DIY or Delegate: the Financial Advisor Conundrum w/ Pam Krueger #1055

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Oct 29, 2025

Pam Krueger, an award-winning investor advocate and the CEO of WealthRamp, discusses the crucial decision of whether to DIY your finances or hire a professional. She emphasizes that individuals drive their financial outcomes, debunking the myth that simply hiring an advisor guarantees success. Pam highlights the importance of transparency in advisor fees and the value of vetting fiduciary advisors. She also shares tips on finding quality advice, navigating industry pitfalls, and knowing when it's time to part ways with an unsatisfactory advisor.

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INSIGHT

You Are The Silver Bullet

You are the "silver bullet" in your financial journey; an advisor only augments your decisions.
Know what you expect from advice and how the advisor is paid before hiring anyone.

ADVICE

Start With Free Or Low-Cost Coaching

Use employer-provided financial wellness or a certified coach before hiring a paid advisor.
Seek coaching for behavior change, budgeting, and encouragement when starting out.

ADVICE

Pick Coach Versus Fiduciary Advisor

Choose a coach for guidance and homework, and an advisor for actionable, legally accountable recommendations.
Only accept prescriptive financial advice from a fiduciary advisor who is legally accountable.

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A financial advisor WON’T magically fix your money problems, but many folks assume that by hiring a professional, they’re well on their way to financial success. Maybe, but maybe not, because a bunch of different factors come into play. And who better to have this discussion with other than award-winning investor advocate and financial educator Pam Krueger. She began her career as a stockbroker before moving into financial media, where she created and co-hosted the PBS series MoneyTrack where her work emphasizes transparency, investor protection, and understanding how advisors are compensated. Pam is also the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, a platform that connects consumers with vetted fiduciary financial advisors and today we discuss:

Determining if you should DIY or delegate
The one silver bullet in everyone’s financial journey
Conflicts of interest and the fiduciary standard
Fee-only advisors, unbiased advice without commissions
Expecting transparency in advisor fees
Paying for “meh” financial advice
Breaking up with an advisor if you’re unhappy
How Wealthramp advisors are vetted and finding the right advisor for you!

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