Faithful Finance

Most money conversations families avoid are the ones they’ll need most. The peace comes from having them before the crisis.

Right now, Emily is living the sandwich generation from both sides: a new high schooler and a college kid on one end, and a father in hospice care on the other. In 25+ years as a Chartered Financial Analyst, she’s seen it again and again: the hardest part of this season is rarely the schedule. It’s the conversations nobody wants to start.

On this episode of the Faithful Finance Podcast, Emily and Alison open up about what caring for kids and aging parents at the same time really looks like, from making hard medical decisions to taking away the car keys to caring for a parent from out of town.

Then they get practical: the documents every family needs, how to ask your parents about their will without it feeling like an interrogation, and how to get everything organized in one place before a fire drill.

What You’ll Learn:
➡️ What the sandwich generation is, and why more families are carrying both ends of the load for longer
➡️ How to make loving decisions for a parent when the choices get complicated
➡️ Why hospice is a gift, and why accepting help is part of stewarding a hard season
➡️ How to approach the car keys conversation with empathy for what driving really represents
➡️ How to ask your parents about their will in a way that honors their wishes
➡️ The difference between a medical power of attorney and a financial power of attorney, and why your 18-year-old needs one too
➡️ How transfer-on-death designations keep accounts from freezing when your family needs them most
➡️ What to do when a parent is in denial and won’t talk about it
➡️ Long-term care options, from hybrid insurance policies to reverse mortgages
➡️ How to build a “house is on fire” binder so your family knows exactly where everything is

Resources:
Read more about the sandwich generation: https://www.investmentnews.com/practice-management/sandwich-generation/267214

Listen to our estate planning episode, “How To Make An Estate Plan”: https://youtu.be/YI1J_iCKBB8?si=vnJyUvRqg_Ky_sff

Bring the Faithful Finance Workshop to your church: https://faithfulfinance.com/workshop/

Download Emily’s free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily’s Book: Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with a sibling, friend, or anyone caring for kids and parents at the same time

Connect With Emily:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilygstroud
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Griffith Media

© COPYRIGHT 2026 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Emily G. Stroud, LLC
Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member SIPC sipc.org

Most money fights start long before anyone mentions money. Over the course of her 25+ years as a Chartered Financial Analyst, Emily has seen it again and again: the moment she asks a couple about their finances, the emotions underneath come pouring out.

So on this episode of the Faithful Finance Podcast, Emily and Alison sit down with licensed therapist and author Jason VanRuler, who studies what happens when a conversation starts to go sideways and helps couples communicate clearly with each other. Jason unpacks why money talks go from zero to conflict so fast, the shame we carry when our identity gets tied to a number, and the simple shifts that put couples back on the same team.

What You'll Learn:

➡️ Why money conversations are some of the most emotionally loaded "master's level" conversations in any relationship

➡️ The three D's of doom (distracted, defensive, dismissive) and how each one derails a conversation

➡️ What defensiveness is really protecting, and why it wounds the person you love

➡️ How one honest admission turned a costly mistake into a moment of connection for Jason and his wife

➡️ Why your net worth is not your self-worth, and how shame says "I am a mistake" instead of "I made a mistake"

➡️ Why "enough" keeps moving when your identity is tied to a number

➡️ The five communication types from Jason's book Discovering Your Communication Type (Peacemaker, Advocate, Thinker, Harbor, Spark) and how to talk about money with each one

➡️ How to make room for the quieter spouse when one person does all the talking

➡️ The first step for couples stuck in conflict: verify the story you're telling yourself

Resources:

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1UgG69-7G-M

Take Jason's free PATHS communication type assessment: https://www.jasonvr.com/paths

Buy Jason's Book: Discovering Your Communication Type: The 5 Paths to Deeper Connections and Stronger Relationships by Jason VanRuler: https://a.co/d/675JOCl

Connect with Jason VanRuler:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason.vanruler/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Jasonvrcounselor
Website: https://jasonvr.com

Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily's Book: Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:

✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who's ready to stop fighting about money and start working on the same team

Connect With Emily:
Website: https://faithfulfinance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilygstroud
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Griffith Media | https://www.griffith.media
© COPYRIGHT 2026 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Emily G. Stroud, LLC
Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative
Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member SIPC sipc.org

A Tuesday morning, a heart attack, and a wife who didn't have to worry about money in the middle of it. That's where this episode starts.

