Ditch The Suits: Financial Planning Insights Without The Sales Pitch

Hosted by Travis Maus

Business Education

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Episodes

213

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Maybe you're wondering if your financial advisor is really working for you (or for themselves), or you're worried about hidden fees, market volatility, or the next big tax change that could throw your plans off track. I get it. I've spent decades helping people just like you navigate these challenges, and I know first-hand how overwhelming it can feel. I’m your host, Travis Maus, and this is Ditch The Suits, the podcast that cuts through the noise and gives you the real story on your money, your future, and your financial independence. On Ditch The Suits, we tackle the questions you're too smart to ignore - from investment strategies and fees to retirement planning, tax decisions, and the hidden factors that can quietly derail your progress. You’ll get practical insights, real-world examples, and the context most financial conversations leave out. You’ve worked hard and built meaningful wealth. You’re thinking about retirement, investments, taxes, and the future of your family - but are the decisions you’re making actually moving you forward towards your goals? As an Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst(R) and the CEO of a fee-only Wealth Management firm, I believe that your financial advisor should be your fiercest advocate - not just the slickest salesperson. My mission is to help you live a less stressful, more empowered life by giving you the knowledge and confidence to make decisions that serve you and your family. So, if you’re ready to ditch the suits, take control, and get the financial answers you deserve, subscribe to Ditch the Suits today on your favorite podcast platform, so you can get more from your money and life.

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60 recent

October 20, 202626 min

Not All Debt Is Bad. Ask Yourself This Before Taking On Debt

Debt is often spoken about as though it’s a terrible thing. We're told that being debt-free should always be the goal, and that carrying debt means we've made poor financial decisions. But it’s more nuanced than that. Some types of debt can create opportunities, while others can make life more difficult and prevent you from ever reaching your goals. Debt isn't automatically good or bad. And there are questions that you can ask yourself before taking on debt that can make it clear whether or not it’s debt that will move you forward or backward. In this episode, we explore the relationship we have with debt, how it impacts the economy and how to know if you’re using debt responsibly. In this episode, we cover: 0:00 - Intro. 2:38 - The difference between good and bad debt. 4:33 - How debt can provide equal opportunity. 6:14 - How debt is making things cost more. 8:46 - The key to halting the cost of education. 9:46 - Are we really in a housing crisis? 14:14 - The 3-point test to know if taking on student loan is or isn’t worth it. 20:37 - The biggest impacts that debt has on the lives of the middle class. 21:34 - Use this test to decide whether or not to take on debt. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

October 6, 202613 min

The 4 Steps To Fix Your Out Of Date Financial Plan

Your financial plan was built around the life you had at the time. But what happens when life changes and our plan doesn’t change with it? Your priorities, responsibilities, values and goals can change as you move through life. Yet many people continue making financial decisions based on an old picture of who they are and what they want. An old “reference frame”. In this episode, we explore your reference frame - the mental framework you use to make financial decisions. We uncover how your reference frame is formed, how to know when it’s outdated, and the four steps to updating it for today’s reality. 0:00 – Intro 0:22 – What most financial planners miss. 1:43 – What is a reference frame and how does it affect your money? 2:58 – How we build our reference frame. 6:00 – What happens when you don't change your reference frame? 9:07 – Values vs. virtues and why you need to know both. 10:10 – Four steps to update your financial plan to fit who you are today. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

September 22, 202621 min

Money Will Be Tight Until You Make This Change

The way that most people think about their money and life is keeping them from getting more out of both. And as we’ve talked about over the last three episodes, it’s the scarcity mindset that’s holding people back. In this final episode of our four-part series on the scarcity mindset, we're turning the conversation around. If scarcity makes you feel like there isn't enough and that you need to constantly react, what is the alternative? Well, it’s called the abundance mindset. But abundance isn't about repeating mantras every morning. It's about taking action to take back control so that you can make better financial decisions. If you want to break free from the scarcity mindset so that you can stop feeling behind and at the mercy of the news cycle, this is for you. 0:00 – Intro. 0:48 – How media fear is used to control your behavior. 4:56 – How to move from scarcity to abundance. 6:16 – What's really limiting people from building more wealth. 7:49 – The difference between a good and bad financial decision. 9:01 – How your own perspective shapes your financial decisions. 10:19 – What abundance really means. 13:03 – When to react quickly and when to wait. 17:45 – How hustle culture can hold you back. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

