Briaud was founded almost 25 years ago after the founder Janet Briaud emigrated from Canada to Texas in the 1970s to start a family with her husband. In order to secure a future for her children, she hired a well-known, commission-based investment broker to manage her modest savings. He invested her money in high cost mutual funds that guaranteed him a substantial commission, regardless of how the investment faired. Janet lost half of her investment. Her frustration lead to education and she invested her money herself and what started as a hobby for herself slowly turned into a business by 1986.
Due to her initial loss because of commission-based investing, she created her firm as an independent, fee-only service, which was not common but over time has proven to be the only way investment advisory services should be. Despite its humble beginnings, Briaud has seen great success and is national leader in financial planning and asset management services.