Providing a fiduciary level of service is central to Argent/Heritage Retirement Plan Advisors. To further prove our commitment to always putting our clients’ best interests first, we recently passed a rigorous, multi-month audit by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX). The elite certification is granted only to investment advisory firms that demonstrate conformity to a recognized global standard of fiduciary excellence. There are currently 137 certified investment advisory firm worldwide. We are the only certified investment advisory firm in Louisiana, and the only one in Oklahoma as well limited to Oklahoma City and Shreveport.
The process was guided by “Prudent Practices® for Investment Advisors,” an industry-recognized handbook grounded in law, regulation and professional best practices. The standard describes how an investment advisor assumes the responsibility for managing a client’s overall investment management process, which includes selecting and monitoring funds, as well as developing processes to implement investment strategies and fiduciary processes.
For clients, this means we uphold the highest level of fiduciary care – and that has a direct effect on you, your plan and your employees. As your advisor, we help plan sponsors with fulfilling their fiduciary duties as outlined by the Department of Labor.
- Act solely in the interest of plan participants and their beneficiaries and with the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to them;
- Act prudently in the faithful performance of all duties;
- Follow the plan documents (unless inconsistent with Employee Retirement Income Security Act;
- Diversify plan investments; and
- Pay only reasonable plan expenses.
The CEFEX certification is another important way to demonstrate that we always act in our client’s best interest. Our prudent, transparent process directs all of our actions to assure effective stewardship of your assets, conforming to the highest professional standards of conduct.
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