Many industries utilize technology for analytics, research, efficiency and speed, and solution discovery. In addition, we often use technology to record and quantify the behavior of others. Less obvious, however, technology provides visible evidence of the behavior of the user of the technology.
In fact, by reverse engineering one’s technology usage the user’s philosophies and intentions can materialize. Outcome can provide suspicions but it does not evidence prudence and “reasonableness,” necessarily, and certainly not in a court of law. Intent is evidenced in behaviors and this is really what the DOL’s Fiduciary Duty clarification of ERISA of 1974 wants the Financial Services Industry to demonstrate.
Financial Technology’s greatest accomplishment will be realized when it is an acknowledged path to demonstrate that providers’ behaviors truly put clients’ interests first.