December Newsletter

Happy Holidays from CCT

CCT Directors meeting from left: Joanne Marcus, President & CEO; Jason Foster, Director of Finance & Operations; Ben Tiefenback, Counsel & Director of Client Services; Thomas Smith, General Counsel; Allie Wright, Executive Assistant; Rachel Baer, Counsel & Director of New Client Services

CCT would like to extend warm wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. May this special time of year be filled with moments of laughter and happiness.  From all of us at CCT, we wish you a wonderful holiday season that brings joy, peace, and cherished lasting memories.

What a year 2023 has been! Last year, CCT was honored to be asked to accept over 350 clients from another pooled trust that was closing. We said “yes” because we have the expertise and experience necessary. Throughout 2023, we have worked to integrate these new clients, as well as the new clients that joined CCT directly, and to provide them with the high quality of service that we give provide each of our clients. 

In November, we sent out our annual Client Satisfaction Survey to all our clients.  The feedback (shown below) from our clients, both new and longstanding, attests to the professional, client-centered service provided by CCT staff.  We are proud to note that the results of the 2023 survey are consistent with the positive results we have received in prior annual surveys.

Throughout the years, CCT has experienced significant growth due to transfers from other pooled trusts and new clients referred by professionals. With our dedicated staff and supportive Board of Directors we appreciate the confidence shown in our ability to provide quality trust administration services to people with special needs.  We look forward to an exciting 2024.

Our Client Services Staff Who Set Us Apart

Written by

Jessica Morris, LCSW

Client Services Clinical Manager

As 2023 comes to a close, CCT’s Client Services staff remain hard at work during one of our busiest times of the year. The winter holidays are a time for our beneficiaries to enjoy special gifts for themselves, brightening spirits and improving quality of life. Though many of our beneficiaries may not have involved family members, or family nearby, our staff work with advocates to support access to the joys of the season. 

We all appreciate the presence of family and caregivers in our lives, the people who connect us to our history and future, and CCT’s team recognizes that our interactions with our clients should come with that same spirit. Throughout the year, CCT works with family members to make those connections with beneficiaries by supporting travel to visit and spend time together. These times are crucial in creating special memories and feelings of love and caring. As we reflect on our own lives over the past year, we recognize the importance of those moments and can appreciate the reminder of our good fortune and our role in helping others create the greatest possible quality of life.  

Our Client Services team wishes you all a happy holiday season and a new year filled with joy and success.

CCT staff at our Officegiving celebration, opening up their CCT 2024 Calendars.

What is the Alternative to a Spend Down?

An unexpected inheritance left directly to the beneficiary, a personal injury settlement, a winning lottery ticket, social security back payment, alimony, and child support – all positive events. Unfortunately, for people with a disability, receiving funds can jeopardize means-tested government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplementary Security Income (SSI) and pose a risk to qualifying for future benefits.  

Spending down the funds may work in certain circumstances, but once the funds are spent, they are no longer available, which can pose a hardship. The following are alternatives to a spend down that will not jeopardize your clients’ SSI and Medicaid benefits and is an opportunity for people with a disability that cannot manage the funds themselves:

Annual Meeting CCT’s Board of Directors

Pictured above:

Top Row: Matthew Buckley, CFP®, CTFA; Stephen Burns, Esq.; Sean Rutherford, CPA; Pierre Greene, MBA; Bagley Reid, CFA; Craig Davis, Esq.

Seated: Alexandra Badman, Esq.; Stephanie Grana, Esq.; Joanne Marcus MSW, President & CEO; Marc Verdi, CPA, CFP®; Bailey Liipfert III, Esq.

Not pictured:

David Acree, CPA; Lateshia G. Brown, LCSW; Susanna B. Jones, Esq.; Stephen Kimberlin, CPA;

Richard Kunz, MD; Marian Millikan, CPA; Cheryl Page, CFA, CFP®; Edward Patchett, CFA; Peter Tomasch, CFP®; Luci Weigel, CPA

Learn more about the CCT Board by clicking here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Is it necessary to draft a Special Needs Trust document for a Pooled Special Needs Trust?

Answer: No, drafting a Special Needs Trust is not necessary as each beneficiary’s sub-account is governed by the First-Party and Third-Party Master Trust Agreements. The Agreements have been crafted and vetted by experienced special needs attorneys. Assets are transferred to the sub-account by estate plan, court order, beneficiary designation, gift, or other means of transfer.  The client joins by completing a Joinder Agreement, our legal document to join and signing it in front of a notary. 

The below buttons link to The Process of Joining where you will access the Master Trust Agreements and the Joinder Agreements.

A PSNT offers the opportunity to save the attorney time and for the client the fee to join is nominal so there is a cost savings along with many additional advantages of a PSNT.

Conferences & Presentations

Contact CCT

trustCCT.org

804-740-6930

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