Christmas isn’t expensive because of gifts.
It’s expensive because of a lie we’ve been telling ourselves for years.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden breaks down why Christmas quietly exposes the strengths — and weaknesses — of a family’s financial system. It’s not about spending too much, lacking discipline, or “doing it wrong.” It’s about what happens when generosity, meaning, and preparation get confused with last-minute consumption.

Released just after Christmas, this conversation meets listeners right where they are — reflecting on what the season felt like and why it so often leaves families emotionally full but financially drained.

You’ll hear:

• Why Christmas pressure isn’t caused by gifts — but by unplanned generosity
• The hidden belief that makes December feel heavier every year
• How families with very different incomes experience Christmas differently
• Why structure creates peace, not restriction
• How intentional systems make generosity lighter instead of stressful

This episode isn’t about budgeting harder or spending less.
It’s about understanding the system behind the season — and why families who build wealth don’t avoid life, they prepare for it.

Key Takeaways

• Christmas exposes your financial system more than any other month
• Generosity feels heavy when it’s unplanned
• Consumption has replaced meaning for many families — often unintentionally
• Structure doesn’t kill joy; it protects it
• Financial peace comes from preparation, not perfection

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

Most people believe wealth comes from making the right investment.
This episode challenges that belief — and explains why it’s incomplete.

In Episode 14 of Before the Returns, Jaden shares two real conversations from his week that revealed the same truth from completely different angles. One involved a multi-million-dollar real estate syndication. The other was a 15-minute strategy call with a long-time client who once doubted Family Banking — and now relies on it.

Through these stories, Jaden explains why wealth is rarely built alone, why networks matter more than spreadsheets, and how having the right people and the right system determines whether money becomes a source of freedom or stress.

You’ll hear:

• Why wealth is a team sport
• How the right connections can change financial outcomes quickly
• Why some strategies only make sense after you experience them
• How Family Banking creates liquidity and stability during uncertain times
• The critical question that reveals whether you actually have a financial system — or just a bigger barn

This episode is a grounded, real-world look at how wealth actually works when life gets unpredictable — and why preparation matters more than prediction.

Episode 14 - Transcript

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Wealth is built with people and systems — not investments alone
• Your network is an invisible financial asset
• Money without access does not create freedom
• Experience creates conviction more than theory
• Financial systems should work when income is disrupted
• Bigger barns don’t create peace — better systems do

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

A million-dollar income should mean financial peace… but for many people, it doesn’t.
Meanwhile, some families earning a fraction of that quietly retire wealthy.

In this episode of Before the Returns, Jaden tells two stories — one modern and one ancient — that expose the one wealth principle almost no one understands. You’ll meet Michael, a $1M-per-year earner whose money moves in a straight line… and David, a $100K earner whose money moves in cycles and compounds even while he sleeps.

Then, Jaden retells the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:16–21, KJV) — an ancient teaching that describes today's financial behavior more accurately than any book on money ever written. You’ll see how a wealthy man confused storage with security, how that exact mistake shows up in modern high-income lifestyles, and why it leads to stress, fragility, and lost wealth.

By the end, you’ll understand:

• Why earning more doesn’t solve financial pressure
• Why some high-income earners still feel broke
• Why circular money systems beat linear ones
• How wealthy families get dollars to work multiple jobs
• Why “success is rented, not owned” — and how that applies to your finances
• How Family Banking fits into this ancient principle (without products or sales)

This episode delivers a rare, perspective-shifting moment — one listeners have said they think about for days afterward.
If you’ve ever earned good money and wondered, “Why doesn’t this feel like wealth?”… this is your episode.

Transcript Source: Episode 13 – Transcript (provided by the creator)

Episode 13 - Transcipt

• Wealth isn’t built by earning money once — it’s built by earning money every time it moves.
• High income does not equal high wealth.
• Storage is not security; circulation is.
• Linear money dies when you spend it.
• Circular money grows even while you use it.
• Purpose, not accumulation, determines whether money becomes wealth.
• Family Banking works because it creates a circular system, not because of the product itself.

“Success isn’t something you own. Success is rented — and the rent is due every day.”

“The Rich Fool earned money once. Michael earned money once. And both ended with nothing that lasted.”

“Wealth isn’t built by what you store. It’s built by what you circulate.”

“A $100K earner with a system will beat a $1M earner without one.”

Got feedback? Drop it here

Learn more at www.jadenzubal.com | Follow @jadenzubal | Join the *Before the Returns Weekly* newsletter

📩 Questions or ideas? Email: jadenzubal.wealth@gmail.com

⚖️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making financial decisions.