A professional fiduciary is trusted to make important financial decisions for other people. The word “fiduciary” comes from the Latin word “fiduciarius,” relating to something held in trust, and that is the key to being a professional fiduciary--people trust you. They trust you to step in as a third-party representative, an objective professional with their best interests at heart. Some of the duties include managing assets and estates, making decisions about health and welfare, and acting as successor, trustee or conservator. A professional fiduciary must not only be caring and compassionate, but prudent and efficient while operating within legal guidelines.