Certified Financial Fiduciary

   As a Certified Financial Fiduciary, one must agree to uphold the highest moral, ethical and fiduciary standards of service when providing advice to potential or existing clients. 

What is a Certified Finacial Fiduciary?

The CFF designation is reserved for financial professionals who have successfully completed a rigorous certification and training process established by NACFF and AFEA (The American Financial Education Alliance), and who agree to uphold the highest moral, ethical and fiduciary standards of service when providing advice to potential or existing clients.   The department of labor states that fiduciaries are required to act impartially and provide advice that is in their clients' best interest. Additionally, fiduciaries are not permitted to receive payments creating conflicts of interest unless they comply with certain conditions of exemption that minimize the effects of a conflict. Choosing a Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CFF) as your advisor is important because, under the DOL’s regulatory package, the CFF Code of Conduct, and the strict guidelines of the NACFF, they are required to give you advice that is in your best interest, not their own.  
​All fiduciaries are not the same. CFF® is the standard of Excellence.

Is My Financial Advisor/Planner a fiduciary?

There's a chance that the financial professional may act in a fiduciary capacity, at times, however, if they do not carry the CFF designation, they have no obligation to act in your best interest at all times.  Remember this...your financial advisor gets paid whether you make money from their advice or not.  If they don't have the CFF designation, they aren't required to always act in your best interest.

What are the Qualifications/Standards?

Financial professionals seeking to obtain the Certified Financial Fiduciary® (CFF) designation must meet the following criteria:
  • Successfully complete in-person training at one of our training facilities or locations, or complete the online training course.
  • Pass the CFF exam.
  • Candidate must meet one of the following prerequisites:
    • Possess a professional financial certification/designation or
    • Professional financial license (securities, insurance, accounting, etc.), or
    • A combination of education and experience deemed satisfactory by the NACFF Advisory Council.
  • Must pass full background check and be in good standing with all state and federal license requirements.
  • Allow NACFF to audit/review their business office (via survey) for best practices and compliance.
  • Exemplify highest standards of morals, ethics, and fiduciary standards of service.
  • Must swear to uphold the CFF code of conduct.

​CFF Code of Conduct

  • Practice the Duty of Loyalty -  A CFF designee will first and foremost always put the client's best interests first.
  • Practice the Duty of Good Faith - A fundamental obligation to treat all clients fairly and without prejudice of any kind.
  • Practice the Duty of Good Care - A fundamental obligation to exercise the skill of an expert and to only advise in those areas where such skill has been obtained.
  • Educate First - Provide comprehensive and unbiased education to clients, ensuring they have a firm grasp of the subject matter and concepts prior to making specific suggestions or advice.
  • Holistic Approach - Consider all aspects and factors that affect a plan prior to making suggestions or advice about any part of a client's financial plan or circumstance.
  • Full Disclosure - Always divulge all fees associated with advice being given as well as any conflicts of interest.
  • Comparison - Always provide comparisons of suggested products with detailed explanations as to why one is being suggested over another.
  • Confidentiality - Protect and keep all clients' information confidential and securely stored.
  • Professional Practice Management - CFF designees must agree to operate their practice with the utmost professionalism, using proper documentation and procedures set forth by all relevant governing bodies, including the SEC (where applicable) and the DOL  The must also agree to be audited by the NACFF to ensure that the aforementioned standards are being met at all times.
Click the button below to view the directory for the NACFF (National Association of Certified Financial Fiduciaries)   Look me up!

Your Best Interest Comes FIRST!

Contact Us

(843) 737-2457
134 E. Richardson Ave.
Summerville, SC 29483