Certification Criteria and Award Disclaimers

Certifications

Accredited Investment Advisor, AIF®
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.
Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CEPA
The CEPA designation is earned by professionals who complete the Exit Planning Institute’s intensive four-day executive MBA-style program that involves approximately one hundred hours of pre-course study, thirty hours of classroom instruction, and the successful completion of a three-hour proctored examination. Candidates for the program must meet all the following requirements:

  • Five years of full-time or equivalent experience working directly with business owners as a financial advisor, attorney, CPA, business broker, investment banker, commercial lender, estate planner, insurance professional, business consultant or in a related capacity
  • Undergraduate degree from a qualifying institution; if no qualifying degree must submit additional professional work experience (two years of relevant professional experience may be substituted for each year of required undergraduate studies)
  • Exit Planning Institute member in good standing

The certification is not expressly accredited by any organization. For more information, please see https://exit-planning-institute.org/

Certified Financial Planner, CFP®
The CFP® marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP Board, have successfully completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP® Certification Examination covering the following areas: the financial planning process, risk management, investments, tax planning and management, retirement and employee benefits, and estate planning. CFP® professionals also agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and to uphold CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards.
Certified Income Specialist, CIS
CIS certification requires mastery of issues related to income distribution in retirement, including Medicare, income taxes, health care, investing in retirement, and more. Candidates must pass three comprehensive exams, complete a written case study and adhere to the IBF Code of Ethics and IBF Standards of Practice, as well as fulfill annual continuing education requirements.
Certified Investment Management Analyst®, CIMA
Professionals pursuing the CIMA certification undergo a rigorous training and education program, focusing on the core areas of professional responsibility and standards of practice, applied finance and economics, global capital markets history and valuation, risk considerations, traditional and alternative investments, behavioral finance, portfolio theories, and more. To qualify for the certification, candidates must pass an extensive background check, complete a demanding three-step, graduate level program of study, and pass a comprehensive examination. Since April 2011, CIMA certification has been recognized as the only financial services credential in the U.S. to have met an international standard for personnel certification (ISO 17024) and earned accreditation by American National Standards Institute, according to the organization’s website.
Certified IRA Services Professional (CISP)
CISP candidates must hold at least four years of dedicated IRA operational or technical experience, or two years with the completion of a select educational program. Candidates must sign the ABA’s Code of Ethics standards statement and submit extensive background information. Once eligibility requirements are met, candidates must apply to take the CISP exam, which covers a number of areas of knowledge including employer plans, IRA documentation, IRA contributions, retirement plan portability, IRA distributions, IRA fees and investments, and retirement planning considerations. The exam assesses not only the advisor’s knowledge of the material, but also on his or her ability to apply the knowledge . Advisors must participate in continuing education to maintain the CISP designation.
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor, CPFA®
The CPFA® credential demonstrates an advisor’s knowledge, expertise and commitment to working with retirement plans. Those who receive the certification have studied coursework covering the following areas: ERISA fiduciary roles and responsibilities, ERISA fiduciary oversight, ERISA plan investment management, ERISA plan management. Candidates must also pass a proctored examination, and receive continuing education to maintain the credential.
Certified Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA)
The CTFA designation is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of wealth management and trust. To qualify for the CTFA certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the trust profession, pass an exam, and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CTFA exam covers many areas including fiduciary and trust activities, financial planning, tax law and planning, investment management and ethics.
Chartered Financial Analyst(R), CFA
The Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) credential gives a strong understanding of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. The CFA program is a self-study, graduate-level program broken into three levels of exams. Successful charter holders must pass all three exams, hold a minimum a four years of experience in the investment decision making process, and join the CFA Institute as a regular member. Krilogy or the advisor is required to be a member of CFA Institute to receive this designation.
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
The Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® is the leading certification for professionals serving older adults, and is a designation awarded to qualified individuals. Earning the CSA certification requires individuals to pass a rigorous exam and to uphold the highest ethical standards for the benefit and protection of the health and welfare of seniors. To qualify, professionals must complete the candidate information profile, complete the disclosure questionnaire, pass the CSA certification examination, pass a criminal background check, pass the Roles, Rules, and Responsibilities Ethics Exam, complete and submit the signed Certified Senior Advisors Application for Certification. The professional must agree to the CSA Terms of awarding and maintaining certification, and to abide by and uphold the CSA Code of Professional Responsibility.
Chartered Financial Consultant, ChFC®
Comprised of eight college-level courses that address all aspects of financial planning, with a focus on the practical applications of those principles based on real-life case studies. To receive the ChFC® designation, advisors must successfully complete all courses and exams, meet experience requirements and ethics standards, and agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures. Participation in the Professional Recertification Program is also required.
Chartered Life Underwriter
Professionals pursuing the CLU® designation complete a rigorous curriculum which includes eight college-level courses, each with their own examination. The coursework covers the various fundamentals of life insurance including insurance planning, individual life insurance, life insurance law, estate planning, taxation, and planning for business owners and professionals, among others. Candidates must successfully complete eight courses, meet experience requirements and ethics standards, and agree to comply with the American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
Candidates for the PFS must be a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, hold an unrevoked CPA certificate issued by a state authority, and have at least two years of full-time teaching or business experience in personal financial planning within the five years preceding the application. In addition, the candidate must hold a minimum of 75 hours of personal financial planning education, and pass a final certification examination. Continuing education is required to maintain the PFS status. Krilogy or the advisor is required to be a member of American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to receive this designation.

