The benefits of working with an AIF^® designee

Not all financial planners are the same, including when it comes to providing fiduciary services. There are advisors who can consistently follow a fiduciary standard, others who only act as a fiduciary when providing certain services, and some who are not allowed to take on fiduciary obligations at all. When you work with an Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designee, however, you can be certain that you are working with an advisor who has the necessary training to follow the standard fiduciary process.

AIF® designees have been certified specifically to follow a fiduciary process with their clients’ best interests at heart. Designees must provide documented industry and educational experience to qualify for the designation, as well as complete AIF® training covering Prudent Practices® for managing fiduciary assets for wealth, nonprofit and retirement clients. After passing the necessary examination, designees showcase their professionalism by committing to follow the AIF® Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards and completing the continuingeducation requirements to maintain their designation.

HOW AN AIF® DESIGNEE CAN HELP YOU

• An AIF® designee can provide you an array of specialized services. For instance, they can:
• Create and maintain a comprehensive investment plan, strategy or policy statement documenting the processes and procedures used to manage your plan and portfolio.
• Analyze and optimize asset allocation strategies and investment menus.
• Apply objective standards for evaluating and recommending appropriate investment options and products.
• Evaluate your current fiduciary practices and recommend actions to help mitigate compliance and mitigate risks.

To find out more about the AIF® requirements, visit https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations/aif.

WHAT MAKES AIF® DESIGNEES DIFFERENT?

Is the investment advice you are receiving really in your best interest? Unless your advisor understands and follows a fiduciary process, you can’t really be sure. Even those investment professionals who are required to act as fiduciaries might not have the experience or training to prepare them for this enormous responsibility.

Fi360 is accredited by the American National Standards Institute for the AIF® Designation, making the designation part of an elite group of accredited designations for financial professionals. Only Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designees have been certified specifically for their ability to follow a fiduciary process with their clients’ best interests at heart. Here are some attributes that make AIF® Designees different from other advisors or financial professionals:

Experience. Designees are required to provide documented industry and educational experience to qualify for the designation.

Education. Designees must complete the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) Designation Training, which covers the Prudent Practices® for managing fiduciary assets for wealth, nonprofit and retirement clients.

Examination. Designees must pass an examination to prove comprehension of the Prudent Practices® and ability to act in the best interest of clients.

Ethics. Designees adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards that show a commitment to a higher degree of industry professionalism.

Continuing Education. Designees commit to keeping their knowledge and skills sharp by completing annual continuing education requirements.

AIF® DESIGNEES HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES TO HELP CLIENTS WITH:

• Creating and maintaining a comprehensive investment plan, strategy or policy statement that documents the processes and procedures that will be used to manage the plan/portfolio.
• Analyzing and optimizing asset allocation strategies and investment menus.
• Applying objective standards for evaluating and recommending appropriate investment options and products.
• Monitoring and reporting plan/portfolio performance.
• Evaluating a client’s current fiduciary practices and recommending actions to help mitigate compliance and litigation risks.
• Understanding their important fiduciary roles, responsibilities and obligations with more confidence.