Foster Group Earns Fiduciary Excellence Certification for 18th Consecutive Year
The only firm in Iowa and Nebraska to continuously receive certification.
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA – (September 29, 2025) – Foster Group is honored to announce its renewed certification from the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX), a division of Broadridge Fi360 Solutions (Broadridge). This certification is only granted by Broadridge to firms that demonstrate adherence to fiduciary best practices. It is a hallmark accomplishment for Foster Group as it signifies conformity to a recognized global standard of fiduciary excellence.
“Broadridge is pleased to add Foster Group to an elite group of investment advisors who have demonstrated adherence to professional practices that define a standard of fiduciary excellence,” said Carlos Panksep, VP CEFEX. “They have earned the right to use the CEFEX Mark which indicates the firm’s established practices are aligned with investors’ interests and worthy of trust and confidence.”
Foster Group is the only firm in Iowa and Nebraska that has been continuously certified as a registered fiduciary by The Centre for Fiduciary Excellence since 2007. As of September 2025, 115 advisory firms – worldwide – hold this certification. To receive certification, firms undergo an annual assessment, including document review, client file sampling, and interviews with senior leaders. The assessment is evidence-based, and all work is reviewed by the CEFEX Registration Committee to ensure reliability and consistency.
“We hold the principles of serving our clients as fiduciaries and cultivating trusting relationships at the heart of our values,” said Buck Olsen, CEO of Foster Group. “Achieving CEFEX certification is evidence of our advisors’ diligent efforts and unwavering commitment to making sure each and every client is truly cared for.”
CEFEX certification standards are substantiated by legislation, case law and regulatory opinion letters from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA), the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and the Uniform Management of Public Employee Retirement Systems Act (UMPERSA) in the U.S. A full copy of the standard can be downloaded from Broadridge at www.fi360.com/cefex and a summary can be viewed by clicking on Foster Group’s online CEFEX certificate
Neither rankings and/or recognitions by unaffiliated rating services, publications, media, or other organizations, nor the achievement of any professional designation, certification, degree, or license, or any amount of prior experience or success, should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Foster Group is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. Unless expressly indicated to the contrary, Foster Group did not pay a fee to be included on any such ranking. No ranking or recognition should be construed as a current or past endorsement or testimonial of Foster Group by any of its clients.
The Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, LLC is an independent certification organization. CEFEX works closely with industry experts to provide comprehensive assessment programs to improve the fiduciary practices of investment stewards, advisors and managers. CEFEX certifications help determine the trustworthiness of investment fiduciaries. Foster Group obtained its CEFEX certification in August 2007, and has renewed each year since. In order to achieve certification, Foster Group pays an annual assessment fee of approximately $5,000. These fees are a requirement for certification and cover the cost of the independent audit. The fees paid do not have any bearing on the outcome of the assessment. For more information on CEFEX, please visit the CEFEX website.