Our Designations
Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM (AAMS®)
An Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM (AAMS®) is a professional designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning (CFP) to financial professionals who successfully complete a self-study program, pass an exam, and agree to comply with a code of ethics. The exam covers a broad range of topics, such as investments, insurance, taxation, retirement and estate planning issues.
To maintain their certification status, they must complete 16 hours of continuing education programs every two years.
Team Members:
H. Trigg Mitchell, Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®)
Administered by fi360, the Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) professional designation is the industry's first and only designation that demonstrates knowledge and competency in the area of fiduciary responsibility and excellence. A candidate must pass a training course, an examination, have relevant experience in the financial industry, and sign and abide by a code of ethics. To maintain their certification status, AIF professionals must complete six continuing education credits every year.
Team Members:
Will G. Davis, Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Brett T. Trusty, Vice President, Business Development
Brian Chavis, Assistant Vice President, Retirement/Institutional Services
Accredited Trust Financial Advisor
The Accredited Trust Financial Advisor (ATFA) Certification is available to all fiduciaries serving their clients with banks, credit unions, independent trust companies, broker affiliated trust companies, wealth advisory firms or law firms offering trust services. A trust professional holding the ATFA Certification is well versed in and demonstrates mastery of the very highest level of fiduciary expertise.
Team Members:
Andy D. Waters, President and CEO
Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
The Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) designation is administered by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. CAMS is an established global qualification that outlines the key principles of money laundering and how to prevent it. The certification exam rigorously tests the expertise and aptitude of the candidate's comprehension of anti-money laundering detection, prevention, and enforcement. Candidates are also required to have 40 credits of eligibility through coursework or relevant experience. To maintain their designation, candidates must complete 60 hours of continuing education every three years.
Team Members:
Keren Salehi, Vice President, Compliance
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist® (CEBS®)
A Certified Employee Benefit Specialist® (CEBS®) is a professional designation given by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, a partner of the Wharton School of Business at University of Pennsylvania. A candidate must pass numerous courses and exams covering areas such as group benefits management, asset management, compensation management, and tax and estate planning.
Team Members:
Brenda Brammer, Senior Vice President, Retirement/Institutional Services
Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®)
A Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) refers to the certification owned and awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. The CFP designation is awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
Individuals desiring to become a CFP professional must take an extensive exam in the areas of financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning and retirement. They must have a Bachelor's degree and either 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship. CFP professionals are required to adhere to the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence when dealing with clients. To maintain their certification status, they must complete 30 hours of continuing education programs every two years.
Team Members:
Roger K. Smith, Vice President, Business Development
Will G. Davis, Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Taylor Curtis, Assistant Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®)
A Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor® (CPFA®) is a financial professional that demonstrates expertise and experience working with retirement plans. During the CPFA® certification, candidates spend around two months learning about fiduciary services for retirement plans. A CPFA® can help their clients objectively review their financial status, identify potential concerns, and recommend the appropriate solutions for addressing these retirement matters.
Team Members:
Brett T. Trusty, Vice President, Business Development
Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist™ (CFIRS™)
The Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist™ (CFIRS™) professional designation is administered by the Cannon Financial Institute. This designation represents a thorough knowledge of and ability to apply fiduciary practices. CFIRS™ professionals must complete a three week curriculum and pass an examination.
Team Members:
Sandy Combs, Senior Vice President, Operations and Compliance
Sandy Ruby, Vice President, Operations and Compliance
Keren Salehi, Vice President, Compliance
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is a professional license administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The CPA license is the accounting industry's highest standard of competence, a symbol of achievement and assurance of quality. In order to receive their license, candidates must pass the Uniform CPA Examination, which is comprised of four sections. They must pass all four sections within an 18 month period.
In Kentucky, candidates must have one year of qualified work experience and a Bachelor's degree with relative hours in accounting. In order to maintain their license, professionals must complete 60-80 hours of continuing education every year. They must also adhere to a code of ethics.
Team Members:
Jason L. Lee, Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®)
A Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) is a professional designation given by the CFA Institute, formerly AIMR, that measures the competence and integrity of financial analysts. This is one of the highest designations one can receive in the financial industry. Candidates are required to pass three levels of exams covering areas such as accounting, economics, ethics, money management and security analysis.
