Your Wealth Manager Won’t Tell You This — and Neither Did My Doctor

When the system says 'acceptable,' ask: for whom?

Jul 01, 2025

Most wealth managers are paid based on how much money they manage — a structure called Assets Under Management (AUM). The more of your wealth they keep under their control, the more they earn.

So it’s no surprise that their advice often centers around keeping your assets in the market — even when there are other ways to grow your money, build wealth, and live well.

But what they don’t tell you is just as important.

Why Your Options Are Being Quietly Limited

There are plenty of reasons wealth managers might not show you what’s beyond stocks and bonds:

Recommending alternatives (like private investing, real estate, or business ownership) would reduce the money they manage.
Many don’t have real knowledge or experience beyond traditional markets.
They’re cautious — not wanting to guide you into anything they can’t fully control or insure.

But here’s the truth:

Wealth isn’t built by outsourcing your power. It’s built by clarifying your vision and choosing collaborators who help you get there.

Collaborators, Not Gatekeepers

I sat down next to a wealth manager recently and shared what we’re building at Big Delta Capital — how we’re closing the financial confidence gap by educating women, creating powerful peer networks, and providing direct access to aligned opportunities.

I told her how we believe it’s time to flip the model:

You do the work to define what matters — what you want your money to do, the life you’re building, the impact you care about.
Then, professionals help you execute that vision with expertise and efficiency.

Not the other way around.

Because when professionals act like gatekeepers, they subtly suggest that wealth is only for the already wealthy. That risk is only manageable if you’re already insulated. That if you don’t meet their minimums, your goals don’t matter.

If You Don’t Fit the Model, You’re Not Alone

If you have less than $5 million in assets, many wealth managers won’t even take your call.
Under $1 million? You’re funneled into robo-advisors and index funds and told to keep things “simple.”

This isn't about simplicity — it's about control.

I’m not someone who’s inheriting a family fortune. In fact, I’m preparing to take on the emotional and financial realities of caregiving for a parent. I’ve had to build what I have — piece by piece — and that’s meant taking some risks traditional advisors would never greenlight.

No, I’m not suggesting you throw your savings into high-risk ventures. But I am asking:

Is “slow and steady” going to get you where you want to go?
Or do you need a strategy that’s braver, bolder — and designed around you?

What My Doctor Taught Me About Trusting Myself

I recently visited my doctor, concerned about weight gain and fatigue. I suspected something was off with my thyroid. He ran the basic labs and told me everything looked “acceptable.”

But acceptable to him didn’t feel right to me.

So I kept digging. I consulted an integrative doctor who recommended deeper testing. I went back, insisted on the labs — and one came back at 100x the normal range.

Suddenly, I had answers. And treatment. But I had to fight for clarity. I had to trust my instincts more than his checklist.

And honestly? It felt just like dealing with the financial world.

Are You Settling for What’s “Acceptable”?

How many times have you been told:

“That’s too risky.”
“That’s not appropriate for someone at your level.”
“We recommend something more traditional.”

And how many times has that translated into:
“Stay small. Stay quiet. Stay manageable.”

You deserve more.

You deserve collaborators — not gatekeepers. Advisors who help you think bigger, not just play safe.

This Is the New Conversation About Wealth

At Big Delta Capital and through the Wealth Catalyst Summit, we’re building a new model — one where financial agency starts with you. Where experts support your values, not overwrite them. And where women like us — building from the middle, navigating complexity, caring for our people — get the tools and confidence to invest with intention.

If this resonates, stay close.
We’re building the future together — and you’re not too early, too small, or too anything to start.