A fiduciary is someone who has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the assets of another person and who is required to always act in the best interests of their client, beneficiary, or retirement plan participant. The problem is that many fiduciaries take on that responsibility without fully grasping their obligations.

Professionals who have attained ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY® designation have acquired a thorough knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and can be an invaluable resource to investment fiduciaries. An AIF® designation represents that person’s knowledge of a Global Fiduciary Standard of Excellence and their application of the global standard into their own practice. AIF® designees are there to work alongside you to ensure that the fiduciary standard of care is being applied systematically in your organization.

What does it take to become an AIF® designee?

AIF® designees have successfully completed an educational curriculum focusing on investment fiduciary responsibility and portfolio management. In addition to the training program, designees have successfully passed a comprehensive examination and agreed to adhere to a code of ethics. Annual continuing education is also required to ensure that designees keep up to date on industry changes affecting fiduciary responsibility.

The granting organization, fi360, began in 1999 through an association with the University of Pittsburgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business with the goal of providing a full-time training and research organization for the investment industry that focused solely on the areas of fiduciary responsibility and portfolio management. You can learn more about fi360 by visiting their website.

What process is used for investment fiduciaries?

Legislation, case law, regulatory opinion letters, and industry best practices have been compiled to form The Prudent Practices™, which provides a step-by-step investment process for fiduciaries. No matter the fiduciary role (Investment Steward, Investment Advisor, or Investment Manager), AIF® designees can work with you and your organization to consistently apply the appropriate practice standards, leading to a prudent, long-term investment strategy that assists you as a fiduciary in satisfying your standard of care.

To learn more about the value of working with an AIF® designee, please call Philip Brice, AIF® at 864-288-2849 or submit a contact form.