“Financial services is an industry, not a profession.” That distinction lies at the heart of Pam Krueger’s decades-long push to help everyday investors understand who is actually advising them and who may simply be trying to make a sale. Read on for more about our discussion with the award-winning financial journalist and the founder and CEO of WealthRamp.

For more than 30 years, Pam has advocated for investors through their company and as a financial educator. She began her career on Wall Street as a stockbroker but didn’t feel good about helping people while also selling products.

Pam left that role to pursue work grounded in education, integrity, and factual information. As an advocate for fiduciary advice, Pam explains how fee-only services differ from financial salespeople whose business model is built on selling products.

A key part of this conversation is helping teachers find the right representatives. Pam notes that representatives can explain products, but that differs from offering real advice about taxes, real estate, and more. The best advice is grounded in context and helps you make decisions without steering you toward a particular outcome.

See the full transcript and listen to the episode to hear the conversation with Pam.

Also Check Out: Fred Miller on Why Financial Decisions Matter Earlier Than You Think

“It's not one contribution. It's not saving just one time. It's saving continuously,” says Fred Miller, an exercise psychologist and professor, who knows a thing or two about consistency after running 19 marathons. Now he is applying those lessons to personal finance, showing students how small decisions can shape their futures.

In Fred’s childhood, money was taboo, and topics like investing or 401(k)s weren’t discussed. He had to teach themself financial literacy as an adult, reading more than 50 books along the way. Fred points out that the challenge isn’t finding information; it’s filtering what’s trustworthy.

In Fred’s course “Wellness for Life”, he expanded a class focused on physical well-being to include financial lessons. He only connects fitness and finance: one workout doesn’t turn you into a bodybuilder, and one healthy meal doesn’t make a healthy diet.

See the full transcript and listen to the episode for more of their conversation on the psychological lessons of money and building habits that stick.

Join Us for this Week's LIVE Event with Patrick Cook-Deegan of Wayfinder and Mike Marriner of Roadtrip Nation

Register to join us tonight (September 17) at 4pm PT (7pm ET) for an inspiring conversation with Patrick Cook-Deegan, Founder and CEO of Wayfinder, and Mike Marriner, of the PBS documentary series Roadtrip Nation. 

A former public high school teacher, Patrick grew Wayfinder from a small pilot program in 2015 into the fastest-growing K-12 social-emotional and durable skills solution on the market. He and Mike will discuss Wayfinder's partnership with Roadtrip Nation, the beloved PBS documentary series that follows groups of young people traveling across the country in a green RV, sitting down with professionals who share their interests to learn what it takes to overcome struggle and find personal success.

About the Author

Zach Mann

Zach recently graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Sociology. Zach is a Communications Intern for NGPF, assisting with content creation for NGPF's various platforms. He enjoys contributing to communications that support a mission with a tangible impact.

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