Having graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette in May of 1993, worked at Oak Partners since December of the same year, and written the “Your Mind on Money” column since 2002, Oak Partners Team Leader and Partner Marc Ruiz is no stranger to the financial industry. However, to keep his mind sharp and his methods effective, Ruiz welcomes new avenues of self-development in his financial career. Recently, he completed his AIFA® credential for that very purpose.
In order to be eligible to pursue an AIFA® credential, Ruiz first had to complete his AIF® credential.
“The AIF® provides a fundamental framework for providing fiduciary financial services to clients; the AIFA® credentials the holder to supervise and consult with AIF® offices to really sharpen processes and documentation procedures to help ensure services are provided consistently and according to stated fiduciary standards,” Ruiz said. “The AIFA® credential provides a framework understanding of providing fiduciary services to both clients and other fiduciaries.”
One of the most impactful lessons Ruiz learned while earning his AIFA® credential was his new understanding of how crucial consistency and documentation are to fiduciary services. He believes that the application of this knowledge in his own career enables him to provide better services than ever before.
“I feel the fiduciary standard is the defining ethic of the investment advice and financial planning field. Providing quality fiduciary services to clients goes beyond the ‘act in the client’s best interest’ concept to provide a consistent and documented process of investment management and financial planning,” Ruiz said. “The AIFA® credential provides an advanced understanding and framework of managing a quality fiduciary financial services practice. The credential also qualifies AIFA® holders to consult with other fiduciary advisors in a best practices approach, helping to improve the overall industry.”
Overall, Ruiz found his experience obtaining the AIFA® credential both challenging and actionable and would recommend it to other financial professionals looking to advance their knowledge and skills. His AIFA® credential has bolstered Ruiz’s confidence in himself and his team, and it has driven him to deliver the most intelligent financial advice to clients.
“The AIFA® material reinforces the need for quality control in financial practice. Clients want to have a trusting relationship with a qualified advisor. The AIFA® helps the advisor provide services and advice in a way that truly validates the fiduciary ethic and provides the client with a documented, high-quality experience, which ultimately should contribute to better client outcomes and satisfaction,” Ruiz said.
For more information about Oak Partners and its quality team of financial professionals, visit oakpartners.com.
Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC.
