Planned Lifetime Assistance Network
PLAN of MA & RI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that administers pooled special needs trusts for approximately 750 beneficiaries with disabilities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, combining trust administration, licensed social worker coordination, and investment management under a single annual fee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersNeedham Heights, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Planned Lifetime Assistance Network does
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc. (PLAN of MA & RI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that provides pooled special needs trust administration and social service coordination for individuals with disabilities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The organization operates the original MARC Trust, which was the first Special Needs Pooled Trust in New England, and now offers First Party (self-funded) and Third Party (family-funded) pooled trusts designed to preserve beneficiary assets while maintaining eligibility for means-tested public benefits such as Medicaid, MassHealth, and Supplemental Security Income. As of 2021, PLAN administered trusts for approximately 750 beneficiaries with $60 million in assets under management.
PLAN's core offering is an all-inclusive service model that bundles trust administration, investment management, disbursement processing, case management, and ongoing service coordination by licensed social workers into a single annual fee. The platform includes online application portals for First Party and Third Party trust enrollment, a Life Care Plan documentation process, and an online disbursement request system. Technology infrastructure supports compliance with federal special needs trust regulations, which restrict how trust funds can be spent without jeopardizing public benefit eligibility. The organization operates from offices in Braintree, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island, serving all of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
PLAN generates revenue from annual trust administration fees on the 750 active beneficiary accounts, supplemented by an active philanthropic and partnership-sponsorship program. The organization has granted more than $1 million to other disability-services nonprofits since 2020 and maintains referral relationships with 14+ partner organizations including Special Olympics Massachusetts, Best Buddies MARI, Northeast Arc, the Carroll Center for the Blind, AANE, and NAMI Massachusetts, with individual partnership commitments ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. Distribution is primarily direct (Braintree and Providence offices) and partner-referred, supported by educational content marketing (podcast, website, webinars) and a network of elder law attorneys. Executive Director Joan McGrath Coulter has led the organization for over twelve years, and co-founder Phyllis S. Solomon remains involved as a board member.
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Planned Lifetime Assistance Network
- Legal name
- Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Inc.
- Website
- https://planofma-ri.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PLAN of MA & RI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that administers pooled special needs trusts for approximately 750 beneficiaries with disabilities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island, combining trust administration, licensed social worker coordination, and investment management under a single annual fee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Special Needs Trust Administration
- NAICS
- Trusts, Estates, and Agency Accounts (52592), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Special Needs & Supplemental Needs Trust Services (FSAAANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Personal & Family Trust Services (FSAAANAA), Guardianship & Conservatorship Services (FSAAANAG)
Keywords
Where Planned Lifetime Assistance Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Needham Heights
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Special Needs Trust Administration Services: Professional trustee and fiduciary services for individuals and families, providing trust administration, social service coordination, investment management, and disbursement processing. Revenue is generated through annual fees for the comprehensive trust management services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Comprehensive Trust Administration Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PLAN of MA & RI provides professional trustee and fiduciary services for individuals with disabilities through First Party (MARC) and Third Party pooled special needs trusts. The all-inclusive service model combines trust administration, investment management, disbursement processing, and dedicated service coordination by licensed social workers, all bundled into a single annual fee. The organization preserves beneficiary assets while protecting eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and SSI.
Product overview
PLAN of MA & RI offers a unified special needs trust administration platform centered on its First Party (MARC) and Third Party pooled trusts. The organization provides an all-inclusive service model combining trust administration, investment management, disbursement processing, and dedicated service coordination by licensed social workers. Beneficiaries access trust services through online application portals and document management systems, with ongoing support through life care planning and regular assessments. All services—including case management, investing, and annual reporting—are consolidated into a single annual fee structure.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- First Party Trust (MARC Trust) A pooled trust where the beneficiary's own funds are placed into the trust to preserve assets while maintaining eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income. Designed for individuals with disabilities whose own assets exceed public benefit thresholds.
- Third Party Trust A pooled trust established by family members or other third parties using their own funds to benefit a person with a disability, preserving assets without affecting the beneficiary's public benefit eligibility. Designed for families planning future financial support for a disabled loved one.
- Service Coordination Ongoing support provided by licensed social workers who assess beneficiaries' living situations, needs, and current benefits, making recommendations and referrals to services that improve quality of life. Bundled into the annual trust administration fee.
- Disbursement Request System An online process for trust beneficiaries to request fund disbursements from their special needs trust accounts for supplemental expenses, with guidelines ensuring compliance with federal regulations. Provided as part of the comprehensive trust administration service.
Quantifiable outcome
- $60M in assets under management for 750 beneficiaries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Planned Lifetime Assistance Network
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and major.
- Special Olympics MassachusettscorePLAN of MA & RI serves as the exclusive special needs trust partner with Special Olympics Massachusetts. In support of this partnership, PLAN committed $100,000 toward Special Olympics Massachusetts. The partnership educates athletes and families about financial security and special needs trust options. Both organizations share a mission of advocacy and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
- Seven Hills Foundation & AffiliatesstandardPLAN of MA & RI announced new partnership with Seven Hills Foundation & Affiliates focused on empowering people with significant challenges. PLAN committed $25,000.
- NAMI MassachusettsmajorPLAN of MA & RI renewed partnership with NAMI MA focused on improving quality of life for individuals affected by mental health conditions. PLAN committed $75,000 toward NAMI MA to help educate families about financial security.
- Federation for Children with Special NeedsstandardPLAN of MA & RI announced new partnership with Federation for Children with Special Needs focused on empowering families and eliminating barriers. PLAN committed $50,000.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of DorchesterstandardPLAN of MA & RI announced new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester dedicated to welcoming and connecting young people and families with disabilities. PLAN committed $50,000.