To become a CFA charterholder, a candidate must meet four requirements. First, a candidate must have 48 months of qualified work experience in the investment industry as determined by the CFA Institute. Second, a candidate must pass all three levels of the CFA Program in order. Each exam is six hours long. Third, a candidate must become a member of the CFA Institute and pay annual dues. Lastly, a candidate must sign off annually that they are following the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
Team Members:
R. Christopher Meng, Senior Vice President, Investments Manager
Jeffrey S. Thomison, Senior Vice President, Senior Equity Manager & Strategist
Andrew Windsor, Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Sumer Miller, Assistant Vice President, Portfolio Manager
Taylor Curtis, Assistant Vice President, Wealth Advisor
Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)
A Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) is a professional designation administered by The American College of Financial Services. The designation represents a thorough knowledge of the essentials of financial planning, including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning.
To receive the ChFC® designation, candidates must have a minimum of three years of full-time, relevant experience within the previous five years, take eight courses issued by the American College of Financial Services that cover investment and retirement planning, insurance planning and financial planning process, pass eight proctored exams, and maintain a minimum of 30 continued education credits every two years.
Team Member:
Roger K. Smith, Vice President, Business Development
Sabrina Lequire, Assistant Vice President, Wealth Advisor
Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®)
A Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) is a professional designation administered by The American College of Financial Services. The designation is for individuals who wish to specialize in life insurance and estate planning.
To receive the CLU® designation, candidates must successfully complete eight courses and exams, meet experience requirements and ethics standards and agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures. To maintain their certification status, they must complete 30 hours of continuing education every year.
Team Members:
Roger K. Smith, Vice President, Business Development
Certified Securities Operations Professional™ (CSOP™)
Administered by the American Bankers Association, the Certified Securities Operations Professional (CSOP™) designation is designed to establish a recognized standard of knowledge and competence for securities operations professionals. Candidates must have a minimum of three years of experience in securities operations and complete an ICB-approved education school or have five years of experience in securities operations. They are also required to pass an exam and sign the Institute of Certified Banker's code of ethics. To maintain their designation, candidates must complete 30 hours of continuing education every three years.
Team Members:
Sandy Combs, Senior Vice President, Operations and Compliance
Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor (CTFA)
A Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor is a professional credential offered by the American Bankers Association for financial professionals. This mark provides training and knowledge in taxes, investments, financial planning, trusts and estates.
To achieve the designation, candidates must have a minimum of three years of experience in wealth management along with the completion of an ICB trust training program. Candidates can have five years of experience in wealth management along with a Bachelor's degree or ten years of experience in wealth management. To go along with the prerequisites, candidates must also sign a professional code of ethics and successfully pass an examination. To maintain their certification status, CTFA professionals must complete and report 45 continuing education (CE) credits every three years.
Team Members:
Andy D. Waters, President and CEO
Robert Stadelman, Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Gerrie Clark, Vice President, Private Wealth Services
Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA)
An Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent (ERPA) is an individual who has qualified and may elect to practice before the IRS on certain retirement plan issues. ERPA professionals must pass two examinations and complete 70 continuing education credits every three years.
Team Members:
Nikki Warford, Vice President, Retirement/Institutional Services
Retirement Plans Associate (RPA)
The Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) designation is administered by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The RPA designation is earned by individuals in the group benefits arena who complete an extensive four-course curriculum and successfully pass an examination.
Team Members:
Nikki Warford, Vice President, Retirement/Institutional Services
Advanced Degrees
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
The Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) is a graduate professional degree in law. It is earned by completing law school in the United States.
Team Members:
Jason L. Lee, Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Services - University of Kentucky College of Law
H. Trigg Mitchell, Vice President, Private Wealth Services - Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Masters
A master's degree is a second-cycle academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study. The degree demonstrates mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.
Team Members:
Chris Meng, Senior VP, Investments Manager - The Ohio State University
Barrett Coleman, VP, Portfolio Manager - Morehead State University
H. Trigg Mitchell, VP, Private Wealth Services - University of Denver
Tammy Provost, VP, Portfolio Manager - University of Kentucky
Roger K. Smith, VP, Business Development - University of the Cumberlands
Will G. Davis, VP, Private Wealth Services - Morehead State University
Sumer Miller, AVP, Portfolio Manager - Texas Tech University, Robert Gordon University
Sabrina Lequire, AVP, Wealth Advisor, Private Wealth Services - Sullivan University, Morehead State University
Nicole Record, AVP, Wealth Advisor, Private Wealth Services – University of Louisville
Brett T. Trusty, VP, Business Development - Xavier University