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Text Content

410-296-4408
 * Home
 * About Us
 * Who We Serve
   * Beneficiaries
   * Trusts
   * First-Party Trusts
   * Third-Party Trusts
 * Getting Started
   * Partners
   * Find Support
   * Glossary of Terms
   * FAQs
 * Contact Us




 * OUR MISSION
   
   Provide cost-effective special needs trust management services that enhance
   the quality of life, autonomy, and dignity for Marylanders of all ages with
   disabilities.


FIRST MARYLAND DISABILITY TRUST


TRUST MANAGEMENT WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH

First Maryland Disability Trust specializes in cost-effective, special needs
disability trustee services designed to enhance beneficiaries’ quality of life.
We provide families, friends, and individuals with the tools to plan for current
and future needs. All while protecting eligibility for public disability
benefits.

Supporting and encouraging families to plan for the future, including:

 * SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

 * SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING

 * SETTLEMENTS

 * INHERITANCE & UNPLANNED FUNDS

 * SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (SSA) AWARDS



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SPECIAL NEEDS AND DISABILITY TRUSTEE SERVICES


FIRST-PARTY SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

A first-party disability trust is also called a first-party special needs or
supplemental needs trust. It is funded by the individual’s own assets and is
used for their personal benefit.

Pooled Trusts / Pooled Asset Trusts (PSNT)
What is a pooled asset trust?

Medicare Set-Aside Trusts (MSA)
What is a medicare set-aside trust?

Payback Trusts
What is a payback trust?




THIRD-PARTY SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

A third-party disability trust is created by family or friends to provide for
the wellbeing of an individual with disabilities. It can be funded with assets
from any source except the beneficiary’s own. This ensures eligibility for
public benefits like Medicare and Supplemental Security Income while maintaing
quality of life.

Third-Party Pooled Asset Trusts
What is a third-party pooled asset trust?

Testamentary Trusts
What is a testamentary trust?



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FEATURED IN



“As a corporate trustee, Denise Fike’s firm provides cost-effective trust
management for people with disabilities to protect, maintain, and use trust
assets while preserving their clients’ eligibility for public and private
benefits. Working with clients, families, and agencies to improve our clients’
quality of life, we help families create a secure plan for the future of their
loved one.” 

— Baltimore Magazine, “30 Women Who Move Maryland”


WE'RE HERE TO HELP

First Maryland Disability Trust, Inc. is a non-profit organization serving
individuals with disabilities of all ages throughout Maryland.

Contact us today to find out more about how we can help!

Contact Us





WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Contact Us



FIRST MARYLAND DISABILITY TRUST

1400 Front Avenue, Suite 303

Lutherville, MD 21093

Phone: 410-296-4408

Fax: 410-296-1290

Email: DFike@FirstMDTrust.org


LET'S CONNECT

Δ




© 2023 First Maryland Disability Trust. All Rights Reserved.




ALEX J. ZARZECKI, ESQ.

Alex Zarzecki has served on the FMDT Board of Directors since the spring of
2021. He also holds roles on the Trust and Governance Committees. He is an
attorney with Frank, Frank, & Scherr, LLC, where he specializes in estate,
special needs, and medical assistance planning, as well as trust administration
and guardianships. His expertise in elder law makes him a valuable asset to our
board.

Alex’s legal practice has included special needs planning for almost ten years.
He has worked first-hand with FMDT clients, giving him a deep understanding of
the beneficiary’s perspective and needs. While serving as a fiduciary as both a
court-appointed guardian and trustee, Alex gained an understanding of fiduciary
duties and beneficiaries’ points of view. Having experiences on both sides of
the equation allows him to bring helpful suggestions that promote beneficial
solutions.

Alex has a Bachelor of Science in Business Accounting from the University of
Maryland, College Park Robert H. Smith School of Business. He also earned a
Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore. He is a Certified Elder
Law Attorney and has practiced as an elder law attorney since 2012. Alex has
also been an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and
a guest lecturer on legal issues and the elderly at the Johns Hopkins University
Odyssey Program.

Alex belongs to the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the National Elder
Law Foundation, the Maryland State Bar Association, the Baltimore County Bar
Association, and the Baltimore City Bar Association.

Alex enjoys spending his free time outdoors cycling, running, hiking, and
exercising. A Marylander through and through, he lives in Baltimore and
describes himself as a “diehard” Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland
basketball fan.

CLOSE


JILL A. SNYDER, ESQ.

Jill Snyder has been an FMDT Board Member since 2017. As an experienced estate
and trust planning attorney, she also lends her expertise to our Trust
Committee.

Jill is the sole proprietor of her own law firm, the Law Office of Jill A.
Snyder. Before opening her practice, she worked as a senior attorney for the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She specializes in estate planning,
probate administration, and small business planning.

Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy Studies from Duke University and
graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. She has been a
Maryland State Bar Association member since 1996, where she also volunteers as a
Law Day Coordinator. In addition to her FMDT Board duties, Jill works with the
Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore, Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Planned
Giving Advisory Council, the Baltimore County Food Agent for the Department of
Aging, and the Baltimore County Bar Association’s Sixty Plus Legal Program.

Away from the office, Jill enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons,
swimming, hiking, and traveling.

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MALLORY LEGG, ESQ.


SECRETARY

Mallory Legg is the secretary of FMDT’s Board of Directors and serves on our
Officers, Finance, Trust, and Expansion Committees. She has worked with FMDT
since 2018. As an attorney with Project HEAL at the Kennedy Krieger Institute,
she works daily with children and families with special needs providing advocacy
and legal services.

Mallory holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Delaware
and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey
School of Law. Since 2014, she has been a member of The American Bar
Association, Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, and the Maryland State Bar
Association.

