According to fiduciary duty principles, a broker must act in primarily whose best interest?

In the context of fiduciary duty principles, a broker is obligated to act in the best interest of the client they represent. This responsibility is fundamental to maintaining trust and integrity within the client-broker relationship. Fiduciary duty encompasses a range of obligations including loyalty, full disclosure, obedience, confidentiality, and accounting. By prioritizing the needs and interests of the client, a broker ensures that they are fulfilling their professional responsibilities while also protecting the client’s investments and objectives.

For example, if a broker is representing a property owner, they must make decisions that benefit the owner, such as effective marketing strategies and negotiation tactics that favor the owner's financial and property management goals. This duty differentiates the broker's role from that of tenants or local government entities, as those parties have different interests and priorities in a transaction. By focusing on the client who has engaged the broker’s services, the broker adheres to the ethical and legal standards required in property management.