AIF® DESIGNATION
- » Why the AIF was labeled one of the “Ten Most Wanted” designations in the industry
- » Training programs that lead to the AIF professional designations
- » AIF Renewal Guidelines (PDF)
- » Code of Ethics (PDF)
- » AIF Trademark Guidelines (PDF)
- » File a complaint against an AIF or AIFA designee.
- » Find an AIF designee near you
- Please contact fi360 staff with questions regarding the AIF designation
Investment fiduciaries are constantly exposed to legal and practical scrutiny — it comes from multiple directions and for various reasons. It is likely that complaints and/or lawsuits alleging investment mismanagement will continue to increase. Although some of these allegations may be justified, many can be avoided by having clear knowledge of who constitutes a fiduciary and what is required of one.
The AIF training and designation help mitigate this liability by instructing in practices that cover pertinent legislation and best practices. The Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation represents a thorough knowledge of and ability to apply the fiduciary Practices. Through fi360's AIF Training programs, AIF designees learn the Practices and the legal and best practice framework they are built upon. AIF designees have a reputation in the industry for the ability to implement a prudent process into their own investment practices as well as being able to assist others in implementing proper policies and procedures.
For these reasons, the AIF was named one of the Ten Most Wanted" designations in the investment industry by Financial Planning magazine.
Benefits of the AIF® designation
In addition to the knowledge and business opportunities the AIF designation represents, all active designees are entitled to the following services and benefits (more details are provided in the Designee Portal:
- Ongoing support and dedication to service from the team at fi360
- Continuing advocacy for a culture of fiduciary responsibility from our executive staff and team members
- Continuing professional education opportunities
- Exclusive access to our CE-in-a-Box product, which contains materials to instruct one or two hour units of fiduciary training seminars
- Discounts on all of the services and products provided by fi360, including publications, Tools and the fi360 annual conference
- Listing on our online Designee Search database, accessible to prospective clients, potential employers, local media and referrals
AIF designees must:
- Accrue six hours of continuing professional education with at least four coming from fi360-produced sources (outlined in the section below)
- Attest to a code of ethics
- Maintain current contact information in fi360's designee database
- Remit $325 in annual dues
Continuing Education Requirements:
AIF designees must obtain six combined hours of continuing professional education each renewal year from the sources listed below (at least four hours must be accumulated from the listed fi360-produced sources):
- The fi360 annual conference (live event)
- Archived recordings from past fi360 conferences (from the on-demand fi360 CE directory)
- fi360 Resources webinars (live)
- Archived recordings of Resources webinars (from the on-demand fi360 CE directory)
- Relevant events produced by sources outside of fi360 (max of two hours per year allowed)
- Web-based AIF Training (course audit)
- Participation in a CEFEX Certification team or as a liaison officer at a firm being Certified (max of 3 hours/year)
Designee Search
Find the professionals who have already earned the AIF and AIFA designations.
Additional Notes:
If you serve a Nebraska audience, visit the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance website for more information on Interpretive Order No. 26 on the use of certifications and designations in advertising by advisers and broker-dealer agents.
The AIF and AIFA marks are held by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, LLC, a Fiduciary360 (fi360) company.