In this eye-opening episode, Travis is joined once again by consumer advocate and CEO of WealthRamp, Pam Krueger, for a raw, unfiltered conversation about the alarming realities behind 401(k) “advice,” what fiduciary really means, and how investors are often unknowingly being nudged into products that serve companies—not them.

Pam calls out the dirty little secret no one wants to talk about: the misleading guidance that masquerades as financial planning inside workplace retirement plans. If you've ever been invited to “sit down and chat about your retirement options,” you’ll want to hear why that meeting may come with hidden strings—and commissions.

💡 This episode is packed with insights on:

• Why “free” advice from your 401(k) provider might not be advice at all
• The danger of moving your money without understanding the bigger picture
• How to actually find a real, fee-only fiduciary financial advisor
• What holistic planning really means (hint: it’s not just about your investments)
• Why WealthRamp’s process puts power back in your hands—and keeps your info private

And don’t miss Pam’s straight-shooting commentary on industry malpractice, the truth behind “Mad Money,” and what smart investors really need to know before rolling over a dime.

This isn’t about scare tactics—it’s about empowering you to make decisions that serve you, not the machine.

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About Pam Krueger

Pam is an investor advocate, personal finance journalist, and author with over 25 years of industry experience. She’s the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, a fee-only financial advisor referral service built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and consumer protection. Since 2019, Wealthramp has connected nearly 30,000 people to right-fit advisors and coaches.

Pam is also the creator and co-host of the award-winning MoneyTrack series on PBS and the Friends Talk Money podcast. She’s a two-time Gracie Award winner and earned the 2021 NAPFA Special Achievement Award for championing fiduciary financial advice. Her work is widely respected for its transparency and focus on helping people achieve financial confidence.

Social channels

Pam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamkrueger/

Pam Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamktv/

Pam Instagram: @pamkruegertv

Wealthramp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealthramp/

Wealthramp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wealthramp/

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🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more...

If you’ve ever wondered who you can really trust with your money—or felt like the financial industry was built to confuse you—this episode is your compass.

Travis welcomes Pam Krueger, the fearless founder and CEO of WealthRamp, to the show. She’s on a mission to help everyday people find real, vetted, fee-only fiduciary advisors who actually work in your best interest. Pam’s story starts in the trenches of a big brokerage firm where she witnessed firsthand how "advisors" were trained more to sell than to serve. What followed was a complete 180: a bold career pivot, a PBS show, and eventually the creation of a platform that puts consumers back in control.

Together, Pam and Travis dig deep into:

• The shocking difference between real advisors and financial salespeople
• Why the “fiduciary” label is so often misused—and what it actually means
• How firms like Morgan Stanley and others use smoke and mirrors to confuse accountability
• Why fee-only matters, and why you should care who gets paid—and how
• How Pam helps people cut through the noise and find the right-fit advisor without gimmicks or hidden agendas

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a wake-up call for anyone tired of getting pitched instead of planned for.

🔥 Whether you’re a DIY investor, burned by a bad advisor, or just ready to retire right, don’t miss this episode. The advice industry has a PR problem—and Pam Krueger is here to fix it.

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About Pam Krueger

Pam is an investor advocate, personal finance journalist, and author with over 25 years of industry experience. She’s the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, a fee-only financial advisor referral service built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and consumer protection. Since 2019, Wealthramp has connected nearly 30,000 people to right-fit advisors and coaches.

Pam is also the creator and co-host of the award-winning MoneyTrack series on PBS and the Friends Talk Money podcast. She’s a two-time Gracie Award winner and earned the 2021 NAPFA Special Achievement Award for championing fiduciary financial advice. Her work is widely respected for its transparency and focus on helping people achieve financial confidence.

Social channels

Pam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamkrueger/

Pam Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamktv/

Pam Instagram: @pamkruegertv

Wealthramp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealthramp/

Wealthramp Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wealthramp/

______________________________________

🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other...

In this episode of Ditch the Suits, we're back with Matt Brassard, Head of Growth at Ground News, to continue the conversation about how your media diet could be making you more confused—and more stressed—than informed. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by doomsday headlines or wondered why every story you read feels slanted, this one's for you.

We break down how Ground News works, why headlines manipulate behavior, and how algorithms are designed to keep you in a digital echo chamber. Matt pulls back the curtain on the mechanics of modern news media, revealing how the platform’s bias ratings, blind spot feed, and factuality scoring can help you ditch the drama and get back to the truth.

Highlights:

• Why most people don’t actually read news articles—and what that means for your understanding of current events
• How Ground News helps you spot bias before it hijacks your thinking
• What the blind spot feed can reveal about the stories you’re not seeing
• Why trust in traditional fact-checkers is collapsing—and what Ground News is doing differently
• How just $30 a year could restore your peace of mind and help you make better-informed life and money decisions

No fluff. No politics. Just a candid discussion about how to become a smarter news consumer in a world built on outrage. Interested in Groundnews? Visit https://ground.news/ditchthesuits to get 40% off your subscription.

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🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.

In this new two-part conversation, Travis welcomes Matt Brassard of Ground News to discuss the current state of news and the challenges of finding trustworthy information. Matt opens up about the role of Ground News as a news aggregation tool.

Together, they explore the hyper-political media landscape, the importance of local news, and the impact of media bias on public perception. Matt shares insights from his journey in the news industry and the evolution of Ground News, emphasizing the need for transparency and understanding in news consumption.

