Meet Carleton McHenry, CFP®
As you can see from my picture, I’m a father to two young boys. One of my sons has special needs, and being his dad has completely shaped the way I look at financial planning, the future, and what it really means to protect your family.
Like many parents, I once thought planning was mostly about milestones like college and retirement. But raising a child with special needs quickly teaches you that planning goes much deeper—and lasts much longer. Questions about lifelong care, independence, government benefits, and what happens when you’re no longer here become very real, very fast.
After working with families for many years, I’ve seen that one of the biggest challenges parents of dependents with special needs face is not knowing where to start. Traditional financial and estate planning often overlooks the unique rules, benefits, and long-term realities that special needs families must navigate. Without proper planning, well-intentioned decisions can accidentally jeopardize critical benefits or leave loved ones unprotected.
I’ve also seen how overwhelming this can feel. Between daily caregiving, emotional stress, and financial pressure, long-term planning often gets pushed aside—not because families don’t care, but because no one has shown them a clear, compassionate path forward.
That’s why my work today is focused on helping families plan for life, not just for milestones. My goal is to help you build a thoughtful financial and estate plan that supports your dependent’s needs, protects benefits, and gives you peace of mind—both now and in the future.
This isn’t just my profession. It’s personal. And I’m here to help you plan with clarity, confidence, and care.
My Firm
I run a fee-only wealth management firm dedicated to helping Gen X and Gen Y families make thoughtful, confident decisions about their money and financial resources—especially when life is more complex than the “traditional” planning model.
While many families first come to us for help with college planning, our work goes far beyond that. We help clients navigate cash flow and savings, insurance planning, estate strategies, taxes, and long-term investing, all through the lens of their real-life priorities.
For families caring for dependents with special needs, this often means coordinating financial and estate planning in a way that protects government benefits, plans for lifelong care, and adapts as circumstances change over time.
Our planning process is built around a concept we call Return on Life (ROL)—the idea that money should support the life you’re trying to build, not create additional stress or uncertainty. Every recommendation we make is designed to align your financial decisions with your values, responsibilities, and long-term peace of mind.
If you’d like to learn more about our firm and how we work with families navigating complex planning needs, you can do so here.