Awards

30 under 30 - Saint Louis Business Journal
The award recognizes young professionals who are making an impact professionally in their organizations, and in the community. Awards are chosen by an editorial board assembled by the St. Louis Business Journal. The board does not set forth any specific criteria by which it uses to determine qualification. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award.
Best Places to Work
The award is given to companies who exemplify teamwork, communication, and a variety of other factors. Companies who apply for this award undergo a third party survey of team members. The score of the survey is compiled and those companies with the top scores are honored. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award.
Beyond the Best Award
Streetscape Magazine compiles an annual list of 50 St. Charles area business and community leaders for its annual Beyond the Best in Business awards. The individuals who are honored with this recognition have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and service to others. Winners are chosen by the magazine’s editorial board. The board does not set forth any specific criteria by which it uses to determine qualification. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award.
Entrepreneur Top Company Culture Award for 2018
Entrepreneur, along with Energage, presents the annual Top Company Culture List, showcasing high-performance cultures across the U.S. Companies are measured based on 24 factors across seven areas: alignment, effectiveness, connection, management, engagement, leadership and basics, including pay, benefits and training. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award.
Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisors
The list surveys Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) and recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the United States. Finanical Times and Ignites Resarch invited qualifying RIA companies – more than 2,000 – to complete a lengthy application that gave them information about the firm. In 2020, Financial Times indicated that 760 RIA companies applied and 300 made the final list. The list/ranking is NOT a competitive ranking of 1 to 300, but according to the Financial Times, is a list created to identify RIAs that meet certain criteria that give rise to the likelihood that they have the potential expertise and other credentials desirable to investors. The list was complied by Ignites Research, a Financial Times sister company. Firms, including Krilogy, chosen for inclusion on the list were measured on a formula of six factors that include: Assets Under Management (AUM), growth in AUM, years in existence, advanced industry certifications of Krilogy advisors, online accessibility, and compliance records. The Financial Times uses the formula to calculate a numeric score. According to the Financial Times, they chose the six factors for the following reasons:

  • AUM signals experience managing money and client trust
  • AUM growth rate can be a proxy for performance as well as for asset retention and the ability to generate new business. This is asses on three- year growth rates.
  • Companies’ years in existence indicates reliability and experience of managing assets through different market environments.
  • Compliance record provides evidence of past client disputes, a string of complaints can signal potential problems.
  • Industry Certification (CFA, CFP, etc) shows the company’s staff has industry knowledge and professional commitment to investment skills.
  • Online accessibility shows a desire to provide easy access and transparent contact information.

