Steve Brownlow, Lynn Kermes, Kevin Dulitz, Brian Westemeyer and Jeff Englin of Alliance Benefit Group Financial Services, Corp. have been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the standards-setting body for fi360.

Fi360, based near Pittsburgh, is the first full-time training and research facility for fiduciaries, and conducts training programs at universities throughout the United States and abroad. The Center for Fiduciary Studies confers the AIF designation as well as the Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst designation. AIFA designees are the only recognized professionals trained to perform fiduciary assessments, which measure how well investment professionals are fulfilling the fiduciary duties required of them by the applicable investment legislation, case law and regulatory opinion letters.

The AIF designation signifies specialized knowledge of fiduciary responsibility and the ability to implement policies and procedures that meet a defined standard of care. The designation is the culmination of a rigorous training program, which includes a comprehensive, closed-book final examination under the supervision of a proctor, and agreement to abide by the code of ethics. On an ongoing basis, designees are required to complete continuing education to maintain the AIF designation.