Practice Principles

Integrity

We provide professional services with integrity and understand clients place confidence in our advice. In deciding what is right and just, we rely upon our integrity. Integrity demands honesty and candor that is never subordinated to personal gain. Within the characteristic of integrity, allowance is afforded for inadvertent errors and differences of opinion.

Objectivity

We are objective in providing professional services to every client. Objectivity requires intellectual honesty and impartiality. It is an essential quality for any professional. Regardless of the service rendered, we protect the integrity of our work, and maintain objectivity.

Competence

We provide services to clients competently and maintain the necessary knowledge and skill to continue to do so. This competence includes the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and when consultation or client referral is appropriate. By virtue of our position, we are qualified to practice investment planning. We make a continuing commitment to learning and professional improvement.

Fairness

We shall perform professional services in a manner that is fair and reasonable to clients, principals, partners, and employers and shall disclose conflicts of interests. This may involve a subordination of one’s own feelings, prejudices, and desires so as to achieve a proper balance of conflicting interests.

Confidentiality

We do not disclose any confidential client information without the specific consent of the client unless in response to proper legal process. Our relationship only can be built upon the understanding that information supplied will be confidential. To provide services effectively and to protect clients’ privacy, we safeguard the confidentiality of such information.

Professionalism

Because of the importance of the professional services we render, there are attendant responsibilities to behave with dignity and courtesy to all those who use those services, fellow professionals, and those in related professions. We also have an obligation to cooperate with fellow financial professionals to enhance and maintain the profession’s public image and to work jointly with other financial professionals in cooperation.

Diligence

We shall act diligently in providing professional services. Diligence is the provision of services in a reasonably prompt and thorough manner. Diligence also includes proper planning for and supervision of the rendering of professional services.