September 8, 202618 min

Why Most Financial Advice Doesn’t Work (And How To Fix It)

Do you ever feel like you've tried all the financial advice you're supposed to follow, but you're still stressed about money? Budget better. Spend less. Think long term. Delay gratification. There's no shortage of advice. But if more information were enough to solve financial stress, most people would already have solved it. In this episode of Ditch the Suits, we explore why financial advice often fails to change behaviour, particularly when someone is stuck in a scarcity mindset. We then break down what actually starts to change the conditions that create financial stress and why earning more isn’t usually the answer. We'll also look at the practical steps you can take to start creating more financial stability. If you feel like most of the financial advice out there isn’t working as well as it promises to, this is for you. Covered in this episode: 0:00 – Intro 1:48 – Why financial advice rarely lands. 4:04 – Why financial stability takes time and the indicators that you're moving in the right direction. 5:46 – The first step to changing the conditions around your finances. 7:36 – Why earning more money doesn't necessarily reduce financial stress. 8:07 – Needs vs. wants: understanding what you're actually spending on. 10:27 – Signs your financial life has become unnecessarily complicated. 12:18 – How using your calendar differently can create more financial peace. 14:19 – The mindset reframe that can help you make better financial decisions. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

August 25, 202617 min

Why More Income Won’t Create Financial Security

You make decent money. But somehow, it still feels like you’re behind. You're earning more, working harder, and doing all the things you're supposed to do, yet somehow your finances still feel tight. Maybe you've increased your income, taken on a side hustle, or followed all the typical advice, but the feeling of security never quite shows up. In this episode of Ditch The Suits, I explore why earning more doesn't necessarily make you feel more financially secure. We'll look at how we define financial security and why two households earning exactly the same income can have completely different financial experiences. More importantly, we uncover the question you really should be asking yourself if you want to understand where you stand financially. In this episode, you'll discover: 0:00 – Intro. 0:29 – Why so many people feel behind financially. 2:52 – What financial security actually means. 4:29 – How we really measure poverty and why it will always exist. 5:29 – Why earning more doesn't automatically create financial stability. 7:34 – How two households with the same income can have completely different financial experiences. 10:06 – The gap between looking successful and being successful. 11:15 – What's missing from most people's financial lives. 13:22 – Why comparing your financial situation to other people's doesn’t work. 15:26 – The question you should ask to understand your own financial situation. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

August 11, 202617 min

How The Scarcity Mindset Controls Your Financial Decisions

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything you can to get ahead financially, but somehow it never feels like enough? You work hard. You save. You invest. But there's still a voice in your head telling you you're behind or you’re running out of time. Where is that voice coming from? And is it right? In this episode of Ditch The Suits, we explore the scarcity mindset and why it’s one of the biggest obstacles to achieving financial freedom. We'll look at how fear, uncertainty, and the stories we consume shape the way we think about money and make decisions. This is the first episode in a four-part series exploring the scarcity mindset. Because before we dive into investment strategies and tactics, we need to understand the mental habits that influence every financial choice we make. In this episode, you'll discover: 0:00 – Intro 1:00 – The mindset that's causing so many people to make poor financial decisions. 4:15 – How to recognise the signs of a scarcity mindset. 5:40 – The biggest misconception about scarcity thinking. 6:29 – The kinds of financial decisions scarcity leads us to make. 12:13 – Where a scarcity mindset really comes from. 15:48 – The alternative that leads to clearer, more level-headed decision-making. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

July 28, 202625 min

Two Habits Holding You Back From Financial Freedom

Do you ever feel like you're doing everything right but are still somehow falling behind? You're following all the advice, but instead of feeling more confident, you feel overwhelmed by conflicting opinions, and anxious over what everyone else is doing with their money. In this episode, we explore lessons from two very different books: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. We look at two habits that these books challenge. Habits that can make financial problems feel bigger than they really are and push us towards decisions that we know, deep down, won’t move us towards gaining financial freedom. If market volatility, other people's success, or the fear of missing out ever cause you to question your decisions, this episode will help you approach uncertainty with clarity and calm. Covered in this episode: 0:00 – Intro. 1:27 – What a lot of advice gets wrong. 7:06 – The Onion Man Theory: How our judgments can make problems feel bigger than they really are. 13:48 – The Let Them Theory: How to stop wasting energy on things outside your control. 17:42 – How to stay calm when markets fall and panic sets it. 20:04 – Why outward signs of success don't always tell the full story. 20:34 – How to stop FOMO from derailing your financial decisions. 23:28 – Why your reaction may be creating a bigger problem than the event itself. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ Meditations book - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=27ti0f6UlLYC&printsec=copyright&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false The Let Them Theory book - https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Let_Them_Theory.html?id=qOErEQAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

