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

Short answer, no. In this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach bring clarity to one of the most anxiety-inducing parts of money management.

Emily shares a balanced, nuanced perspective: not all debt is bad, but it must be approached with wisdom, discipline, and a realistic plan.

She explains the difference between wealth-building debt (like a responsibly purchased home or a business loan that produces income) and consumer debt that quietly drains your future (credit cards, car loans, “cash-quick” paycheck advances, and store credit cards).

You’ll hear practical examples—from buying a dental practice to building credit intentionally—and why “if it floats or has wheels, it’s not an investment.”

Emily also walks through six healthy habits to help you stop impulse spending, avoid debt traps, and create freedom with a budget, savings, and smart boundaries (including her famous “freeze the credit card in a block of ice” strategy).

If debt has you feeling stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed, this conversation will help you trade fear for confident control—one faithful step at a time.

What You’ll Learn:

➡️ Why Emily believes not all debt is bad—and when it can be wise
➡️ The difference between good debt (leverage) and bad debt (consumer traps)
➡️ Why mortgages and some business loans can build long-term stability
➡️ Why cars, boats, and dinners are expenses—not investments
➡️ How to approach student loans responsibly after graduation
➡️ How credit cards can help (or hurt) depending on how you use them
➡️ Why paying your credit card in full every month is non-negotiable
➡️ How to build credit wisely (including the “authorized user” strategy)
➡️ Why payday loans and cash advances can create a vicious cycle
➡️ Six healthy habits to conquer debt and stop impulse spending
➡️ Why Emily says: never cosign a loan—even for family
➡️ How to help a loved one financially without harming the relationship

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

Giving when money is tight sounds crazy, right? But in this episode of the Faithful Finance podcast, Emily Stroud and Alison Gengelbach tackle one of the most misunderstood and controversial topics in personal finance: tithing and generous giving.

Emily reframes giving not as a religious obligation or prosperity gospel, but as an act of worship and faith. Grounded in biblical principles, she explains why tithing is less about rules (10% net vs. gross?) and more about the posture of your heart toward God and others.

You'll hear honest conversation about the blessings of generosity, why you can't outgive God (and what that really means), and how to start giving even when your budget feels tight. Emily and Alison share personal stories—including a powerful reflection on the woman with the alabaster box—and tackle the hard questions: What if I can barely pay my bills? Does volunteering count as tithing? What about giving to nonprofits beyond the church?

What You'll Learn:
➡️ Why tithing is an act of worship, not a religious tax
➡️ The biblical foundation for generous giving
➡️ How to start giving when your budget is tight
➡️ Whether to tithe on gross or net income
➡️ The difference between tithes and offerings
➡️ How to include giving in your monthly budget
➡️ Why automating contributions builds consistency
➡️ The blessings of giving (and why they're not always monetary)
➡️ How to give as a couple with unity and intentionality
➡️ What to do when you're the one who needs to receive help
➡️ Why giving of your time can feel more sacrificial than money

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 giving

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