Brain Injury Association of York Region is pleased to present Tax Planning for Brain Injury: Part 1, an online educational talk about the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).

In this session, Daniel and Maria will examine some of the key concerns around the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) and touch briefly on how these fit into an overarching financial plan. They will explain the general do’s and don’ts of these key elements of disability finance as well as outline some of the considerations that people with disabilities and their families often overlook when planning for future financial management.

Topic outline:

The DTC:

• Who is eligible and how to apply?

• How to increase the odds of being approved

• Why should someone apply?

• What are the potential pitfalls

The RDSP:

• What exactly is the RDSP and what is it for?

• When should someone open one?

• What investment strategy is suitable in this account?

• What are the benefits?

• What could go wrong?

• How can this account be used in estate planning?

• Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)’s position on the RDSP

• When can/should the money in this account be accessed?

About Daniel K. Carroll, B.Comm:

Daniel is a co-founding partner at Hudson Wealth and Trust Planning Group with 18 years of experience in financial analysis and planning. Twelve of these years were spent working directly with the victims of motor vehicle accidents and medical malpractice and their families. He is a published author in the field of disability finance and has given talks at several high-profile events on topics, including: Key financial considerations of starting a business; Managing risk when you are uninsurable; Understanding market turbulence; Estate planning for families with a disabled child; and more.

Daniel has a depth of understanding of the needs of the people who have struggled with disability that few in the financial services industry possess. His planning design concepts led to the creation of Canada's leading disability financial planning firm as well as two other companies that specialize in servicing people with disability.

About Maria Campanella, M.Sc:

Maria is a co-founding partner at the Hudson Group of Companies who has always had a passion for numbers. She attended McMaster University graduating with a Masters in Pure Mathematics after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics. Maria's studies were driven by her desire to find not only satisfactory solutions, but the most efficient ones – in fact, her thesis was on this very topic.

Maria has been in the financial services industry for nearly 10 years, much of which has been spent servicing clients with disability. Her passion for helping those made vulnerable by injury stems from seeing first-hand how these events effect an individual and their families. Maria’s brother was catastrophically injured in an MVA which is, in part, what led her to seek the optimal financial solutions for survivors of such catastrophes.

Maria has authored several articles on key topics in disability finance as well as retirement planning and risk management. She is an expert on the Registered Disability Savings Plan and is often invited to speak on the topic.