Financial Times indicated that among the top factors in its scoring, AUM accounted for an average of 72% of each adviser’s score. Advisor growth rate accounted for an average of 15%. Financial Times places a cap on the number of advisers from any one state corresponding to the distribution of millionaires across the US. This information is provided for your consideration and should not be viewed as absolute. Krilogy had no role in defining the formula or factors chosen and is not endorsing Financial Times choice of these factors alone for consideration when selecting a Registered Investment Adviser. The factors chosen should not be given preferential weight simply because a third party – Financial Times – utilized for comparison purposes.

Krilogy applied for consideration but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated to be a part of the list. Upon inclusion on the list, Financial Times offers award recipients the opportunity to purchase advertising and other material, but purchase of this material is not required to be nominated and named to the list.

Financial Times List of the Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies
Krilogy® qualified to be a part of this list based upon an independent set of criteria chosen by the Financial Times and its research partner, Statista. The criteria included: a) earning a minimum threshold of revenue; b) demonstrating organic revenue growth over a three-year period; c) being located in one of twenty American countries. Krilogy® applied for consideration with the Financial Times. Krilogy® did not pay an application fee to be considered for the award.
Future 50
Future 50 does not have a formal selection criteria. Winners of the award are chosen at the discretion of the editorial staff based upon the recipient’s self-nomination regarding the impact in local communities and economies in the St. Louis region.
Inc. 5000
Krilogy Financial® qualified to be a part of this list based upon an independent set of criteria chosen by Inc. 5000. The criteria included: a) privately-owned independent company; b) earning a minimum threshold of revenue; c) earning a minimum and increasing threshold of revenue over a three-year period. Krilogy Financial® applied for consideration with Inc. 5000. Revenue submissions are verified in writing by Krilogy’s third party accounting firm. Krilogy paid an application fee to be considered for the award.
Largest Asset Management Firms of 2020
Krilogy® qualified to be a part of this list based upon an independent set of criteria chosen by The St. Louis Business Journal:

  1. The list ranks firms by total value of client assets as of December 31, 2018;
  2. The firm requested consideration for this list and provided the requisite information requested for consideration;
  3. The firm did not pay a fee for consideration.
Saint Louis' Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies
The award is given by Saint Louis Business Journal who researches and ranks companies annually by revenue growth over a three-year period. Revenue submissions are verified in writing by Krilogy’s third party accounting firm. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated.
Saint Louis Small Business Best Wealth Manager
St. Louis Small Business Monthly surveys its readers to compile their annual list of the region’s “Best Wealth Managers” for business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award. The St. Louis Small Business Monthly does not set forth any criteria by which it selects those individuals that appear on the list, nor does it provide a definition for “Best Wealth Manager.”
St. Louis Small Business Monthly: Top 100 People to Know
St. Louis Small Business Monthly surveys its readers to compile their annual list of the region’s “Top 100 People to Know” for business owners, executives and entrepreneurs. Winners are chosen by the publication’s editorial board. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award. The St. Louis Small Business Monthly does not set forth any specific criteria by which it selects people to be included on the list.
Top Workplaces
The award is given to companies who exemplify teamwork, communication, and a variety of other factors. Companies who apply for this award undergo a third party survey of team members. The score of the survey is compiled and those companies with the top scores are honored. Krilogy applied for consideration for this award but did not pay a fee to be considered or nominated for the award.
Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard
The Employment Scorecard is researched via survey by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis. The survey captures information from female employees and focuses on a number of objective criteria and outcomes, including leadership, compensation, flexible work policies, and recruitment and retention. Krilogy responded to the surveys, and did not pay a fee for consideration.
Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors
The Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors rankings are developed by Shook Research. Basic requirements for consideration include: minimum of seven years as an advisor, minimum of one year at current firm, recommendation and nomination as submitted by the firm, completion of an online survey, acceptable compliance record. Candidates are rated based on quantitative and qualitative research. Shook is completely independent and objective and does not receive compensation from the advisors, firms, the media or any other source in exchange for placement on a ranking.

If you have any additional questions regarding designations or awards, please contact the firm by calling 314-884-2800 or via email.