This episode of the Faithful Finance podcast was recorded live at the Faithful Finance Workshop at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Emily and Alison walk through her 10 practical steps to financial freedom — the meaty, implementable framework from her best-selling book, condensed into one live session. From finding the right financial counsel to building your cash reserve to getting your final affairs in order, this episode covers the full roadmap, all through the lens of preparation, not perfection.

Emily pulls from 25+ years as a Chartered Financial Analyst to walk through real numbers, real benchmarks, and real talk — including the full story behind that Tuesday morning, and why being prepared meant she never had to worry about the financial side while focusing on what mattered most.

What You'll Learn:

➡️ How to find a financial advisor you can actually trust — and the free tool to check their credentials
➡️ Why your budget isn't a noose — it's the roadmap that gives you freedom
➡️ How much you actually need in your cash reserve (the simple math behind it)
➡️ Why automating your savings is the single best practice you can adopt
➡️ How to build an investment plan for retirement, college, and the big dreams
➡️ Why not all debt is bad — and the simple rule of thumb for telling good debt from bad
➡️ What it really means to be properly insured (and the difference between disability and long-term care coverage)
➡️ Why giving generously is one of the best antidotes to financial anxiety
➡️ The most common reason people put off getting a will — and how to finally get it done
➡️ Why every family needs a "house is on fire" binder — and what to put in it

Resources:

Download Emily's free budget worksheet and life insurance needs worksheet at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily's Book:

Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:

✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs a shame-free place to start their financial journey

Connect With Emily:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: /@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

Your money habits tend to be rooted in your beliefs about money. This episode of the Faithful Finance podcast was recorded live at the Faithful Finance Workshop at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. 

Emily and Alison walk through one of the most powerful exercises from the workshop: an honest self-assessment of the money beliefs driving your financial behavior — and a roadmap for replacing the unhealthy ones with something better.

Emily pulls from 25+ years as a Chartered Financial Analyst to name what most people won't: avoidance isn't a neutral choice, it's making your anxiety worse. Whether you're lying awake at 3 AM over bills, arguing with your spouse about money, or telling yourself you'll get a will "someday" — this episode meets you exactly where you are, without judgment, and points you toward a healthier way forward.

What You'll Learn:

➡️ Why avoidance is the one response that actually increases financial anxiety — not reduces it

➡️ How to do an honest self-assessment of your own money beliefs (without shame)

➡️ Why the budget isn't punishment — and how it's the thing that finally helps you sleep at night

➡️ What healthy money conversations with your spouse actually look like — and when to bring in a third party

➡️ Why your kids aren't the problem when it comes to entitlement — and what to do about it

➡️ The real reason most people don't have a will (hint: it's not the cost)

➡️ Why giving generously is one of the most powerful antidotes to financial anxiety — even when it doesn't make logical sense

➡️ How comparison is quietly keeping you stuck — and what to put first instead

➡️ Why getting your financial affairs in order is one of the most loving things you can do for your family

➡️ How freedom starts with understanding your own beliefs — and what to do with that once you do

Resources:

Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily's Book: Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:

✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode

✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway

📲 Share this episode with someone who needs a shame-free place to start their financial journey
Connect With Emily:

Facebook: / emilygstroud

Instagram: / emilygstroud

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud

YouTube: / @faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:

Instagram: / amgengelbach
Credits:

A Faithful Finance production.

Executive Producer: Emily Stroud

Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com
Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

What does money have to do with your faith? More than most churches are talking about — and that's exactly why Emily Stroud took the stage at Christ Chapel in Fort Worth to say the quiet part out loud.

