In this episode of EWA’s FIN-LYT Podcast, Jimmy Ruttenberg, Jamison Smith, and Matt Blocki tackle one of the more emotionally complex and often misunderstood areas of financial planning: trust and estate strategies for protecting the people who matter most. The conversation begins with special needs trusts, including Jimmy’s deeply personal experience planning for his autistic son and the realities families face when thinking about long term care, government benefits, and who will step in when parents are no longer able. The team explains how special needs trusts work, why assets must be structured carefully, and how thoughtful planning can protect both the child with special needs and their siblings.

From there, the discussion expands into irrevocable trusts and life insurance strategies designed to reduce estate taxes, create liquidity, and prevent forced asset sales at death. Jamison breaks down how irrevocable life insurance trusts can move significant wealth outside of an estate, provide tax efficiency, and serve as a powerful tool for generational planning especially for families with young children or concentrated assets.

The episode closes with an in depth look at QTIP trusts and marital trusts, a critical solution for blended families and second marriages. The team walks through real world examples of how these structures can protect a surviving spouse while ensuring children from a prior marriage ultimately inherit the wealth, reducing conflict and creating clarity during emotionally charged transitions.

If you have a special needs child, are part of a blended family, or want to understand how advanced trust planning can preserve wealth and family harmony across generations, this episode offers practical insight grounded in decades of experience. Be sure to like and subscribe for weekly conversations that help you make smarter financial decisions and design a life aligned with what matters most.

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