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