This is the fifth installment in our blog series devoted to discussing how our personal life values impact our decisions. The value that I will be highlighting today is a popular one amongst our clients: Integrity.

There are various aspects to the value of integrity: a chair can be described as “having structural integrity” if it can hold the weight of a person sitting on it without issue. In a sense, the chair’s level of integrity is determined by its ability to perform its intended function without worry or concern. However, the most important picture of integrity describes a person’s honesty and level of adherence to a moral code. A person of strong integrity will naturally exhibit honesty, consistently upholding their high moral standards, regardless of whether anyone else is looking.

When it comes to financial planning, both aspects of integrity are important. For a financial planning relationship to be beneficial, the client needs to trust that the advisor has enough knowledge, skills, and expertise to be able to help them navigate the financial and legal landscape effectively. In addition, the client must be able to trust that the advisor has their best interest in mind and, as a result, that the advice they receive can be relied upon to get them closer to achieving their goals. The advisor needs to trust that the goals and values the client communicates are an accurate reflection of what is truly the most important to them. If there is a lack of integrity in any of these areas, the effectiveness of the planning relationship will suffer greatly!

Integrity is the foundation of our relationships with others. This is why it is so important to so many people. Let’s come back to my example of a chair: a chair that lacks structural integrity could, at a first glance, look like any other chair. The chair’s level of integrity will not be known until it is tested by someone sitting on it. Similarly, if we as people do not prioritize integrity within ourselves, when tests or trials come, it could be challenging to not end up like the collapsing chair! Here at Master’s, integrity is a foundational value that underpins every decision we make for clients and the business.

What are your thoughts? We would love to hear from you. How have you experienced the value of integrity in your life over the years?