Susan thought she had everything figured out.

Her parents had a modest retirement account, a paid-off home, and no immediate health issues. As the eldest daughter, she assumed when the time came, she’d just “step in and help.” It wasn’t until her father fell and ended up in the hospital that reality hit hard.

There was no plan.

No long-term care directives.
No updated will.
No idea how to pay for in-home care.
And no agreement among the siblings about what to do next.

Sound familiar?

If you’re a financial advisor working with aging clients — or the adult children of those clients — this scenario probably hits too close to home. These situations happen every day. And too often, they happen in crisis.

At Plan For Life, we believe the best time to plan for aging is before it becomes a crisis. That’s why we created the Elder Planning Specialist Program — to equip advisors with the tools and training they need to help families like Susan’s avoid chaos, conflict, and costly mistakes.

Where Most Financial Planning Falls Short

Most advisors focus on wealth accumulation, investments, and retirement income. All incredibly important. But when it comes to what happens after retirement — the real-life stuff like caregiving, housing transitions, medical decisions, and family disagreements — there’s a massive gap.

That gap isn’t just inconvenient. It’s dangerous.

Without proactive elder planning:

• Families make rushed, emotional decisions

• Adult children burn out as caregivers

• Clients spend more than they need to on care

• Important documents get lost or overlooked

• Family relationships fall apart

The reality is this: Financial advising doesn’t end at retirement. It evolves.

How Advisors Can Be the Difference

Imagine if Susan’s advisor had asked a few key questions early on:

• “Have you discussed care preferences with your parents?”

• “Is there a plan if one of them needs help at home?”

• “Who will make decisions if they can’t?”

• “Would you like help getting those conversations started?”

That one conversation could have saved Susan months of stress, thousands of dollars, and heartbreak with her siblings.

That’s the kind of impact trained advisors can have — when they’re equipped with the right education and resources.

What Is the Elder Planning Specialist Program?

It’s not just a course. It’s a transformation in how advisors serve aging clients and their families.

The Elder Planning Specialist Program is a 10-module online certification that walks you through:

• Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care options

• Navigating cognitive decline and medical events

• Communicating with families during difficult times

• Identifying red flags before crisis hits

• Facilitating family meetings and care discussions

• Understanding legal documents and powers of attorney

• Helping clients protect their legacy and dignity

Upon completion, you’ll receive the Elder Planning Specialist (EPS) designation and become part of a growing network of advisors leading the way in this much-needed space.

Created by Experts Who’ve Lived It

The program was co-created by:

• Bob Mauterstock, a retired CFP® with over 35 years in financial advising, and now a national voice in elder planning.

• Annalee Kruger, a senior care expert and founder of Care Right Inc., who’s worked hands-on with thousands of families through the aging process.

Together, they’ve seen the consequences of poor planning — and the peace that comes when families are supported by informed professionals.

A Growing Opportunity for Advisors

Let’s talk numbers for a second.

• 10,000+ people turn 65 every day

• By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65

• The average cost of long-term care ranges from $50,000 to $120,000/year

• Most clients — and advisors — aren’t ready

But the advisors who are ready? They’re going to stand out.

Adding elder planning to your practice is more than a value-add. It’s a differentiator in a crowded market. It shows your clients that you see them — not just as financial assets, but as whole people with families, values, and futures they care deeply about.

Susan’s Story, Rewritten

Now imagine the same story — but different.

Susan meets with her parents and their financial advisor, who’s an Elder Planning Specialist. Together, they go through care preferences, assign powers of attorney, update legal documents, and explore in-home support options.

When Susan’s father falls six months later, the family already has:

• A care plan in place

• A financial strategy to pay for services

• Family roles clearly defined

• Legal paperwork ready to go

No scrambling. No arguing. Just a plan.

That’s the power of proactive planning.
That’s the peace of mind every family deserves.
And that’s the kind of advisor you can become.