What Is Wealth Management
The very term "wealth management" is opaque at best. In this podcast I seek to uncover the key areas of this fascinating and growing industry, and share insights how the practitioners within the industry are working to solve very complex issues around money. Whether it is helping with taxes, preparing an estate plan, or simply building an investment portfolio that generates returns, I speak with some of the smartest minds in the industry to help define how it is that they are helping clients.
What Is Wealth Management
Fiduciary
đź“Ś Episode Summary:
In this episode of What Is Wealth Management, we’re tackling one of the most overused—and misunderstood—words in finance: fiduciary. You’ve seen it plastered across websites and pitch decks, often delivered with dramatic weight, as if simply saying the word should make you trust someone.
But here’s the truth: most investors have no idea what it actually means.
We break it down simply. A fiduciary is someone legally required to put your interests ahead of their own. It’s not just a promise—it’s a binding obligation. But the history of this idea? It’s richer than most advisors let on.
We trace the origins from ancient Rome, through English common law, to its modern-day battle in U.S. finance—highlighting how a word born from trust has become a buzzword in boardrooms.
This episode pokes fun at the way some advisors weaponize jargon while reminding listeners why fiduciary responsibility still matters—maybe more than ever.
🔑 Takeaways:
- Why “fiduciary” sounds profound but is often poorly explained
- The Roman and legal roots of the term
- What it actually means for your financial life
- How to ask the right questions to see if your advisor walks the walk
