PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fi360, the nation’s leading provider of fiduciary-related education and technology, announces the acquisition of the Center for Fiduciary Management (“CFFM”), an investment management technology provider for retirement plan advisors. The acquisition joins together two preeminent providers of fiduciary-focused tools and training in the industry today. The expanded lineup of tools and resources now available from Fi360 sets the bar for technology, training and data solutions that enable advisors to work as fiduciaries.
The acquisition adds CFFM’s four advisor-focused tools to Fi360’s suite of solutions, which includes the Fiduciary Focus Toolkit™ and Fi360 Fiduciary Score® offerings, as well as its Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®), Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst® (AIFA®) and Professional Plan Consultant™ (PPC®) designations.
“Fi360 is moving quickly to meet the growing needs of advisors within the independent, broker-dealer and wirehouse communities. The acquisition of CFFM expands the platform we offer to our financial industry partners with additional tools and customization options to help them work effectively and efficiently while maintaining the fiduciary standards of loyalty and care,” said Bill Mueller, AIF®, Chief Executive Officer of Fi360.
The acquisition comes as the fiduciary rule continues to be debated. “The current regulatory environment is evolving, but there are steady and significant market forces supporting advisors and firms who have embraced fiduciary standards to elevate themselves in the marketplace,” said Mueller. “We are enabling advisors’ success by providing a wider and deeper suite of fintech solutions to help them scale their practice, maintain compliance, and better serve their clients.”
CFFM, led by Scott Revare since its founding in 2003, provides solutions for retirement plan advisors and financial services professionals. The firm offers four flagship products that are widely used among financial advisors, including FiRMPlus, an investment due diligence platform, RFP Director, a research and RFP management platform for providers, Stable Value Navigator, with data and insight on stable value funds along with an opportunity to compare products, and Fiduciary Pilot, which is a standardized, automated due diligence reporting platform.
Revare, who will assume the role of Managing Director at Fi360, commented: “We have committed our business to providing financial services industry professionals with the tools they need to be successful. Today’s environment is challenging advisors to be increasingly diligent in their approach, and strategically designed tools that are built with the advisor in mind can be of significant benefit as they operate in the new normal. Fi360 is a partner who mirrors our commitment to the fiduciary standard and gives us the opportunity to extend our reach and ability to help advisors. We are thrilled to align with Fi360.”
Mueller added: “We are always looking for strategic partners aligned with Fi360’s mission to bring the benefits of fiduciary advice to all investors, and CFFM has a great reputation of doing just that. Their team has achieved significant growth in its 15-year history, and we look forward to expanding their reach among advisors. We’re pleased to welcome them to our team.”
The combined firms will service 55,000 investment professionals and over 120,000 retirement plans and amplifies Fi360’s reach among institutions, including multiple wirehouses and some of the nation’s other largest broker-dealers. The transaction closed on June 14, 2018 and is effective immediately.
Fi360, a fiduciary education, training and technology company, helps financial intermediaries use prudent fiduciary practices to profitably gather, grow and protect investors’ assets. Since 1999, the firm has provided financial professionals with the tools necessary to act as a fiduciary in their work with investors. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Fi360 is the home of the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation, the Fiduciary Focus Toolkit™ and the Fi360 Fiduciary Score®. Fi360 is also the parent company of CEFEX. Learn more at www.Fi360.com, via Twitter or on LinkedIn.
