Why the Fiduciary Standard Matters:
Some investors may not realize that financial professionals operate under different standards of care:
- Some follow rules requiring that recommendations be appropriate based on a client’s circumstances.
- Others may serve in both advisory and brokerage capacities, with each engagement subject to its own requirements.
- Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) strengthened expectations for brokers by requiring recommendations to be made in a client’s best interest at the time they are provided.
- Fiduciary advisors, by contrast, are held to an ongoing duty of care and loyalty, placing a client’s interests ahead of their own when offering advice.
Understanding these standards can help you make informed decisions about the type of financial relationship that aligns with your needs and goals.
Fiduciaries are Required To:
- Place your interests ahead of their own when providing advice.
- Provide transparency and disclose material information relevant to your relationship.
- Avoid or disclose any conflicts of interest.
- Monitor your strategy on an ongoing basis to help ensure it remains aligned with your goals.
The Ascend Difference
Choosing a fiduciary advisor means working with someone who is obligated to act with your best interests at the center of the advisory relationship.
At Ascend Integrated Wealth, that fiduciary obligation shows up through:
- Clear communication about how recommendations are made.
- Transparency in fees, processes, and potential conflicts of interest.
- A disciplined advisory framework that is guided by your goals.
- Independent, objective advice intended to support your long-term priorities.
