Are you struggling with balancing an inflexible job with parenting a child with special needs?  Today's guest, Jen Turrell, was quickly forced to find alternatives ways to reinvent herself after her two daughters were diagnosed with autism. Jen shares a little bit about her family story and how she quickly realized that becoming an entrepreneur was exactly what she needed to add some flexibility and stability to her life and finances.  

Now Jen is a financial personal trainer who supports female entrepreneurs and self-employed women take control of their money, so it doesn’t control them. Breaking through complex financial stress, she helps automate cashflow systems for both work and home. Jen is also a dedicated Mom to her two girls who face the world with a few extra challenges.  She is a musician, an author, and a part-time pilot. To hear some of Jen's conversations with her favorite people check out her podcast on iTunes "Financial Fluency: Speaking the Language of Money."

In this episode:

2:10 Jen introduces herself and how becoming a special needs mom influenced her decision to leave traditional employment

5:30 What women give up when they leave the workforce, even when it's necessary.

7:30 Jen talks about her family... from her high risk pregnancy through to understanding her daughter's complex health care needs

11:00 Her daughter's artistic talent and her morning routine

13:28 A diagnosis of Autism and Eosinophilic esophagitis for her oldest and a second diagnosis of Autism for her youngest 

16:05 Jen talks about coping through the challenging times following her daughter's diagnosis

20:23 Jen talks about grief and the expectations following her children's diagnosis

25:00 Why Jen decided to take shoe tying off the IEP

30:39 Jen talks about the importance of the iPad and what her daughter can do with it

34:11 Jen's venture into business and her start-up to create an Autism program

38:00 Insurance - the exclusion policy for Autism and the cost of healthcare when you have a child with complex medical needs

42:30 Jen's book - Help My Child Has Autism 

46:30 Jen's decision to focus a little more on herself

49:20 Jen's More - What's she is doing now with supporting women with Financial Fluency

55:00 Jen talks about irregular income and automation

 

Connect with Jen

http://jenturrell.com/

 

References:

Podcast: Financial Fluency

Podcast: All the Stuff

I Am Intelligent

Help My Child Has Autism (Jen's Book)

Ramit Sethi - I Will Teach You To Be Rich

 

Connect with Tracy

www.tracysherriff.com