“Clients must expect that they are the client and the focus; not their funds.”
This has always been the case at Alman Partners, but we recognise the difficulty for our community in truly differentiating between an adviser that meets the minimum legislative requirements, and an investment fiduciary. We also recognise that our clients don’t always know all of the tough questions that they should be asking to have absolute confidence that we are doing what we say we will regarding our investment processes.
The Center for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) serves as an independent auditor to verify that an investment advisory firm conforms to all practices and criteria that comprise the Global Standard of Fiduciary Excellence.
Alman Partners has just undergone its 4th annual audit and renewed our CEFEX certification. We remain as one of only six firms in Australia who open their doors to such independent scrutiny, and successfully continue to hold the certification. While we are proud that our Mackay-based firm continues to lead the way in the journey of fiduciary excellence, the purpose of our investment and commitment to hold this stamp of excellence is to provide our clients with ‘peace of mind’ – to know that an independent quality assurance body endorses Alman Partners as an investment fiduciary.
Simply put, a fiduciary is someone who serves as an ever-vigilant guardian of the client’s best interests. Our clients’ financial success is not about being lucky, but being prudent about creating and preserving wealth.
Every CEFEX audit process has identified some opportunities for improvement that span from the depth of our investment procedures and documentation presented to clients, to estate planning management frameworks. Fiduciary excellence is a journey, not a destination, so we expect to always have opportunities arise as the world progresses.
We feel it is important that we share our success with our recent CEFEX certification renewal, and communicate that we are already working on the opportunities identified.
Paul Shepherd CFP®, BEng, DipMgt, DFS(FP), AIF® is a representative of Alman Partners Pty Ltd, Australian Financial Services Licence No: 222107.
Note: This material is provided for information only. No account has been taken of the objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person or entity. Accordingly, to the extent that this material may constitute general financial product advice, investors should, before acting on the advice, consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to the investor’s objectives, financial situation and needs. This is not an offer or recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial products, nor a solicitation for deposits or other business, whether directly or indirectly.
