CRYSTAL LAKE – Financial adviser Ismat Jaffer-Khimani recently earned the Certified Special Needs Adviser designation administered by the Special Needs Financial Services division of the Merrill Lynch Wealth Management group.

This internal Merrill Lynch designation is awarded to Merrill Lynch candidates who are trained in providing special needs advice and guidance for families of children with disabilities. The CSNA training emphasizes the goal of preserving clients’ short-term wealth while developing a long-term strategy for the financial security and the care of family members who have special needs.

The CSNA curriculum includes special needs planning, special needs trusts and trustees, personal and legal concerns facing families of children with disabilities, and building partnerships with special needs attorneys and disability advocates that foster an integrated financial strategy.