This episode of the Faithful Finance podcast was recorded live at the Faithful Finance Workshop at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Emily opens with a bold reframe: managing money isn't just a financial issue — it's a spiritual one. 

And if you've ever felt guilt, shame, or anxiety around your finances, this episode is the reset you didn't know you needed.

Emily draws on 25+ years as a Chartered Financial Analyst to walk through the emotional roots of our money beliefs, why avoidance is a slippery slope, and what it actually means to steward your resources in a way that honors God — and blesses the people you love most.

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why this workshop isn't about getting rich fast — and what it actually is about
➡️ How money affects your spiritual life and discipleship, whether you realize it or not
➡️ Why nearly everyone — regardless of income — has an emotional issue tied to money
➡️ How your family of origin shaped your money beliefs and behaviors more than you think
➡️ Why your kids already know how you feel about money — and what legacy you're passing down
➡️ How to identify the core money myths that are keeping you stuck
➡️ Why "money is the root of all evil" is a misquote — and what the Bible actually says
➡️ The difference between loving money and stewarding it wisely
➡️ Why financial freedom and generosity go hand in hand
➡️ How to stop letting money manage you — and start managing it with intention and peace

Resources:
Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources
Buy Emily's Book: Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs a shame-free place to start their financial journey

Connect With Emily:

Facebook:  / emilygstroud 
Instagram:  / emilygstroud 
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube:  / @faithfulfinancepodcast 

Connect With Alison:
Instagram:  / amgengelbach 

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production.

 Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com
Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

If the thought of writing a will or setting up an estate plan keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list — this episode is the one that finally gets you to do something about it.

In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach wrap up the "10 Secrets" series with Secret #10: How to Create an Estate Plan. Emily makes the case that estate planning isn't morbid — it's one of the most loving, practical things you can do for the people you care about most.

From wills and guardianship to powers of attorney, beneficiary designations, and trusts, Emily breaks down what you actually need, when to get professional help, and how to organize everything so your family isn't scrambling in the middle of grief.

She also shares deeply personal stories about caring for her own parents — using financial and medical powers of attorney in real-time — that make this conversation feel urgent, not theoretical.

She also walks through her legendary "house is on fire binder" and shares what Warren Buffett and Shaquille O'Neal have taught their kids about money, work ethic, and inheritance.

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy — and why it's one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family
➡️ What a will does (and doesn't) control — and why you absolutely need one if you have children
➡️ How to name a guardian for your kids and why separating the guardian from the trustee is often the wisest move
➡️ Why beneficiary designations on life insurance and retirement accounts override your will — and the costly mistake people make by never updating them
➡️ What a financial power of attorney and medical power of attorney are — and how Emily used both when caring for her parents
➡️ How to organize everything into one "house is on fire binder" your family can grab and go in any crisis
➡️ Why most people won't owe estate tax — but still need a thoughtful plan
➡️ What the unlimited marital deduction means and when estate tax actually becomes a concern
➡️ When a simple will and online forms are enough — and when you need an estate planning attorney, CPA, and financial advisor working together
➡️ How trusts let you "manage from the grave" — setting conditions that encourage work ethic, maturity, and wise stewardship
➡️ What Warren Buffett and Shaquille O'Neal's approaches to inheritance can teach the rest of us
➡️ How to think about funeral expenses and pre-planning so your family isn't scrambling financially on the hardest day

Resources:
Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources
Buy Emily's Book: Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who keeps putting off their estate plan

Connect With Emily:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production. Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

If paying for college feels like a mountain you're not sure you can climb — or one you haven't started climbing yet — this episode is exactly for you. In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach dive into Secret #9: How to Save for College, Emily brings both professional wisdom and personal experience to this conversation — she's currently navigating college with her own daughter — and breaks down how to think about college savings strategically, faithfully, and without the fear.

