Do You Really Need a Fiduciary?

by Kevin Bock, Integrity Retirement Solutions, LLC

fi·du·ci·ar·y

fəˈdo͞oSHēˌerē     fəˈdo͞osēˌerē

A fiduciary is someone who manages money or property for someone else. When you’re named a fiduciary and accept the role, you must – by law – manage the person’s money and property for their benefit, not yours.

We’ve all heard the word fiduciary—on commercials, at seminars, in financial ads. But what does it truly mean for you and your future?

At its core, a fiduciary is someone legally and ethically bound to put your interests first. Not sometimes. Not when it’s convenient. Always.

But here’s the challenge: regulations and rules keep changing, yet the number of professionals who genuinely operate with a client-first mindset isn’t growing. And that’s because true fiduciary behavior has little to do with laws—it starts with who the advisor is at heart.

For 36 years, we’ve acted like fiduciaries because it’s simply the right thing to do. It’s what we believe in, not what we are forced to follow.

But today, being a true fiduciary requires much more than good intentions. Retirement and estate planning have grown complex, and most advisors focus only on one sliver of your financial life. That’s not enough when you’re planning for income you can’t outlive, rising healthcare costs, taxes, asset protection, and leaving a legacy that actually reaches your heirs.

Ask yourself:

• Can your advisor explain guaranteed lifetime income options—not in general terms, but with depth and clarity?

• Can they walk you through real tax-reduction strategies, not just rehearse a convenient disclaimer?

• Can they help you prepare for healthcare costs that Fidelity estimates could reach $315,000 for the average couple—not even counting long-term care?

• Do they know how to leverage your current assets to offset those future costs?

• Can they coordinate the legal documents you need, working directly with a qualified estate planning attorney?

• Do they understand trusts, asset protection, and efficient wealth transfer?

• Can they see—and protect—the full picture of everything you’ve built?

For most people, the answer is no.

That’s why so many turn to Integrity Retirement Solutions, LLC. We bring all the critical pieces of retirement and estate planning together under one roof—income planning, tax strategy, legal coordination, healthcare planning, business succession, insurance solutions, and more. You don’t have to juggle multiple professionals who may or may not communicate with each other. You get one cohesive, coordinated plan designed around your goals.

If you—or someone you care about—needs guidance from a team that chooses to act like fiduciaries because it’s who we are, we’re here to help.

Call us at 724-837-3553 with any questions.

Your future deserves clarity, confidence, and a plan built entirely around you.