The initiative builds on the unique I AM ALS community support services model with much-needed expert community-support and financial planning services for families impacted by ALS.
SUMMIT, N.J. and WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- I AM ALS and Protected Tomorrows, a part of the Simplicity Group (https://www.simplicitygroup.com/), today announced the launch of the ALS Financial Wellness Program, a first-of-its-kind financial planning and counseling service built specifically for people living with ALS and their family caregivers. The program will be delivered virtually nationwide starting on October 13, 2026.
An ALS diagnosis comes with enormous financial burden, often arriving at the peak of working life: the average age at diagnosis is 55, and within 20 months only about 15% of people who were working remain employed. Income falls just as costs surge – research estimates the cost of ALS care at $1.43 million over the course of the disease. About 35,000 Americans are living with ALS, and roughly 6,000 families will face a new diagnosis each year. Almost none of them get the community-support and financial guidance built for their situation. General financial advisors rarely know the disability benefits landscape, which will now be made available through the I AM ALS-Protected Tomorrows partnership.
Through the program, Protected Tomorrows' advisors work with families on essential financial decisions, such as Social Security Disability Income and Medicare timing, insurance review, retirement and estate planning, home modification financing, and protecting a caregiver's income. I AM ALS's licensed social workers and trained Peer Support Specialists provide navigation for the ALS-related needs that come alongside those decisions, including emotional and peer support, care options, clinical trials and expanded access programs, assistive technology, and home modifications. Families can come to either organization and be connected to both. The program delivers specialized guidance, rather than direct financial assistance, helping families understand their options, protect what they have, and plan for what is ahead.
"Our commitment through Protected Tomorrows is to ensure every family has access to holistic, expert community-support and financial planning built for their unique circumstances," said Bruce Donaldson, Partner and CEO, Simplicity. "Supporting the launch of the ALS Financial Wellness Program alongside I AM ALS aligns perfectly with our core values, and we are proud to back this vital initiative for the ALS community."
"Financial burden was the number one challenge found in our 2024 survey of a thousand patients and caregivers, shared by 68% of people living with ALS and 74% of caregiver respondents," said Andrea Goodman, CEO of I AM ALS. "Families shouldn't have to figure out benefits, insurance, and long-term costs alone in the middle of the worst and most complicated period of their lives, and on top of everything else the disease takes. It's our responsibility to support community needs, and this program puts a specialist who understands ALS in the room with families from day one, so their planning starts before the crisis, instead of after it."
"At Protected Tomorrows, our mission has always been to bring clarity, dignity, and peace of mind to families navigating complex situations," said Mary Anne Ehlert, Simplicity Group Partner and Founder of Protected Tomorrows. "Partnering with I AM ALS allows us to deliver specialized, compassionate guidance directly to those who need it most, allowing families to plan for the future with confidence."
The ALS Financial Wellness Program is designed to reach families early, when planning can have a transformative impact. I AM ALS and Protected Tomorrows plan to grow the program's reach over time, with the goal that expert financial guidance becomes a standard part of ALS care rather than something families have to find on their own.
People living with ALS and their family caregivers can connect with the program by contacting the I AM ALS Support Team at iamals.org/reach-out or [email protected] where a Support Specialist will help them get started.
About Simplicity Group
Simplicity is the leading partner for advisors, financial institutions, and consumers by delivering the best combination of wealth accumulation and financial protection products that meet the needs of a consumer-oriented holistic financial plan. As one of the fastest growing partnerships in the financial services industry, Simplicity offers an unrivalled array of tools and technologies to grow and protect wealth, which can be accessed through affiliation, outsourcing, or joining the partnership. In an ever-changing environment, Simplicity's commitment to working in our clients' best interest is unwavering and has always been anchored to our commitment to Education, Value, and Partnership. For more information, please visit: www.simplicitygroup.com and follow the Company on LinkedIn.
About Protected Tomorrows
Protected Tomorrows, a Simplicity commitment, is a compassionate advocacy and financial advisory organization dedicated to supporting families of individuals with special needs and disabilities. Through holistic, heart-centered planning, Protected Tomorrows helps families navigate government benefits, legal considerations, future care planning, and financial strategies—working to bring caregivers greater clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. Protected Tomorrows champions dignity, security, and a more fulfilling future for every individual.
About I AM ALS
I AM ALS is a nonprofit organization leading what STAT News called the most successful patient advocacy campaign this century. We built a community movement to harness collective power and find treatments and a cure for ALS faster, while also creating lasting, systemic change. Our focus is on three areas:
I AM ALS offers dynamic, inclusive support services for connection, healing, and turning pain into purpose-driven action by facilitating programming such as support groups, community gatherings, and peer matching. Learn more at www.iamals.org/get-help/als-support-services
MEDIA CONTACTS
Denielle Webb Simplicity Group P: 347-204-7181 |
Rachael Kesler Palm Director of Marketing and Communications, I AM ALS |
SOURCE Simplicity Group Holdings
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