Complaint Policy
Financial Transitionist® Institute ("FTI") created its Certified Financial Transitionist® ("CeFT®") mark to provide specialized financial services to those experiencing life transitions. To provide the public with excellent service, FTI requires its CeFT® professionals to adhere to FTI’s Code of Ethics and Code of Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. A professional's use of the CeFT® mark is contingent on his or her understanding, acceptance, and compliance with FTI's codes.
FTI’s Code of Disciplinary Rules and Procedures provides a framework for investigating and enforcing FTI’s standards. If you believe that a CeFT® professional has violated the Code of Disciplinary Rules and Procedures, you may submit a complaint to FTI in one of the following forms:
Email:
[email protected]
Mail:
Financial Transitionist Institute, CeFT® Department
10 Huntly Circle
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
Form: (see below)
Before submitting a complaint or allegation of misconduct, please consider whether your complaint concerns a code violation, and not simply a misunderstanding with a CeFT® professional. Unclear, unsubstantiated, or undocumented complaints will not result in investigation or disciplinary action.
Your complaint should include, at minimum, the following:
- The CeFT® Professional's name, company, address, and contact information;
- Your name, address, telephone number, and email address;
- A description of the alleged code violation, including detailed factual allegations;
- An accounting or estimate of any fees you have paid to the CeFT® professional;
- A list of attachments of all contracts, disclosures, account initiation documents, or other relevant documents for the CDC's consideration;
- A list of any other regulatory bodies or officials you have notified about the alleged misconduct; and
- Your signature and the date, attesting to the truth of the matters contained in your complaint.
Upon determination that a complaint contains sufficient grounds to initiate an investigation, the CeFT® professional who is the subject of the complaint may receive information about the complaint, including a copy of the complaint and any accompanying documentation. As the investigation and enforcement proceedings progress, FTI may disclose details of the investigation with state, federal, or private regulatory bodies, including, but not limited to, regulatory boards of the professional’s primary financial designation (e.g, CFP, CFA, CIMA, ChFC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), and/or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). FTI’s disclosures do not, in any way, relieve you of the responsibility of reporting your complaint to the appropriate regulators or authorities, or filing a claim for relief, should you desire to do so.
FTI reviews and considers all complaints submitted. Investigations and enforcement proceedings will not be made public, except as provided in the Code of Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. Accordingly, though FTI is giving your complaint the consideration and attention it deserves, you will not be made aware of the status or result of the complaint, except as necessary to obtain additional information or documentation from you as part of the investigation. For detailed information about FTI’s disciplinary enforcement policies and procedures, please refer to the Code of Disciplinary Rules and Procedures.
FTI and its Complaints and Discipline Committee (“CDC”) take the enforcement of FTI’s codes and standards seriously. They do not, however, provide the same type of relief as a court of law or arbitration panel. The purpose of the FTI CDC is to discipline CeFT® professionals in the case of code violations. FTI does not provide a method for obtaining any type of financial relief for customers. Should you wish to pursue your claims in court or before an arbitration panel, you must file and pursue those complaints in the appropriate forum.