What is a fiduciary? The Board of Directors, Representatives, and Financial Advisors comprising NAPFA (The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors) have adopted the following definition of “fiduciary” for financial advisors:
A financial advisor held to a Fiduciary Standard occupies a position of special trust and confidence when working with a client. As a Fiduciary, the financial advisor is required to act with undivided loyalty to the client. This includes disclosure of how the financial advisor is to be compensated and any corresponding conflicts of interest.”
MY FIDUCIARY OATH
The advisor shall exercise his/her best efforts to act in good faith and in the best interests of the client. The advisor shall provide written disclosure to the client prior to the engagement of the advisor, and thereafter throughout the term of the engagement, of any conflicts of interest which will or reasonably may compromise the impartiality or independence of the advisor. The advisor, or any party in which the advisor has a financial interest, does not receive any compensation or other remuneration that is contingent on any client’s purchase or sale of a financial product. The advisor does not receive a fee or other compensation from another party based on the referral of a client or the client’s business.
What the Fiduciary Oath means to you – the client:
• I shall always act in good faith and with candor.
• I shall be proactive in my disclosure of any conflicts of interest that may impact you.
• I shall not accept any referral fees or compensation that is contingent upon the purchase or sale of a financial product.
Mary P. Deshong-Kinkelaar, CFP®