Several notable organizations have also recognized Mallory as a “Rising Star” in
disability advocacy and law. These include the Association of University Centers
on Disabilities, the Maryland Legal Services Corporation, and The Daily Record.

Mallory’s experience working closely with families of children with disabilities
in a hospital setting lends a unique, valuable perspective to FMDT’s Board of
Directors. She recognizes that many families are overwhelmed by the day-to-day
requirements they face managing their child’s unique needs, such as doctor’s
appointments and school-based advocacy. She views FMDT as a vital player in
supporting clients by managing their monetary needs through financial planning
and trust management.

In addition to her FMDT work, Mallory is a Council of Parent Attorneys and
Advocates committee co-chair and a Thread volunteer. Outside of her busy
advocacy and volunteering schedule, Mallory enjoys spending time with her
husband and their dogs, golfing, trying new restaurants, and visiting Bethany
Beach in Delaware.

CLOSE


MICHAEL I. LEVINE, ESQ.


VICE PRESIDENT & TREASURER

Michael Levine is the current vice president and treasurer of FMDT’s Board of
Directors. He has been with FMDT since 2009. Michael’s experience in wealth
management and trust divisions has spanned over four decades, where he has
worked for various financial institutions.

A member of the Maryland State Bar Association since 1974, Michael’s most
rewarding professional experiences have been working with clients and families
with special needs. In addition, his legal and wealth management background
allows him to offer critical input to plan and administer trusts and estates.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor
of Science and Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore. He has also
served as an Adjunct Professor at Stevenson University in the Department of
Legal Studies.

Michael is involved with several community organizations in addition to First
Maryland Disability Trust. He is a board member at Oakland Mills Interfaith
Center and his homeowner’s association. He also serves as a legal volunteer with
Seasons Hospice and is on several synagogue committees.

Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, gardening, and traveling
to interesting places in his free time.

CLOSE


MAY-LIS MANLEY, ESQ.

In 2021, May-Lis Manley joined the FMDT Board of Directors, bringing more than
20 years of expertise as a disability and elder law attorney.  She practices
with Landsman Law Group, counseling clients on public benefit programs and
special needs planning. In the past, she has worked with FMDT clients opening
new trust accounts and appointing FMDT as a trustee in both first- and
third-party special needs trusts.

In her work, May-Lis sees the need for a better understanding and appreciation
of special needs trusts and trust management, especially for beneficiaries and
their families. Her extensive experience includes serving as a trustee for
special needs trusts and as a guardian of property in Prince George’s County.

In 1992, she graduated with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law
and has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. A member of the Maryland State
Bar Association, she serves on the Bar’s Elder Law and Disability Rights Section
Council. May-Lis was honored as a Maryland Bar Foundation Fellow in 2021. She
has been a Special Needs Alliance attorney since 2011.

In her off-time, May-Lis enjoys reading and hiking.

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NATASHA LUDWIG, PH.D

Dr. Natasha Ludwig joined the FMDT Board of Directors in the spring of 2021. As
a neuropsychologist focused on clinical research on neurodevelopmental
conditions in children, Natasha has translated her personal experience as the
sibling of a person with a developmental disability into a career and a passion.
She is eager to serve organizations that promote the welfare and independence of
individuals with disabilities.

Natasha holds a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Union College and a
master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Neuropsychology from Georgia State
University. She is a licensed psychologist in the State of Maryland. Since 2019,
she has worked in the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Neuropsychology Department.

Natasha is also an instructor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns
Hopkins School of Medicine, a member of the Luminaries at The Arc Baltimore, and
an advisory committee member for Maryland’s Autism Waiver. She also belongs to
multiple professional organizations, including the American Psychological
Association, the International Neuropsychological Society, the American Board of
Clinical Neuropsychology, and the International Society for Autism Research.

Natasha enjoys traveling in her spare time.

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ERIC JORGENSEN, MBA

In Spring 2021, Eric Jorgenson began serving on FMDT’s Board of Directors.
Through his company, Special Needs Navigator, Eric provides financial planning
services where he draws on his passion for connecting people and supporting the
disability community. He joined FMDT to help raise awareness about pooled trusts
and their capabilities, which he believes are often overlooked as a viable
resource.

On the FMDT Board of Directors, Eric ensures prudent asset usage in support of
advancing our mission. He brings his experience as the parent of a child with
special needs and lends FMDT his unique talent for connecting people.

Eric has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo
University, where he graduated cum laude. He also holds two master’s degrees
from the University of Maryland University College in Financial Management and
Information Systems and Business Administration (MBA).

In 2017, he earned his Chartered Special Needs Consultant certification from The
American College of Financial Services. Additionally, he is a Lean Six Sigma
Green Belt and an Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts Certified Divorce
Financial Analyst. As a retired U.S. Navy veteran, Eric is also a member of The
Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans.

In his free time, Eric can be found reading, hiking, and mountain biking.

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COLIN MEEKS, CPA

Colin Meeks has been an FMDT Board Member since 2017. He is a seasoned financial
planner with nearly three decades of experience. 

In 1998, Colin founded Maryland Financial Advocates in the Baltimore, Maryland
area. His practice provides special needs, elder care, retirement income, and
personal financial planning. Colin specializes in working with families and
individuals with unique needs, particularly families who have a child with
special needs.

Colin has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland. In 2001, he
became a Certified Financial Planner. He is also recognized by FINRA and the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker and investment advisor.
Additionally, he holds 14 state licenses and has passed five advanced-level
exams certifying him as an experienced practitioner.

Colin’s passion for special needs financial planning is rooted in his personal
experience as the parent of a child with disabilities. He boasts raising his two
sons as his greatest accomplishment, both personally and professionally. 

Outside of the office, Colin enjoys coaching his son’s sports teams, golfing,
cooking, and watching baseball.

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