The word appears on nearly every wealth management website. Here is the operational version — the specific things it changes about how we work.
Fiduciary is a legal standard, not a marketing adjective. In practice it obliges us to place a client's interest ahead of the firm's in every recommendation, and to disclose the conflicts that remain.
Operationally, that shows up in four commitments. We are compensated only by our clients — no commissions, no revenue sharing, no payment for shelf space. We do not manufacture the products we recommend. We disclose our fee schedule in full before any engagement begins. And we document the reasoning behind material recommendations so it can be reviewed later, including by the client.
None of these are heroic. They are simply the structural conditions that make objective advice possible, and they are worth asking any adviser about directly.
This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax or legal advice. Individual circumstances differ; please consult your own advisers before acting.