In an agency relationship, the principal is the person on whose behalf the agent acts. The agent is the person authorized to act for the principal, while a third party is the external person or organization with whom the agent deals in carrying out that authority.
Here, Nelson Smith retained Jackie Fraser as his financial advisor. Jackie places the investment order on Nelson's behalf. Nelson is therefore the principal, and Jackie is acting as the agent in the transaction.
The transaction is placed with QBR Investments Inc., the entity offering the QBR Balanced Fund. QBR Investments is therefore the relevant third party with whom the agent deals for the principal.
Jackie's employer, FP Inc., does not replace Nelson as the principal in the client-advisor agency relationship described by the question. Similarly, QBR Insurance Company's status as the parent of QBR Investments does not make it the relevant third party because the actual fund transaction is with QBR Investments.
The legal distinction matters because an agent owes obligations to the principal and must act within the authority conferred by that principal.
FPII reference/topic: Financial Planning Practice — agency law; principal-agent relationships; authority; dealings with third parties.
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