When you give your hard-earned money to an investment advisor, you are entrusting them to help map your financial future and build and manage an investment portfolio to help you achieve your goals.

Unfortunately, your best interests may not be shared by that advisor, and it seems the standard being considered by regulators will fall short of what’s needed.

Unlike most investment institutions, we at PWL believe financial advisors should have a fiduciary duty to their clients. Last year we formalized this commitment by gaining certification by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX), an independent global organization that helps determine the trustworthiness of investment advisors.

Here’s what CEFEX accreditation means for our clients:

Adherence to the industry’s best practices, through both the initial approval process and the ongoing, annual audits.
Where clients have managed accounts, we prepare an Investment Policy Statement (IPS), according to his or her own specific risk/return profile.
Documented due diligence and monitoring of the activities by our Compliance & Research Department.
Maintaining a low cost structure is one of the ways we act in our clients’ best interest

For PWL, the Investment Policy Statement and a signed NCAF (New Client Account Form) are the essential elements of our advisors’ planning and investment process. They promote long-term discipline in establishing investment goals, based on your long-term objectives and risk tolerance.

At PWL, we work hard to earn and retain your trust, and CEFEX provides an added layer of client confidence.

About The Author

Peter Guay

Peter joined PWL Capital in 2004 and learned the firm’s client-first philosophy from the ground up. Eighteen years and many designations later, he is now a seasoned Portfolio Manager and Financial Planner working with families across the country.