From 529 plans to scholarship strategy, from managing your kids' expectations to making sure retirement doesn't take a back seat, Emily makes one of the biggest financial decisions of your life feel a whole lot more approachable.

She also shares the full story of how her daughter ended up at the University of Kentucky — and why turning down a near-full ride to a smaller school was actually the right call.

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why education is "the great equalizer" — and how the "teach them to fish" principle applies to college planning
➡️ Why retirement savings must come before college savings — and the one thing you can't get a loan for
➡️ How to have the college money conversation with your kids early (and why managing expectations is a gift, not a letdown)
➡️ What a 529 plan is, how it works, and why it's one of the best tax-advantaged tools available for education savings
➡️ The new 529 rules that let you use funds for private K–12 tuition (up to $10,000/year)
➡️ What to do if your child doesn't use all their 529 funds — including the new option to roll up to $35,000 into a Roth IRA
➡️ How to calculate how much you actually need to save using savingforcollege.com
➡️ Why "the first letter isn't the final offer" — and how everything in the college admissions process is negotiable
➡️ How to give your kids "skin in the game" through scholarships, part-time work, and ownership over their own future
➡️ Why AP classes in high school can shave semesters (and serious money) off your college bill
➡️ How to evaluate colleges like a business decision — weighing cost, major fit, logistics, and scholarship potential
➡️ Why there's no single right path — trade school, community college, conservatories, and the military are all valid options
➡️ Why starting to save at birth is the ideal — and what to do if you're starting later

Resources:
Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources
Buy Emily's Book:
Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who's feeling overwhelmed about paying for college

Connect With Emily:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production. Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

If the word "retirement" makes you want to close the tab and deal with it later, this episode is exactly for you. In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach dive into Secret #8: The Faithful Invest for Retirement. 

Emily breaks down the intimidating world of retirement investing into clear, practical steps anyone can take — whether you're 25 or 55.

From compound interest to dollar cost averaging, from 401(k) matching to the 10-10-10-70 budget model, Emily makes retirement planning feel less like a trip to the principal's office and more like a conversation around the kitchen table. 

She also covers estate planning essentials — including the "house is on fire" binder every family needs — and reminds listeners that your financial past does not have to define your financial future.

What You'll Learn:

➡️ Why your 30s and 40s are exactly the right time to start thinking about retirement
➡️ The 10-10-10-70 budget model and how to use it to build real financial momentum
➡️ The difference between compound interest and capital appreciation — and why it matters
➡️ What dollar cost averaging is and why it's one of the most powerful investing strategies
➡️ How to use diversification to protect your portfolio from volatility
➡️ Why 401(k) and 403(b) plans are one of the best wealth-building tools available to you
➡️ What to do if you're 45 with nothing saved — and why today is still the right day to start
➡️ How to build a retirement budget that reflects your actual lifestyle (not your current one)
➡️ The 4% rule and how to turn your savings into a sustainable income stream
➡️ Why owning your home free and clear before retirement is a game-changer
➡️ The emotional side of retiring — and how to transition well from accumulation to annuitization
➡️ Why "fun jobs" in retirement can protect your health, your mind, and your budget
➡️ How to create an estate plan and why beneficiary designations trump your will
➡️ The "house is on fire" binder — and why every family needs one

Resources:

Download Emily’s free budget worksheet and other practical tools at:
https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily’s Book:

Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website:
https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:

✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement about debt

Connect With Emily:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:

A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative.
Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated.Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

What if the key to building lasting wealth is already sitting right under your roof?

In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach dive into Secret #7: The Faithful Invest Wisely in Real Estate.

With a blend of humor, personal stories, and deep financial expertise, Emily walks listeners through exactly how to buy a home with wisdom, discipline, and confidence — without letting emotion drive the decision. 

Drawing from her banking background and years of buying, renovating, and selling homes, Emily makes one of life's biggest financial decisions feel approachable, practical, and grounded in biblical truth.

From the 25% affordability rule to the tax-free wealth-building potential of your primary residence, this episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about buying, selling, upgrading, downsizing, or simply wanting to understand how to steward real estate well.

