🏡 The Leak, the Ladder, and the Illusion of Trust

What a roof leak taught me about fiduciary duty, asymmetric relationships, and why micro-communities matter more than ever

Would you trust your roofer like you trust your lawyer?

During two days of torrential rain in Toronto, water started dripping from our bedroom ceiling. What followed was a comedy of errors—no ladder, no diagnosis, and no accountability.

But what struck me most wasn’t the leak. It was the systemic blind spot we all live with: in most commercial relationships, acting in your best interest is optional.

We talk a lot about fiduciary duty in finance and law. But what about construction? Mechanics? Shouldn’t any relationship based on asymmetric information and expertise require a higher standard of care?

This is why micro-trust—friends, niche communities, micro-influencers—is becoming more powerful than macro-influence. Because in a world where everything is monetizable, trust is the real currency.

Here’s what I learned, what pissed me off, and what made me reflect.
 

#trust #fiduciaryduty #microinfluencers #communities #asymmetricinformation #valueoftrust #digitaltrends #rooffails #integritymatters

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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