BETHLEHEM, PA— Cornerstone Institutional Investors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor firm that specializes in consulting to middle market institutions and high net worth individuals, announced today that Ryan Wood, Chris Lakatosh, Trevor Reid, and Sean Lyons have earned their Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) certification.
Having AIF® designees at Cornerstone is a significant achievement as well as an indicator of having an industry-recognized reputation for prudent investment practices.
"Cornerstone fosters a culture of achievement," Tom Scalici, Chief Executive Officer of Cornerstone says. "We're very proud of our team. We surround ourselves with highly experienced people who work to grow, protect, and preserve our clients' assets."
In the world of investment fiduciaries, being exposed to legal and practical scrutiny is a daily occurrence. Lawsuits alleging investment mismanagement are on the rise, so the need for specialized training and certification to help diminish that liability is needed. The Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation was developed to address this complex set of legal and ethical parameters.
Cornerstone is a proven leader in prudent investment practices and embodies the essence of fiduciary discretion by continuing to pursue the highest standard of legal and moral obligation to their clients. In fact, in October of 2002, Cornerstone's Donna Humphrey, Director of Compensation Planning Operations and Tiffany Gilbert, Senior Consultant and Director of Client Services, Asset Management were the first women in the nation to receive the AIF® designation.
"At the time, we didn't realize what an honor it was to be the first women who earned this designation," Humphrey recalls.
This demonstration of national achievement is indicative of Cornerstone's commitment to its clients. Professional accreditations enable advisors to stay current in an ever changing investment and legal environment. The AIF designation represents a thorough and practical knowledge of fiduciary practices.
"Being a true fiduciary represents a special relationship of trust, confidence and legal responsibility," Gilbert says. "It means that we're accessible and responsive in our duty and concern for our clients’ assets."
The AIF training provides a unique comprehensive overview of fiduciary standards of excellence, asset allocation, preparation of investment policy statements, manager search and due diligence, performance measurement, and other related subjects.
"The AIF designation means that clients can trust what we do and say," Humphrey adds. "We're held to the highest standard and know the best practices for them."
To date, Cornerstone has seven employees that have earned the AIF® designation.
The Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation is the mark of commitment to a standard of investment fiduciary excellence. Those who earn the AIF mark successfully complete a specialized program on investment fiduciary standards of care and subsequently passed a comprehensive examination.
The AIF® designation, offered through fi360, promotes a culture of fiduciary responsibility and improves the decision making processes of fiduciaries and other financial service providers.
In everything that Cornerstone does, a core set of principles are followed. It is Cornerstone's commitment to put their clients first; that obligation of undivided loyalty is what makes Cornerstone a true fiduciary.
Cornerstone Institutional Investors, Inc. is a 20-plus person firm based in Bethlehem, PA and, along with its affiliate Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc., consults to more than $3.5 billion in assets for their clients. Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc. ranked as the 26th largest Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in the nation according to the 2011 Financial Advisor Magazine RIA Ranking.
For more information about Cornerstone, contact us at 800-923-0900 or visit us at www.cornerstone-companies.com.