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Interested in Subscribing to Ground News? As a Ditch the Suits listener, use this link https://ground.news/ditchthesuits to get 40% off your Ground News subscription.

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🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.

In this follow-up episode of Ditch the Suits, Travis continues his conversation with Dr. Paul Gould, PhD, LICSW, founder of Kindred Spirits Counseling and Wellness. Together, they dig deeper into the emotional toll political uncertainty and federal job instability are having on workers—and what can be done about it.

With tensions rising across political lines and anxiety driven by job insecurity, Dr. Gould helps us understand how emotionally charged environments, cognitive distortions, and toxic media cycles can compound stress. They explore the difference between stress and anxiety, the importance of recognizing when you're caught in unhealthy thought patterns, and how a growth or "survivor" mindset can offer a pathway forward.

Whether you’re a federal employee facing changes, someone supporting a loved one through uncertainty, or just feeling overwhelmed by the constant barrage of bad news, this episode offers powerful, actionable insight into how to take back control of your mental health, career, and future.

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🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.

In this episode of Ditch the Suits, host Travis Maus sits down with Dr. Paul Gould, PhD, LICSW, a licensed clinical social worker and expert in anxiety and trauma, to unpack the mounting stress experienced by federal employees amid sudden funding cuts and workforce changes.

With nearly 35% of all U.S. jobs tied in some way to federal funding, these shifts are rippling across the economy—impacting individuals, families, and financial futures. Travis and Dr. Gould dive into the differences between stress, anxiety, and trauma, and explore the real emotional toll these changes are taking on people. They discuss why common reactions like “toughen up” may be more harmful than helpful, and how political polarization and media overload are intensifying people's sense of fear and uncertainty.

Most importantly, Dr. Gould offers practical, thoughtful advice on how to recognize and manage anxiety, maintain emotional well-being, and support others through challenging transitions. Whether you're directly affected or simply trying to make sense of the current climate, this episode delivers insights that are both grounding and empowering.

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🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.

In this episode, Travis and Steve delve into the complexities of tariffs, egg prices, and the broader implications for financial futures. They challenge common narratives surrounding these topics, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying factors affecting prices and regulations.

The conversation highlights the role of supply issues, regulatory policies, and the misconceptions surrounding tariffs, ultimately advocating for a more informed perspective on economic issues.

One key is Travis stating, "Awareness of the media agendas is essential for clarity and olitical conversations should be rooted in intelligence, not vitriol."

They explore how tariffs serve as a mechanism for realigning competitive balance and discuss the importance of supporting local economies.

The conversation also touches on investment strategies in a changing market and the broader implications of U.S. economic policies on global relations.

Key Takeaways

• Egg prices are high due to supply issues, not tariffs.
• Panic buying during crises can exacerbate price increases.
• Regulatory policies often dictate agricultural practices.
• Tariffs are a common tool used by many countries.
• The U.S. is not unique in its use of tariffs.
• Free trade, as commonly understood, does not exist.
• Understanding tariffs is crucial for informed financial decisions.
• There are opportunities in economic downturns.
• Emotional responses to economic news can cloud judgment.
• Sleeping on an issue can provide clarity and reduce emotional reactions.
• Tariffs are often misunderstood; they are not a direct tax on consumers.
• Local economies benefit when consumers prioritize local products.
• Investment strategies should consider the shifting dynamics of global trade.
• The U.S. economy is a significant player in the global market.
• Understanding tariffs can help consumers make informed choices.
• Consumer behavior is influenced by pricing and product quality.
• Economic policies can create opportunities for local businesses.

_________________________________________

🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.

In this episode, Travis and Steve discuss how to navigate market volatility, emphasizing the importance of understanding market corrections and crashes. They explore strategies for profiting during downturns, including Roth conversions and identifying investment opportunities.

The conversation highlights the wisdom of Warren Buffett, encouraging listeners to view market fluctuations as "opportunities rather than threats."

Key Takeaways

• Market volatility can be leveraged for profit.
• Understanding the difference between market corrections and crashes is crucial.
• Market resets can create buying opportunities.
• Roth conversions during market downturns can maximize tax benefits.
• Investors should focus on the value behind stocks, not just their prices.
• Fear often drives poor investment decisions during market crashes.
• Strategic planning can turn market downturns into financial opportunities.
• Investing requires a long-term perspective, especially during volatility.
• Research is essential before making investment decisions during downturns.
• Market catastrophes can provide rare buying opportunities for savvy investors.

___________________________________________

🅿️ For more DTS content check out our Patreon

Thanks to our sponsor, S.E.E.D. Planning Group! S.E.E.D. is a fee-only financial planning firm with a fiduciary obligation to put your best interest first. Schedule your free discovery meeting at www.seedpg.com

You can get Ditch the Suits highlights, and other great content produced by NQR Media at https://youtube.com/@NQRMedia

📧 For more information or to get in touch with us, visit https://www.ditchthesuits.com

👍🏼 You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @nqrmedia

About Your Host:

Travis Maus has been in financial services for over fifteen years. He is a Senior Wealth Manager and Chief Executive Officer at S.E.E.D. Planning Group. Travis also hosts the Unleashing Leadership Podcast, where he dissects some of his favorite books on leadership and how you can apply it to your business or life.