Ditch the Suits - Your Money, Your Life
Ditch the Suits - Your Money, Your Life

Ditch the Suits - Your Money, Your Life

Travis Maus

Overview
Episodes

Details

Join Travis Maus, Chief Executive Officer and Senior Wealth Manager, on this award-winning podcast as he shares his professional knowledge and experience gained from building S.E.E.D. Planning Group LLC, a fee-only Wealth Management firm. Learn from people who make being a fiduciary their business, to get more from your money and life.

Recent Episodes

Confident Choices; Take Healthcare Off Your Worry List - EP. 197
DEC 9, 2025
Confident Choices; Take Healthcare Off Your Worry List - EP. 197

Navigating health insurance and Medicare can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode, Travis Maus (CEO of S.E.E.D. Planning Group) sits down with Cole Craven, founder and Head of Growth at Move Health, to break down how financial advisors and their clients can confidently tackle healthcare decisions. 

Discover how Move Health’s team-based approach and partnership with forward-thinking advisors brings clarity, peace of mind, and real solutions to one of the most confusing parts of financial planning. Learn how advisors can move from reactive to proactive, ensuring clients get the support they need, whether planning for retirement, switching careers, or simply seeking better coverage. 


Cole shares insights on Move Health’s transparent process, the value of working with a dedicated team of health plan advisors, and why objective, education-focused guidance matters. The episode also covers industry compensation, the importance of holistic planning, and practical tips for understanding your own health coverage. 


If you’re ready to take healthcare off your worry list and empower yourself with practical knowledge, this conversation is for you. 


Key Takeaways: 

  • How financial advisors can confidently guide clients through healthcare decisions 
  • The Move Health workflow and what clients can expect 
  • Why team-based advice beats going it alone 
  • How Move Health is compensated and why transparency matters 
  • Actionable tips for understanding your health insurance and Medicare options 


Call to Action: 

Educate yourself, read your summary of benefits, and make sure you’re working with someone you trust. If your advisor isn’t helping with healthcare planning, it’s time to ask for more, or find someone who will. 

🅿️ 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


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


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.

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30 MIN
Retiring? Demystifying Health Coverage - EP. 196
DEC 2, 2025
Retiring? Demystifying Health Coverage - EP. 196

Health insurance and Medicare often feel like a black box, especially for retirees, entrepreneurs, and anyone facing a major life transition. In this episode, Travis Maus (CEO of S.E.E.D. Planning Group) welcomes Cole Craven, founder and Head of Growth at Move Health, to shine a light on the complexities of healthcare coverage and empower listeners with practical, actionable knowledge. 

Whether you’re planning for retirement, launching a business, or simply trying to make sense of your options, this conversation breaks down common myths, uncovers industry realities, and offers insights to help you make informed decisions about your health coverage. Cole shares his personal journey into the healthcare space, the founding story of Move Health, and why education is the key to overcoming uncertainty and fear around health insurance. 


Listeners will learn how Move Health helps advisors and clients navigate the maze of coverage options, why understanding your unique health and financial situation matters, and how to avoid common pitfalls, like choosing plans based solely on price or following advice that isn’t tailored to your needs. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Why health insurance is a top concern for retirees and entrepreneurs 
  • The importance of education and healthcare literacy 
  • How Move Health empowers advisors and clients with real data and objective advice 
  • The difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans 
  • Why working with a trusted, objective partner is crucial 

Call to Action: 

Don’t let health insurance be a source of stress or confusion. Seek out education, ask questions, and make sure you’re working with someone who puts your best interests first. If you’re unsure about your coverage, get informed and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

🅿️ 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


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


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.

 

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27 MIN
Why the Middle Class Numbers Don’t Add Up: The Real Story Behind America’s Wealth - EP. 195
NOV 25, 2025
Why the Middle Class Numbers Don’t Add Up: The Real Story Behind America’s Wealth - EP. 195

In this episode of Ditch the Suits, we are going to dig deeper into the question: Is the middle class truly disappearing in America? Building on last episode’s discussion of statistics and public opinion, we’ll examine the long-term trends from 1980 to 2020, breaking down how shifts in income, demographics, and retirement patterns have impacted the middle class. We are going to challenge the narrative of a shrinking middle class and encourage you to focus on your own financial journey rather than getting caught up in comparisons or hype. 

🅿️ 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


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


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.

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28 MIN
The Real State of America’s Middle Class: Facts, Fiction, and Your Financial Future - EP. 194
NOV 18, 2025
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17 MIN
Understanding How Financial Advisors Get Paid and the True Value of Advice - EP. 193
NOV 11, 2025
Understanding How Financial Advisors Get Paid and the True Value of Advice - EP. 193

Introduction 

In this episode, we sit down with Dan Kain, Senior Wealth Manager from S.E.E.D. Planning Group, to tackle one of the most misunderstood aspects of financial planning: how advisors get paid and what real value looks like at every stage of wealth. We break down the myths around fees, commissions, and the true cost of financial advice, especially for smaller investors. This episode is all about empowering you to make informed decisions about your money and your life by exposing industry practices and clarifying what you should expect from a transparent, fiduciary advisor.  

Key Topics Covered 

1. Misconceptions About Advisor Compensation 

  • Many people believe the size of their portfolio should dictate how much they pay an advisor. For example, someone with $5,000 may think they should pay far less than someone with $1 million, but the reality is that smaller accounts can require just as much, if not more, work. 
  • There’s a common misunderstanding about what services are provided and how much work comprehensive planning actually takes, regardless of account size.  

2. The Challenge for Small Investors 

  • Small investors often face unique challenges. It can be hard for them to work with fee-only advisors, and they are more vulnerable to practices like “churning,” where advisors repeatedly sell products just to earn commissions, often at the client’s expense. 
  • This cycle can keep small investors from growing their wealth, as excessive fees and poor investment performance from structured products eat away at their returns.  

3. The Value of Fiduciary Advice 

  • Paying a fiduciary advisor, even if it seems like a higher upfront cost, can be crucial for long-term growth. Fiduciaries are legally obligated to act in your best interest, and their guidance is based on experience and a deep understanding of your unique situation. 
  • The value you receive isn’t just about the time spent; it’s about the expertise and the hundreds of similar situations your advisor has navigated before. Implementing their advice can lead to significant improvements in your financial situation, sometimes by six or seven figures.  

4. Comprehensive Planning Goes Beyond Account Size 

  • The amount of money you have doesn’t always correlate with the complexity of your planning needs. Someone with less money might have more complicated estate or tax planning issues than a wealthier client whose finances are on autopilot. 
  • An effective process involves digging into the details of each client’s life to determine the real scope of work required, not just basing it on the size of their portfolio.  

5. The Emotional and Practical Value of Professional Advice 

  • Many clients are frustrated by the cost of planning, especially if it’s their first time working with a professional. But the real value comes from the advisor’s experience, ability to see the big picture, and the potential to improve your financial outcomes. 
  • If you’re only looking for free advice or don’t see the value in paying for expertise, you may miss out on opportunities to significantly improve your financial future.  

Conclusion 

This episode is an educational look at the realities of financial advisor compensation and the true value of fiduciary advice. Whether you’re just starting out or have significant assets, understanding how advisors are paid and what you’re really getting for your money is essential. By focusing on transparency, expertise, and a client-centered approach, you can make smarter decisions and set yourself up for long-term financial success.  

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33 MIN