Planning for the future can feel overwhelming for families raising neurodivergent children, but having the right financial foundation can make a meaningful difference. In this special Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month episode, host Loryn Carpenter sits down with Michael Pereira, founder of The Autism Voyage and a financial planner who specializes in helping special needs families prepare for the future. They discuss practical financial planning topics including income protection, special needs trusts, insurance strategies, and the importance of building a strong network of professionals who understand the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals. Michael also shares insights from both his professional work and his personal experience as a parent, offering guidance for families who may feel uncertain about where to start and how to move from anxiety to clarity while building long term financial stability for their child.

Michael’s Website:

https://theautismvoyage.com/

Letter of Intent:

https://theautismvoyage.com/letter-of-intent/

Timestamps:

(00:00) School updates, Happy Autism Acceptance Month!

(02:16) Introducing Michael Pereira, Founder of Autism Voyage

(05:00) The diagnosis process

(08:40) Applying information from others

(10:00) What financial conversations should families be having when they have a special needs child?

(13:00) 3 primary insurance solutions for families

(17:00) What is a Special Needs Trust?

(19:00) What forms, records and paperwork should families have ready?

(23:00) Create a circle of support

(30:15) Common mistakes - “Do it yourself” approach

(32:00) Success stories

(36:20) Red flags

(40:15) Advice to families