One of the most common questions we hear is:
“Are you a fiduciary?”

It’s a good question.

But what’s interesting is that many people ask it without fully understanding what it truly means.

At its core, being a fiduciary means we are legally required to act in our clients’ best interests. But for us, it goes far beyond a legal definition or a regulatory box to check. It shapes how we approach every decision, every recommendation, and every client relationship.

More Than Advice — It’s Education

We see our role first and foremost as information givers and educators.

Our job is not simply to tell you what to do. It’s to help you understand:

• Your options
• The trade-offs
• The risks
• The long-term impact of each decision

We want you to be a confident decision-maker — not just someone following instructions.

When you understand the “why,” you make better choices. And better choices compound over time.

Fee-Based and Commission-Based — Why We Use Both

This is an area that often gets misunderstood.

We operate in both the fee-based advisory world and the commission-based world, and we believe that’s important.

Why?

Because different planning needs require different tools.

Some strategies are best implemented through an ongoing, fee-based advisory relationship — such as portfolio management and comprehensive planning.

Others — like life insurance, annuities, or long-term care coverage — are often structured through commission-based solutions.

If we limited ourselves to only one model, we’d be forced to fit every client into the same box.

And real life doesn’t work that way.

Having access to both structures allows us to choose the right solution for the client — not the one that fits a compensation model.

The Real Question Isn’t “How Is It Paid?”

The real question is:
Why is it being recommended?

We always start with the plan.

We look at:

• Your goals
• Your risk tolerance
• Your time horizon
• What you’re trying to accomplish long term

Only after that do we evaluate which strategies and structures make sense.

The plan drives the recommendation. Not the other way around.

The True Test of a Fiduciary

Here’s where fiduciary responsibility becomes very real.

Sometimes the right recommendation for a client actually reduces our own compensation.

When that happens, we still recommend it.

Ten out of ten times.

That’s because we take the long view.

We are not focused on transactions. We are not focused on short-term relationships. We are focused on building lasting relationships where clients see the value we bring and view us as a long-term partner — ideally for generations.

Trust compounds just like investments do.

So… Are We a Fiduciary?

Yes.

But more importantly, this is what that means inside our practice:

• We educate before we recommend.
• We build plans before selecting products.
• We choose tools based on client need, not compensation structure.
• And we act in your best interest — even when it costs us.

That’s not marketing language.

That’s how we operate.

If you ever have questions about how recommendations are made, how compensation works, or how something fits into your overall strategy, we welcome that conversation.

Clarity is always better than assumption.