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