Financial Considerations for Exceptional Family Members of Military Service Members

First, we’ll level-set on core estate planning concepts—not from a legal drafting perspective, but from a counseling and client guidance standpoint. The goal is to strengthen how you identify planning gaps and educate clients effectively.

Next, we’ll examine how military benefits intersect with estate planning decisions. As you know, programs like TRICARE and the Survivor Benefit Plan can create both opportunities and risks, depending on how they’re structured within a broader plan.

We’ll also define Special Needs Trusts in practical terms—focusing on how they function, when they’re appropriate, and how to recognize when a client may need a referral to a qualified attorney. From there, we’ll walk through common planning breakdowns that we frequently see in practice—particularly around beneficiary designations and unintended impacts on means-tested benefits.

And finally, we’ll translate all of this into actionable counseling strategies—how you can guide conversations, spot red flags, and support clients in taking appropriate next steps within your scope.

The goal is to equip you not just with knowledge, but with practical application—so you can confidently support military families navigating these more complex planning situations.