Episode Overview

In this episode, we explore how to have difficult conversations about money with family members, partners, and children. With expert guidance from financial therapist Aja Evans, we discuss setting boundaries, managing expectations, and dealing with the emotional baggage that comes with money talks.

Key Topics

• Having difficult money conversations with partners
• Setting and maintaining financial boundaries
• Managing money with kids and dependents
• Understanding your personal money story
• Dealing with guilt and shame around financial changes
• Building effective money systems

Key Takeaways

• Communication is crucial but needs to be handled thoughtfully - set the stage for important conversations rather than springing them on people
• Use "I feel" statements and center emotions when discussing financial changes
• Your money beliefs are shaped by your earliest experiences - understanding this helps navigate current challenges
• Setting boundaries isn't just about saying "no" to others - it's also about setting limits with yourself
• Be age-appropriate when discussing money with children
• Focus on experiences and long-term investing for kids rather than material goods

Practical Tips

1. For Money Conversations:
   • Choose the right time and setting
   • Lead with emotions and personal experience
   • Give partners grace to process information
   • Use "I feel" statements
   • Avoid springing sensitive conversations without warning
2. For Building Money Systems:
   • Start by understanding your feelings about money
   • Know what's coming in and going out monthly
   • Set up automated payments where possible
   • Check finances at least monthly (weekly preferred)
   • Use high-yield savings accounts for emergency funds
3. For Setting Boundaries:
   • Communicate changes in financial situation clearly
   • Offer alternative ways to show love/support beyond money
   • Remember that people's reactions belong to them
   • Be prepared for initial negative responses
   • Focus on quality time over financial support

Recommended Resources

Books mentioned:

• "Finance for the People" by Paco de Leon
• "Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche
• "Money Out Loud" by Berna Anat
• "I Will Teach You to Be Rich" by Ramit Sethi
• "The Simple Path to Wealth" by J.L. Collins
• "Feel Good Finance" by Aja Evans

Apps mentioned:

• Monarch Money (budgeting app)
• Copilot (financial tracking)

About Our Guest

Aja Evans is the President of the Financial Therapy Association and author of "Feel Good Finance." As a financial therapist, she helps people understand their relationship with money and develop healthier financial habits. Her work focuses on the intersection of money, relationships, and personal growth.

Connect with Aja

• Instagram: @AJAetherapy
• LinkedIn: Aja Evans LMHC
• Website: ajaevanscounseling.com
• Book: "Feel Good Finance" (available at independent bookstores via Bookshop.org)

Get in Touch

Have a question about navigating money conversations with family? Email us at stuck@213studios.com or send us a voice note.

Subscribe to Stuck on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton, and Ximena de la Tijera

Subscribe to our Substack at www.stuckpodcast.com
You can watch each episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

This show was produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton and Ximena de la Tijera

You can watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZFXwxoRNQCA

In this episode of Stuck, we explore the psychology of money with behavioral finance expert Brian Pasalich. As CEO of Behave Technology and trainer of over 1,000 financial advisors, Brian shares deep insights into how understanding your financial decision-making style is crucial for making successful life changes.

Brian breaks down the key differences between "analyzers" and "strategizers" in financial decision-making, explains why traditional financial planning often fails, and offers practical approaches for making financial decisions when budgets are tight. He explores how complementary styles in partnerships can be more valuable than alignment, and emphasizes starting with values and goals before making financial plans.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding your decision-making style is more important than trying to change it
• Four key factors you can control: earn more, spend less, delay goals, or change goals
• Sometimes you need to "suck it up" to achieve longer-term goals
• The importance of aligning financial decisions with personal values

Special Offer: The first 10 listeners to send a voice note to stuck@213studios.com will receive a free financial decision-making style assessment.

Follow Stuck:
Website: www.stuckpodcast.com

Email: stuck@213studios.com

About Brian Pasalich: Brian Pasalich is CEO of Behave Technology and a behavioral finance expert who has trained over 1,000 financial advisors. He helps clients develop clear-headed approaches to financial decisions by understanding their underlying behavioral patterns.

Subscribe to our Substack at www.stuckpodcast.com
You can watch each episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

This show was produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton and Ximena de la Tijera

**We released two episodes back to back for launch. Episodes will be released weekly, Thursdays starting next week**

"From Tech Executive to Gym Owner: A Story of Reinvention"
with Angela Sudbury

Episode Overview
Follow the journey of a 25-year tech veteran who transformed her career by opening a fitness franchise, learning valuable lessons about entrepreneurship along the way.

Key Topics
- The journey from 25-year tech career to small business ownership
- How to evaluate and pursue the franchise model
- Using retirement funds strategically through ROBS
- Managing the transition when you're the primary breadwinner
- Building a business that aligns with personal values

Key Quotes
"I would sum it up with one word - liberating."
"When I'm uncomfortable with something, that usually means I don't have enough information."
"Quality of life and our kids were getting older... it was just a matter of kind of narrowing down options."

Practical Insights
- Franchise advantages for first-time business owners:
* Built-in mentorship
* Proven systems and processes
* Marketing support
* Pre-launch planning assistance

- Financial considerations:
* ROBS (Rollover for Business Startups) structure
* C-Corp requirements
* Ongoing administrative costs
* Tax implications

- Customer acquisition strategies:
* Pre-sales requirements
* Social media marketing
* Lead management systems
* Network activation

Guest Bio
Angela Sudbury spent 25 years in technology before making the leap to small business ownership. Today she owns and operates Alloy Personal Training in Salt Lake City, where she helps clients improve their overall health and quality of life.

Resource Mentioned
alloypersonaltraining.com/halliday

Life Lessons
- Trust yourself enough to explore options
- Get comfortable with being uncomfortable
- The power of grit in entrepreneurship
- The value of connecting with people

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About Stuck
Subscribe to Stuck on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Email us: stuck@213studios.com
Produced by: Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton, and Ximena de la Tijera

Subscribe to our Substack at www.stuckpodcast.com
You can watch each episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

This show was produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton and Ximena de la Tijera

Episode 1: Are You Stuck or Just Impatient? A Silicon Valley Coach's Guide to Career Change
with Dr. Christina Villarreal, Executive Coach (OpenAI, Slack, Apple)

Episode Overview
In this episode, we explore how to recognize when you're truly stuck versus temporarily frustrated, and the psychology behind making major career transitions.

Key Topics
- How to tell the difference between being stuck versus being impatient
- The role of identity in career transitions
- Managing the emotional journey of major changes
- Why community matters when making big moves
- Practical steps to start your transition journey

Key Takeaways
- Being stuck often manifests physically and emotionally before we consciously recognize it
- There's a difference between work purpose and personal purpose
- Change requires letting go of certain identities and expectations
- The importance of giving yourself time to explore and experiment
- Start with curiosity rather than judgment

Resource Mentioned
- The Daily Stoic - recommended reading for clarity and perspective

Guest Bio
Dr. Christina Villarreal is one of Silicon Valley's most respected executive coaches, working with leaders at companies including OpenAI, Apple, Slack, and A16Z. She brings her background in psychology to help professionals navigate high-stakes transitions with confidence.

Find Christina at https://drchristinavillarreal.com/

Subscribe to our Substack at www.stuckpodcast.com
You can watch each episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

This show was produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton and Ximena de la Tijera

Co-hosts Rob Curtis and Jamal Stockton team up each week to help one person whoâ s feeling stuck in their career or life. Listen to the teaser episode to find out how.

Follow us on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

Subscribe to our Substack at www.stuckpodcast.com
You can watch each episode on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@areyoustuck

This show was produced by Rob Curtis, Jamal Stockton and Ximena de la Tijera