For their money woes you can send in your own troops and ransom them (if you have the excess money), modify the game (give them more starting cash) or modify their troops (cut the support from 3 to 1 for Golden Horde Warriors for example). I like to build up the economies in Early and give them areas with 80% farming to start with. If I am starting in High or Late I will give them more money.

mfberg