In this episode of Fiduciary Alchemy, Craig Andrews talks with Jeff Coons, Chief Risk Officer and Director of Institutional Services at High Probability Advisors, about how incentives shape decisions in business, investing, and client service. Jeff brings a risk-focused lens to the conversation, grounded in evidence-based investing and hard-earned lessons from watching incentive structures change inside firms that once seemed built to last.

Jeff and Craig dig into what happens when businesses are managed only from a spreadsheet. Whether the subject is private equity, compensation plans, customer service, or investment teams, Jeff argues that incentives quietly determine behavior. When those incentives drift away from clients, employees, and long-term value, the damage may not show up right away, but it shows up.

The conversation also turns personal and practical. Jeff explains why failure should be treated as a classroom, not an indictment, and why investors must keep asking questions until they get good answers. In uncertain environments, whether in healthcare or finance, the person making the decision has to understand the risks, the motivations behind the recommendation, and whether the answer actually fits their situation.

Jeff closes with a clear reminder: these are your assets, your wealth, and your future. A strong plan is not built on pretending storms will never come or trusting someone who claims they can avoid every one. It is built by understanding downside scenarios, refusing shame-based sales pressure, and walking away when the answers do not hold up.

Want to learn more about Jeff Coons' work? Visit High Probability Advisors at https://highprobabilityadvisors.com/.

Connect with Jeff Coons on LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/jeffreyscoons.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply at https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/podcast/apply/.

Want to learn more about Craig Andrews' work? Check out https://fiduciaryalchemy.com/.