What is a Fiduciary & Why Does It Matter?
A Fiduciary is a person or organization that acts on behalf of other persons, families, or organizations. Fiduciaries put their clients’ interests ahead of their own with a duty to preserve good faith and trust.
According to Cornell Law Dictionary, “A Fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care. It entails always acting in your clients’ best interest, even if doing so is contrary to yours. For a Financial Advisor, this may mean recommending a solution that results in zero compensation because it’s the best option for the client.”
Currently, only Independent Registered Investment Advisers are required (by law) to act in a Fiduciary capacity. Brokers or Financial Advisers working for a big firm, broker/dealer, or insurance company, are held only to a “suitability” standard not Fiduciary standard, this is a less stringent standard with regards to putting client interest ahead of their own.
Being a Fiduciary matters, a lot. It guides everything we do and for every single client we serve. We are not salespersons. We are fee only, fully transparent, with no commissions, and no hidden costs or fees.
We are incredibly proud to stand behind the following statement:
“When you succeed, we succeed.”
What is a Custodian?
A Custodian is a specialized financial institution (typically a regulated entity with granted authority like a bank) that holds customers’ assets and securities for safe keeping in order to minimize the risk of their misappropriation, misuse, theft, or loss.
We are proud of the TD Ameritrade Institutional and Charles Schwab merger. They are our custodial partners and have created a massive company with more than $6 trillion in client assets and over 28 million accounts. We believe we are partnered with a “best in class” firm.
Sage is your Fiduciary and never holds or takes possession of your assets. TDAI/Schwab is your Custodian and holds all assets. They are responsible to keep your money safe.