inheritance tax audits,
As a parent of a child with special needs, Abbey is uniquely qualified to relate to and advise clients with planning for their special needs child. She prepares special needs trusts and other estate planning documents that are available to clients in planning for their children’s futures. Abbey is an active volunteer with P.G. Chambers School in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey. The school, which serves ten counties in northern New Jersey, helps children with disabilities lead full, productive lives; develop confidence in their own unique abilities; and engage in the community through education and therapy. She is a member of the P.G. Chambers Board of Trustees and serves on the Development Committee.
Elizabeth McKenna, ChSNC™, CFP®
Elizabeth of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and has been in practice as a financial advisor since 2000. In 2008, she earned her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. Elizabeth also holds the Chartered Special Needs Consultant® designation. As a Portfolio Manager, she can help clients pursue their objectives by managing on a discretionary basis my own Personalized or Defined Strategies, which may incorporate individual stocks and bonds, Merrill model portfolios, and third-party investment strategies.
Through wealth management and education, Elizabeth strives to work with clients and their families to overcome life’s financial challenges and help them develop a financial design that will offer them an opportunity to sleep better at night. She takes a collaborative approach to develop a personalized plan that addresses the client’s unique financial goals. While she has the capability to address the needs of any investor, Elizabeth has a particular emphasis on serving the families and individuals with special needs and eldercare who have unique financial challenges. She also offers guidance on investment portfolios, liquidity issues, risk tolerance, concentrated stock and restricted stock management, retirement transition, and wealth transfer strategies.
Heidi Rome, MBA
Heidi has just launched her book, “You Just Have to Love Me: Mothering Instructions from My Autistic Child,” which became the #1 New Release bestseller in three categories on Amazon during the pre-order period before it was even released. The book is based on a profound exchange with her autistic, nonverbal son Ethan, in which he described via typing his own experience of his autism as a spiritual journey. This encounter soothed her soul and transformed her attitude out of a suffering state and into a peaceful purpose.
Heidi is the Autism Mom Coach and founder of Moms Spectrum Oasis. As Mom to Ethan and his remarkable older brother, Eric, her guidance is for all moms who have children with any difficulty, not only autism. After all, every human child has challenges; autism just ramps up the intensity of the challenge and the level of strength and resilience parents need in the face of it. Heidi has shared about her experiences, challenges, and successes getting Ethan’s needs met in all kinds of settings over the years, determined to reach and encourage anyone connected with someone touched by autism.
About the Special Needs Spotlight Webinar Series
Throughout this series, Shana Siegel, a Member of the firm and Chair of its Elder Care & Special Needs Law Practice Group, and her guests will address legal, financial, care, and psychosocial issues, such as guardianship, public benefits, ABLE accounts, life care planning, supported decision-making, residential options, etc. To save the dates for future segments, please click here.