What happens when financial tension meets emotional depth in a relationship? In this unforgettable episode of the Healthy Love and Money Podcast, Ed sits down with Dr. Stephanie Zepeda, a licensed marriage and family therapist and director of Financial Therapy Texas, for a transformative conversation on money, identity, and the emotional roots of our financial behaviors. From navigating income insecurities to the liberating power of second-order change, Stephanie brings her deep expertise and compassionate lens to the heart of what couples truly struggle with—and how they can heal. Whether you're a therapist, financial planner, or someone trying to make sense of your own money story, this episode offers insight, relatability, and hope. Don’t miss this journey into the psychology of money, the mysticism of mismatched couples, and the radical act of dreaming together.

Key Takeaways:

• How do our childhood experiences and cultural backgrounds shape our beliefs and behaviors around money in relationships?

• Why is it essential for couples to move beyond budgets and into deeper conversations about values, hopes, and dreams?

• What role does emotional safety play in helping partners address financial conflict and build mutual confidence?

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) - Why talking about money is so “edgy” for couples

(05:00) - Frugal vs. YOLO

(13:00) - Exploring confidence, self-worth, and income insecurity

(17:00) - Gender roles, income dynamics, and financial responsibility

(20:00) - The power of psychological merging of finances

(24:00) - Deconstructing inherited financial values and narratives

(28:00) - Finding virtue in financial “obsessions”

(33:00) - When and how to seek professional support

Key Topics Discussed:

Healthy Love and Money, Ed Coambs, Charlotte North Carolina, Financial Therapy, Couples Financial Planning, Financial Intimacy, Money and Relationships, Financial Communication for Couples, Attachment Styles and Money, Financial Conflict Resolution, Therapy-Informed Financial Planning, Financial Trauma Healing, Financial Wellness for Couples, Financial therapy for couples, Money and relationships, Marriage and money counseling, Emotional triggers around finances, Income inequality in relationships

Mentions:

Website: https://www.financialtherapytexas.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-zepeda-phd-lmft-633a3525

More of Healthy Love & Money:

Redefine your relationship with money and each other: https://www.healthyloveandmoney.com/

Ed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthyloveandmoney/

Contact me at ed@healthyloveandmoney.com

Healthy Love & Money is a personal podcast meant for education and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Ed and the brilliant Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre dive deep into the emotional and relational dynamics of family, business, and money. As a licensed therapist, financial therapist, and expert in family business governance, Dr. Shay brings a rare blend of clinical insight, lived experience, and academic expertise. From childhood lessons of delayed gratification to guiding high-achieving women of color through the emotional complexities of wealth, Dr. Shay shares how our earliest money memories shape adult financial behavior—and how we can rewrite the story. Whether you’re navigating family business dynamics, wrestling with your financial identity, or just seeking a deeper connection with your partner and your money, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

• How does early financial socialization shape our adult relationship with money and identity?

• What role does self-awareness play in improving financial behavior and relational dynamics?

• How can families in business navigate overlapping personal and professional roles to maintain both healthy relationships and business success?

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) - Financial socialization

(08:30) - Financial therapy during the pandemic

(10:00) - The impact of early life experiences on money beliefs

(14:00) - Understanding the client’s financial narrative and identity

(20:00) - Addressing core identity issues through financial therapy

(22:00) - The metaphor of the inner well and emotional roots of behavior

(25:00) - The role of prenatal and early developmental influences

(27:00) - Importance of self-awareness in relationships and money

(30:00) - Family governance and its impact on business

(32:00) - Navigating multiple roles in family-owned businesses

Key Topics Discussed:

Healthy Love and Money, Ed Coambs, Charlotte North Carolina, Financial Therapy, Couples Financial Planning, Financial Intimacy, Money and Relationships, Financial Communication for Couples, Attachment Styles and Money, Financial Conflict Resolution, Therapy-Informed Financial Planning, Financial Trauma Healing, Financial Wellness for Couples, Financial therapy for Families, Money and mental health, Family business dynamics, Financial socialization, Self-awareness and money behavior

Mentions:

Website: https://www.harrispierreconsulting.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharris-pierre

Mentions: Shades of Wealth Podcast

More of Healthy Love & Money:

Redefine your relationship with money and each other: https://www.healthyloveandmoney.com/

Ed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthyloveandmoney/

Contact me at ed@healthyloveandmoney.com

Healthy Love & Money is a personal podcast meant for education and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.

Ed sits down with Myra Salzer, founder of The Wealth Conservancy and a pioneering advocate for inheritors. Together, they pull back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of inherited wealth. With warmth and wisdom, Myra shares how inheriting money can be as disorienting and isolating as it is liberating and why traditional financial planning often fails those who never earned their wealth but must still learn to manage it wisely. From emotional identity struggles to relationship challenges, gender expectations, and the psychological impact of sudden wealth, Myra offers a roadmap through the unspoken realities of inheritance. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating or supporting someone on the complex journey of inherited wealth.

Key Takeaways:

• What are the hidden psychological and social challenges that inheritors face when managing significant wealth?

• How can inheritors develop self-worth and confidence when their financial independence wasn’t earned through traditional means?

• How can inheritors develop self-worth and confidence when their financial independence wasn’t earned through traditional means?

Key Timestamps:

(00:00) - The fantasy vs. reality of inheriting wealth

(03:00) - Life expectations and responsibilities of inheritors

(05:00) - Gender differences in wealth support systems

(07:00) - Emotional challenges and self-esteem in wealthy heirs

(10:00) - Aligning net worth with self-worth

(13:00) - Navigating financial partnerships with fiscal unequals

(25:00) - Why inheritors need social and emotional support

(27:00) - Stages of inherited wealth development

Key Topics Discussed:

Healthy Love and Money, Ed Coambs, Charlotte North Carolina, Financial Therapy, Couples Financial Planning, Financial Intimacy, Money and Relationships, Financial Communication for Couples, Attachment Styles and Money, Financial Conflict Resolution, Therapy-Informed Financial Planning, Financial Trauma Healing, Financial Wellness for Couples, Inherited Wealth Challenges, Inheritor Financial Planning, Psychology of Money, Building Self-Worth With Wealth, Family Wealth Dynamics

Mentions:

Website: https://www.thewealthconservancy.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/myra-salzer

Mentions: https://www.wayintowealth.com/

More of Healthy Love & Money:

Redefine your relationship with money and each other: https://www.healthyloveandmoney.com/

Ed’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/healthyloveandmoney/

Contact me at ed@healthyloveandmoney.com

Healthy Love & Money is a personal podcast meant for education and entertainment. It should not be taken as financial advice and is not prescriptive of your financial situation.