Centre For Fiduciary Excellence
American Trust Wealth is certified by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) for fiduciary best practices.
The annual certification process involves a detailed assessment of operational data and procedures, followed by on-site interviews with key personnel. We are registered at www.cefex.org, where the registration certificate can also be viewed at www.cefex.org/registeredCompanies.aspx.
WHY DID WE SEEK INDEPENDENT CERTIFICATION?
In an environment of increasing anxiety and litigation, trust in the asset manager is more important than ever. Stewards of retirement plans, foundations and trusts are looking for proof of their investment firm’s integrity and due diligence process.
The CEFEX Fiduciary Certification is an independent recognition that we conform to all Fiduciary Practices and Criteria. It implies that, as a fiduciary, we demonstrate adherence to the industry’s best practices, and are worthy to receive the public’s trust and business.
Fiduciary Best Practices describe how an Investment Advisor assumes the responsibility for managing a client’s overall investment strategy:
- Deciding on the client’s asset allocation
- Developing the client’s investment strategy
- Implementing the strategy with appropriate Investment Managers
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
- Monitoring the strategy on an ongoing basis.
ABOUT CEFEX AND FIDUCIARY360
CEFEX is an independent rating and certification organization. CEFEX works closely with the investment community and the fiduciary industry to provide comprehensive assessments that measure risk and trustworthiness of investment fiduciaries.
Fiduciary360 (Fi360) developed the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA®) designations. Fi360 is comprised of the Foundation for Fiduciary Studies, a nonprofit organization established for the purpose of defining the practices that detail a prudent process for investment fiduciaries; the Center for Fiduciary Studies, which provides educational programs on investment fiduciary responsibility; and Fiduciary Analytics, for investment decision-makers.
The Fiduciary Practices are substantiated by legislation, case law and regulatory opinion letters from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA) and the Uniform Management of Public Employee Retirement Systems Act (MPERS) in the U.S. A full copy of the Fiduciary Practices is available at www.fi360.com