July 14, 202624 min

The American Dream Isn’t Dead. Here’s Why…

We’ve misunderstood the American Dream the whole time. For many people, the American Dream has become synonymous with owning a home, earning more than your parents, and giving your children a better life. But that was never the real definition. In this episode of Ditch the Suits, we take a step back to explore where the idea of the American Dream came from, how its meaning has changed over time, and why so many people now believe it's out of reach. We look at the stories we tell ourselves about success and happiness, and why those stories have a powerful influence on the financial decisions we make. We also explore what the American Dream looks like today and why it’s not too late to achieve it. Covered in this episode: 0:00 – Intro. 1:34 – Where the concept of the American Dream came from. 2:12 – What the American Dream was originally meant to be. 5:42 – Why the opportunity to achieve it still exists. 9:01 – Where lasting happiness really comes from. 9:58 – The cultural shift that's changed our expectations. 11:33 – Why your starting point doesn't have to determine your outcome. 14:10 – What really influences success. 18:03 – The key difference between people who achieve success and those who don't. 20:16 – What the American Dream means today. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

June 30, 202622 min

The Rise of the Welfare State and Why Incentives Matter

What if the biggest thing holding you back financially isn't your income, your education, or the economy? What if it's the story you're telling yourself (and that everyone else seems to be telling you)? In this episode of Ditch The Suits, I explore how narratives and incentives shape financial behaviour and why so many people feel stuck, despite having opportunities available to them. We dive into the rise of the welfare state, the culture of blame, and the uncomfortable reality that the beliefs we hold can influence the decisions we make about our career, family and future. If you've ever felt like the game is rigged, the ladder has been pulled up, or success is reserved for someone else, this episode will challenge you to rethink the rules you're playing by and the assumptions driving your decisions. In this episode, you'll discover: 0:00 – Intro: Why most people are losing the money game. 2:25 – How success can turn you into a target. 3:16 – How comfort may be holding you back. 4:33 – The culture of blame and how it limits growth. 6:26 – The shift in society's attitude toward success. 8:01 – What is the “welfare cliff” and why does it matter? 11:45 – How much does the US spend on welfare? 16:10 – What is causing the rise of the welfare state? 20:02 – How to escape the trap and progress. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

June 16, 202628 min

The Middle Class Wealth Myth: Why You Feel Left Behind

The headlines will tell you that the middle class is disappearing. That wealth is out of reach. That the system is stacked against us. But what if the problem isn't your finances at all? What if you're measuring success using the wrong scoreboard? In this episode of the new season of Ditch The Suits, we take a closer look at one of the loudest narratives in America: the decline of the middle class. We explore where these stories come from, why many of the measurements behind them are far less reliable than most people realize, and how constant exposure to fear-driven headlines can shape the financial decisions we make. If you ever feel like you're falling behind or wondering whether you're making the right financial decisions, this episode offers a different perspective from what the headlines will tell you. Instead of focusing on the noise, we'll look at what actually moves the needle for your household and how changing the way you measure success can help you make better decisions and reduce financial anxiety. In this episode, you'll discover: 0:00 – Intro: How did the middle class decline become the loudest story in America, and is it even true? 3:19 – Why middle class wealth tracking is largely inaccurate and when these measurements began. 5:42 – Why we still don't have a truly accurate picture of middle class wealth. 18:30 – What's driving the stress and fear, and who’s to blame? 23:12 – What wealth really means and why many define it incorrectly. 26:06 – A key to building wealth that most people avoid. Subscribe to Ditch The Suits on your favorite podcast platform so you don’t miss an episode. LEARN MORE Ditch The Suits - https://www.ditchthesuits.com/ CONNECT Travis Maus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-maus/ LISTEN Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4tVWSbhT5gYcXIwjUQklgw?si=04d2b1c7976a402e Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ditch-the-suits-your-money-your-life/id1551210529 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DitchtheSuits_Podcast

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