The benefits of working with an AIF® or AIFA® professional
Not all financial planners are the same, including when it comes to providing fiduciary services. There are advisors who can consistently operate in a fiduciary capacity, 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 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 continuing education requirements to maintain their designation.
The Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®) designation takes this a step further, with master’s level coursework that prepares an advisor to perform fiduciary assessments on internal policies, procedures and workflows to verify or certify an entity’s conformity to a “Global Fiduciary Standard of Excellence.”
An AIF® or AIFA® designee can help you:
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.
For more information on AIF® and AIFA® requirements, visit finra.org/investors/professional-designations/aif and finra.org/investors/professional-designations/aifa.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™, 
and 
in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC is a Registered Investment Advisor ("RIA"), located in the State of New Jersey. CFS is registered with the SEC. CFS Investment Advisory Services provides investment advisory and related services for clients nationally. CFS Investment Advisory Services will maintain all applicable registration and licenses as required by the various states in which CFS Investment Advisory Services conducts business, as applicable. CFS Investment Advisory Services renders individualized responses to persons in a particular state only after complying with all regulatory requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.