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why you should never look at a house you can't afford — and what to do first
➡️ How to determine exactly how much house you can realistically afford
➡️ The 25% rule for housing costs and why it protects your entire financial plan
➡️ What property taxes, HOA fees, and utilities actually add to your monthly payment
➡️ How to evaluate a fixer upper vs. a new build — and why you always need a cushion
➡️ The major tax advantages of your primary residence ($250K–$500K tax-free profit)
➡️ When renting makes more sense than buying — and when it doesn't
➡️ The difference between a 30-year mortgage, 15-year mortgage, and an ARM
➡️ How to avoid becoming "house poor" and what that actually looks like
➡️ Why you should never buy a new home before selling your current one
➡️ How Emily and her husband used real estate repeatedly to build wealth tax-free
➡️ The biblical principle of counting the cost before you build — straight from Luke 14:28

Resources:

Download Emily's free budget worksheet and other practical tools at: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily's Book:
Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website: https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:
✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who is thinking about buying a home

Connect With Emily:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:
A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative. Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS

What if preparing for the worst is actually one of the most loving things you can do for your family?

In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach dive into Secret #6: The faithful insure themselves against disaster. 

Through deeply personal stories—Emily's mother's decade-long battle with dementia, her father's heart attack, and her husband's emergency heart surgery—this conversation makes the case that insurance isn't about fear. It's about love, stewardship, and protecting the people you cherish most before a crisis arrives.

Emily breaks down the three pillars of disaster protection: disability insurance (often the most overlooked), life insurance (for both spouses—including stay-at-home parents), and long-term care insurance (the one that can quietly wipe out a lifetime of retirement savings). She explains exactly what Medicare does—and critically, what it doesn't—cover, and why waiting until you "need" insurance is often too late.

The episode closes with a reminder that while earthly insurance protects our finances, there's an even deeper assurance available through faith in Christ—an eternal insurance that provides hope no matter what storms come.

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why disability insurance is often more critical than life insurance
➡️ How disability can be more financially devastating than death
➡️ When and how to sign up for short-term and long-term disability at work
➡️ The difference between term life and permanent life insurance—and which fits most families
➡️ Why stay-at-home parents absolutely need life insurance too
➡️ How to calculate how much life insurance your family actually needs
➡️ What long-term care insurance covers—and why it matters so much in your 50s and 60s
➡️ Why Medicare does NOT pay for assisted living, nursing homes, or memory care
➡️ How Emily's mother's 11-year dementia journey illustrates the real cost of care
➡️ Why getting insurance when you're young and healthy is always the right move
➡️ How proper planning lets you focus on loved ones—not finances—during a crisis
➡️ The spiritual anchor: faith in Christ as our ultimate "eternal insurance"

Resources:

Download Emily’s free budget worksheet and other practical tools at:
https://faithfulfinance.com/resources

Buy Emily’s Book:

Purchase Faithful Finance by Emily Stroud on her website:
https://faithfulfinance.com/resources/

Support the Show:

✅ Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode
✍️ Leave a review and share your biggest takeaway
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement about debt

Connect With Emily:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyGStroud/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilygstroud/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@emilygstroud
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@faithfulfinancepodcast

Connect With Alison:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amgengelbach/

Credits:

A Faithful Finance production.
Executive Producer: Emily Stroud
Produced by Greatlight Creative: https://www.greatlightcreative.com

Emily G. Stroud, MBA, CFA is a Registered Representative.
Securities offered through Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC to residents of: TX, UT, WV, NY, OK, PA, SC, TN, AR, AZ, GA, ID, IL, KY, MT, and NC. Investment Advisor Representative Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Stroud Financial Management, Inc. are not affiliated. Cambridge and Emily G. Stroud, LLC are also not affiliated. Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA’s BrokerCheck: BrokerCheck.FINRA.org | www.FINRA.org | www.SIPC.org | Form CRS