Thomas Batterman is a Fiduciary Advisor and founder of Financial Fiduciaries, LLC in Wausau, Wisconsin. While most refer to themselves as financial advisors, Thomas Batterman and the team at Financial Fiduciaries LLC don’t sell investment products, but rather they provide financial guidance without any compromise. Thomas Batterman and Financial Fiduciaries LLC have been providing fiduciary management services to clients for over three decades.
Thomas Batterman graduated from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and the UW-Madison Law School in Madison Wisconsin. He went on to spend three years working for a private law practice focusing on retirement planning, estate planning, tax, real estate, and corporate organizations.
Thomas Batterman then decided to join a local trust company and began his career as a fiduciary. In 1988, he opened his own trust company which, after a few iterations, became the investment advisor that is now, Financial Fiduciaries LLC.
Financial Fiduciaires LLC is committed to managing the financial situations of their clients. They do not charge commissions on any products, therefore you can be assured that Thomas Batterman and his team’s guidance is objectively based on the unique circumstances of each individual.
Interview with Thomas Batterman
What’s the most important thing we should know about you?
Thomas Batterman: My number 1 priority in my work has always been to protect and promote the best interests of my clients. I could not work any other way.
Name the most impactful lesson you learned from failure.
Thomas Batterman: You haven’t actually failed unless you don’t get back up and still get it done.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Thomas Batterman: Starting my own successful company.
What did you waste the most time on when you were first starting your career?
Thomas Batterman: Learning technical details. They are helpful when solving client problems but clients usually more interested in outcomes than in the details of how you get there.
Name a tool you use for work that you can’t live without.
Thomas Batterman: A computer.
What is your favorite hobby and why?
Thomas Batterman: Curling. Both individual and team effort are equally important.
What excites you the most about your industry right now?
Thomas Batterman: The never-ending changes to rules that we need to learn and navigate for clients.
What concerns you most about your industry right now?
Thomas Batterman: Many investors still don’t know about the critical difference between salespeople and true advisors. And the salespeople continue to be effective at obscuring that difference.
What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
Thomas Batterman: Starting a business when I had a wife, a kid and no money.
Name one small habit that positively impacts your productivity.
Thomas Batterman: Focus. One thing at a time. In other words, the opposite of multi-tasking.
What tips do you have for getting a seat at the table?
Thomas Batterman: Always do right by clients as your guiding principle and the rest will take care of itself.
What book has made the biggest impact on your life?
Thomas Batterman: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.
Do you value intelligence or common sense more? Why?
Thomas Batterman: Intelligence. Stuff is complicated and intelligence helps you fully understand alternatives.
What would you consider to be the perfect day?
Thomas Batterman:Helping a client to a successful result and having them appreciate and acknowledge it. Perhaps even thank you. Followed by a nice dinner and a good bottle of wine!
