Is the investment advice you are receiving really in your best interests? 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.
Our retirement plan advisory services at The Siekmann Company are delivered by Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designees who have undergone rigorous training and examination to establish themselves as prudent experts in the field of fiduciary services for defined contribution (401k) plans. Our proven governance process guides Plan Sponsors through a comprehensive process to satisfy their fiduciary duties, identify and mitigate liabilities, and create a retirement plan designed to allow participants to achieve a successful retirement.
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. As of August 2020, The US News and World Report acknowledged the AIF® designation as one of the four best financial certifications that your advisor can carry. These certifications typically require hundreds of hours of education and examination and can be a great way to validate the quality of your service provider.
Drive The Conversation With Your Investment Advisor As a Plan Sponsor, it is important to maintain the appropriate documents to establish your processes and procedures for managing your company’s retirement plan. These documents provide credibility for your stakeholders that you are looking out for their interests and making prudent decisions on behalf of the plan.
Investment Policy Statement
Committee Charter
Service Provider Agreements
Fiduciary File
Quarterly Investment Reports
Investment Committee Meeting Minutes
Indemnifications (if applicable)
Cyber Security and Privacy Policies
What Makes AIF® Designees Different?
Only 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 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.
We are here to help. Get in touch with an AIF® today!