We recently caught up with Kelly Piacenti, head of SpecialCare at the financial services company MassMutual. She is a pioneer in her field, helping develop the practice of financial planning for the families of individuals with special needs. She is the former leader of the company’s ADAPT business resource group, an affinity group for employees with disabilities and others impacted by disability. She recently received the United Cerebral Palsy 2024 Chair Award for her career-long dedication to improving the lives of others.
A Mission to Protect the Financial Needs of Families
Piacenti started her career 33 years ago at MetLife, where she was instrumental in establishing the company’s special care planners group. Eight years ago, when MassMutual acquired MetLife’s consumer-focused offerings, she joined the MassMutual team and took over the newly combined program. “MassMutual started offering planning services and financial advice for families of individuals with special needs in 2004. The company realized then that these families faced tremendous challenges in terms of maintaining financial health while caring for their loved ones. Our mission as a mutual company is where that comes from: We protect the financial well-being for our policy holders and their families. My team helps create a holistic planning approach that goes beyond typical financial matters,” she said.
Creating the Industry Standard Certification
The company helps special needs families plan financially “primarily by educating our affiliated advisors. We’ve developed a three-course certification process that’s become the industry standard. We worked closely with the American College of Financial Services to develop the designation, Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), for financial advisors,” Piacenti explained. The designation indicates the person has mastered the specialized skills needed to help caregivers plan for the future of dependents with special needs. “MassMutual has nearly 400 advisors who have achieved this designation,” she said. “The work they do is so important, helping families source and coordinate with a team of advisors and advocates.” This includes qualified special needs attorneys, nonprofit disability organizations and service providers. The holistic approach takes into consideration how the social, medical and legal needs impact future life care plans. “We offer financial needs analysis and options that make the most sense based on a family’s circumstances.”
Driven by Compassion
Piacenti explained that for approximately 85% of MassMutual’s ChSNC-designated advisor affiliates, their motivation is personal. “These advisors are personally invested in our special care planner program—they either have a family member with special needs or have someone close to them that requires additional care.” For Piacenti, the experience of caring for a family member with special needs is deeply personal. “I have four kids. One of my children, Nicholas, suffocated at birth and passed away a few years ago at the age of 19. I know firsthand the challenges families face. It’s incredibly stressful, and it creates a ripple effect through everything, touching all family members. Nick changed our entire world. His huge impact has reinforced my drive to help other parents plan for their child’s well-being.”
Piacenti is proud that MassMutual remains committed to providing special care planning for families. “We’ve provided 20 years of understanding. We’ve made the effort, and it’s been worth it. We’re the only company to have a dedicated special care area, and we continue to advise the industry on best practices and special care standards. For me, I’m 100% committed to this journey.”
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This article was originally published on diversitycomm.net.