ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY -- AIF -- Program Now Available on Acadient Academy.

Business Editors/Education Writers/High-Tech Writers

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 2, 2003

Courses Will Benefit Trustees, Investment Advisors, Private Bankers

and Financial Planners Charged with Fiduciary Standards of Care 

Acadient, a premier developer and distributor of online financial education, today announced the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY(TM) (AIF(TM)) Program created by The Center for Fiduciary Studies is available on the Acadient Academy at www.acadient.com.

The program, designed for fiduciaries--decision makers who have the responsibility for managing someone else's money--further trains these investment managers to prudently manage portfolios and ensure that sound investment practices are being followed, providing clients with ethical and best industry practices.

"With the recent turmoil in the investment industry, financial managers who take the ACCREDITED INVESTMENT FIDUCIARY (AIF) Program can ensure their clients they have the skills and knowledge to provide the most ethical and client-centric services available," said Greg Titus, president, Acadient. "This program, available online through the Acadient Academy, is a convenient and affordable way to obtain a much needed accreditation and enhance a professional skill set."

Trustees, investment committee members, brokers, investment advisors, private bankers and financial planners have the option to earn the Center for Fiduciary Studies AIF professional designation.

The Program was created by Donald Trone, one of the industry's foremost experts on investment fiduciary responsibility and co-author of two industry best sellers, The Management of Investment Decisions (McGraw-Hill) and Procedural Prudence. He also led the development of the recently released handbook, Prudent Investment Practices. Trone is the founder and director of the Center for Fiduciary Studies, associated with the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, Center for Executive Education at the University of Pittsburgh, and was appointed in 2003 by the Secretary of Labor to represent the investment counseling industry on the ERISA Advisory Council.

"The vast majority of fiduciaries receive little or no formal training, and what little is provided is rarely comprehensive," said Donald Trone. "Yet fiduciaries must be able to demonstrate that portfolio assets are being prudently managed and that sound investment practices are being followed. Making these courses available on the Acadient Academy will give more access to those who need it and help maintain high standard of quality in the industry."

The AIF program has seven courses and covers such topics as the development of fiduciary standards of care; the procedures to conduct a fiduciary review or audit; asset allocations; the preparation and maintenance of investment policy statements; manager search and due diligence; performance measurement; and the proper accountability and control of investment-related fees and expenses.

The Web-based program is a flexible way for people to learn and the cost is only $945 for the entire program. CFP and IMCA continuing education credits are available.

The Acadient Academy is a one-stop-shop for financial training and education. With more than 200 course modules and growing, the Acadient Academy offers the individual learner--from the financial industry or the general public--a comprehensive curriculum to fit the diverse requirements of education and training for the financial services industry or individuals interested in professional financial education.

About Acadient

Based in Boston, Acadient is the nation's leading developer and distributor of interactive, multimedia education and training for the financial services industry. Approved by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a continuing education provider, Acadient partners with premier industry and academic organizations including the National Investment Company Service Association (NICSA), Society of Professional Administrators and Record Keepers (SPARK), Pearson Education, Financial Planning Association, Keir Educational Resources, The National Underwriter Company and Boston University. Visit www.acadient.com for more information.

About The Center for Fiduciary Studies

The Center for Fiduciary Studies was established as the first full-time training and research facility focused exclusively on investment fiduciary responsibility and portfolio management. It is associated with the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, Center for Executive Education at the University of Pittsburgh. The Center provides training to help investment fiduciaries and professionals understand the intersection between their responsibilities and the investment process. Programs at the Center support the AIF(TM) and AIFA(TM) professional designations. For more information, please visit www.fi360.com.