- The Arc of the South ShorestandardPLAN of MA & RI renewed partnership with The Arc of the South Shore to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. PLAN committed $25,000 toward the organization.
- The Arc Rhode IslandstandardPLAN of MA & RI announced new partnership with The Arc Rhode Island focused on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. PLAN committed $25,000.
- Boston Senior Home CarestandardPLAN of MA & RI renewed partnership with Boston Senior Home Care dedicated to ensuring older adults and people with disabilities can remain at home with dignity and independence. PLAN committed $50,000.
- Eunie's BuddiescorePLAN of MA & RI announced new partnership with Eunie's Buddies offering support to families raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. PLAN committed $100,000.
- Road to Responsibility, Inc.standardPLAN of MA & RI renewed partnership with Road to Responsibility focused on making lives better for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. PLAN committed $25,000.
- Senior Connection (formerly Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging)standardPLAN of MA & RI renewed partnership with Senior Connection to provide leadership in information and resources for older adults and caregivers in Central MA. PLAN committed $25,000.
- Northeast ArcmajorPLAN of MA & RI serves as the preferred special needs planning partner of Northeast Arc, which serves 15,000 people with disabilities annually. PLAN committed $75,000 to support Northeast Arc programs and services, including sponsorship of events and co-presented webinars.
- Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE)majorPLAN of MA & RI announced a strategic partnership with AANE to support autistic individuals and their families. PLAN committed $25,000 initially, then renewed with $50,000. The partnership brings together collective resources to support independence and pathway planning.
- The Carroll Center for the BlindmajorPLAN of MA & RI announced a two-year strategic partnership with the Carroll Center for the Blind, one of the largest vision rehabilitation agencies in the nation. PLAN committed $50,000 toward the Carroll Center. The partnership educates clients and families about financial security and special needs trusts.
- Best Buddies of Massachusetts and Rhode IslandcorePLAN of MA & RI serves as the exclusive special needs trust partner with Best Buddies MARI. In support of this partnership, PLAN committed $100,000 toward Best Buddies MARI. The partnership assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities secure financial freedom and achieve personal goals.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Arc of the United States: The national I/DD advocacy organization; multiple state and local Arc chapters operate their own pooled special needs trusts and provide social services, making them the most direct mission-aligned peer to PLAN's trust administration plus service coordination model.
- National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): NORD operates pooled trust programs (including the NORD Rare Disease Pooled Trust Program) and provides social support services to families affected by rare conditions — directly competing with PLAN for special needs trust clients seeking nonprofit trustee services.
- National Disability Institute (NDI): National nonprofit focused on the financial health of people with disabilities; collaborates on ABLE accounts and pooled trust programming and shares PLAN's mission-aligned, nonprofit special needs trust positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Fidelity Investments: Fidelity offers a national Special Needs Pooled Trust Service with a large investment platform and institutional scale. It competes with PLAN on third-party and first-party trust services, but lacks PLAN's embedded licensed social worker service coordination layer.
- Wells Fargo Wealth Management: Wells Fargo's Personal Trust Services include special needs trusts as part of a broader wealth management portfolio. It competes for higher-asset SNT cases nationally but does not specialize in the I/DD nonprofit space the way PLAN does.
- JPMorgan Private Bank: JPMorgan's Private Bank offers special needs trust services to high-net-worth families alongside broader fiduciary and wealth advisory services. It overlaps with PLAN on third-party SNT cases but at the premium, large-balance end of the market.
Others
- Special Needs Alliance: National nonprofit attorney network specializing in disability, public benefits, and special needs planning. It is a key referral channel and ecosystem partner for PLAN, and competes indirectly via member attorneys who may also offer trustee services.
- Easterseals: National nonprofit providing disability services, advocacy, and supports across the lifespan. It is not a direct pooled trust competitor but operates in the same beneficiary referral ecosystem as PLAN, with overlapping partner networks.
- Best Buddies International: National nonprofit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through friendship, employment, and leadership programs. It is a key PLAN referral partner in MA/RI but does not itself administer special needs trusts.
- Special Olympics: Global nonprofit providing athletic training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. PLAN holds an exclusive trust partnership with Special Olympics Massachusetts, making it a major referral source rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network social profiles
Digital presencePlanned Lifetime Assistance Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Planned Lifetime Assistance Network
What does Planned Lifetime Assistance Network do?
PLAN of MA & RI provides professional trustee and fiduciary services for individuals with disabilities through First Party (MARC) and Third Party pooled special needs trusts. The all-inclusive service model combines trust administration, investment management, disbursement processing, and dedicated service coordination by licensed social workers, all bundled into a single annual fee. The organization preserves beneficiary assets while protecting eligibility for public benefits such as Medicaid and SSI.
Is Planned Lifetime Assistance Network a public or private company?
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Planned Lifetime Assistance Network founded?
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Planned Lifetime Assistance Network based?
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network is headquartered in Needham Heights, United States, in the North America region.
How does Planned Lifetime Assistance Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: special Needs Trust Administration Services.
Who are Planned Lifetime Assistance Network's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Arc of the United States, National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and National Disability Institute (NDI). Broad incumbents are Fidelity Investments, Wells Fargo Wealth Management and JPMorgan Private Bank. Others are Special Needs Alliance, Easterseals, Best Buddies International and Special Olympics.
Does Planned Lifetime Assistance Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Planned Lifetime Assistance Network.
What industry is Planned Lifetime Assistance Network in?
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network's product category is Special Needs Trust Administration. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAANAJ, Special Needs & Supplemental Needs Trust Services, with a secondary code of FSAAANAA, Personal & Family Trust Services. Its NAICS code is 52592 and its SIC code is 8300.