consultant by choice; passionate about assisting clients
The Why
Consultant’s Assessment of Fiduciary Excellence
A Consultant’s Assessment is a preliminary evaluation of an Investment Fiduciary’s practices, providing insights into how their current practices align with the Global Standard of Fiduciary Excellence. The results from this assessment can help address any deficiencies and serve as a foundation for preparing a comprehensive Certification Assessment. This assessment employs the same methodology as the full CEFEX Assessment.
CEFEX Assessment of Fiduciary Excellence
Successfully completing the CEFEX Assessment leads to the CEFEX Certification of Fiduciary Excellence for the investment fiduciary. This prestigious certification acknowledges that the fiduciary has demonstrated adherence to the industry’s best practices and earns the public’s trust. Certification includes a certificate, a Letter of Registration, inclusion in the CEFEX public registry as a Registered Firm, and the right to use the CEFEX mark along with marketing materials in the firm’s branding efforts, along with a news release.
The CEFEX Assessment may yield a Non-Conformity Report and/or an Opportunity for Improvement report: A non-conformity indicates a serious deficiency, delaying certification until the issue is rectified. The candidate is given 90 days to correct the non-conformity. An Opportunity for Improvement report is issued when a conformity does not meet a best practice but is not deemed a serious deficiency. An OFI does not delay certification but provides the candidate with a chance to enhance their practices.
Fiduciary Training
Fiduciary Guidance offers fiduciary training through the Fiduciary Essentials® program developed by Fi360, the parent organization of CEFEX. The Department of Labor mandates that retirement plan fiduciaries undergo formal training, expecting evidence of this during examinations. Additionally, officers and board members of Foundations and Nonprofits should also be trained in their fiduciary responsibilities. Completing this course leads to improved fiduciary decision-making and consists of three 45-minute modules. The course concludes with a competency review and a Certificate of Completion for each participant.
General Fiduciary Consulting
Fiduciary Guidance, LLC is here to consult on any investment fiduciary situation. I am a consultant by choice, dedicated to helping clients achieve fiduciary excellence.
Experienced Advisor
Ed Messerly has over 35 years of experience in Fiduciary matters. After graduating from law school, Ed practiced law several years before joining the trust department of a large regional bank. At the bank Ed was responsible for the retirement plan division of the trust department for the Eastern Region of Ohio. His responsibilities included fiduciary compliance for 4 offices in the region. After leaving the bank, Ed joined Mercer Human Resources Consulting in Cleveland as a retirement plan advisor/consultant. When Ed retired from Mercer, he saw a need to assist investment fiduciaries in meeting their fiduciary responsibilities and started Fiduciary Guidance, LLC.