Setting the Standard: 10 Years as the UK’s First CEFEX-Certified Firm
This year marks a significant milestone for BpH Wealth: the 10th anniversary of being certified by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX). A decade ago, we became the very first firm in the UK to achieve this prestigious accreditation. Today, we remain one of only a handful of wealth management firms worldwide to hold it.
Originating from the Latin ‘fiducia’ meaning ‘trust’ or ‘confidence’, a fiduciary relationship is where one party is expected to act in the best interests of another. In some cases, such as in law or financial advice, fiduciary relationships are enshrined into law.
At BpH Wealth, our fiduciary obligations aren’t seen as legal hoops to jump through, they have been at the very core of what we do since the very beginning. When our founder Michael Freedman started the business in 1984, financial advice was a largely unregulated industry full of opportunists and self-titled ‘experts’. Michael set out “only to provide advice one would be happy to give to close friends and family”. This is how we envisage fiduciary for ourselves and remains a guiding part of our philosophy to this day.
Trust in our People and Process
For us at BpH Wealth, fiduciary isn’t just about good intentions. If we are truly working for our clients’ best interests we must ensure that both our processes and the advice that we give are robust, evidence based and to the highest technical standards. This is why we were in the first batch of firms to become Chartered Financial Planners and the very first firm in the UK to achieve CEFEX certification.
For BpH Wealth, CEFEX certification is more than an accolade. It is a rigorous, independent assessment of the way we serve our clients, develop our processes, and uphold the highest fiduciary standards. Each year, our practices are scrutinised against global benchmarks. Passing is never assumed, it is earned, and it requires commitment to continuous improvement.
Beyond Standards – A Framework for Improvement
Certifications are more than badges of honour, at BpH Wealth we view them as frameworks that we can use to push us to do better. Each accreditation is an opportunity to examine how our values translate into practice and to hold ourselves accountable.
- Chartered Financial Planner Status: Demonstrates a commitment to a strong ethical code, high technical and professional standards and the ongoing development thereof.
- CEFEX (Centre for Fiduciary Excellence): Validates that our governance, investment processes, and client care meet the highest fiduciary standards globally.
- Cyber Essentials Plus: Demonstrates that client data and digital systems are safeguarded against cyber threats, reflecting our duty of care in the digital age.
- B Corp Certification: Certifies that we measure success not just by financial outcomes, but by our positive impact on people, communities, and the environment.
Together, these certifications show that our responsibilities extend beyond client portfolios. They ensure that we operate with integrity, resilience, and awareness of our broader impact on society.
Why It Matters for Clients
For clients, these certifications provide confidence that their wealth is managed with the utmost commitment and care. More than this, they confirm that the firm they have entrusted with their future also cares about helping their local community and shaping a fairer, more sustainable world.
Independent audits and external accountability give weight to what we say. They ensure we are not just promising excellence but proving it.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate ten years of CEFEX certification, we remain committed to raising the bar. Each accreditation is not an endpoint but a starting point for the next phase of our journey: to serve clients with integrity, to adapt to a changing world, and to increase our positive impact on our clients and society as a whole.
At BpH Wealth Management, excellence is not just a standard – it is a responsibility.
To find out more about BpH Wealth and our journey towards providing our world-leading Lifestyle Wealth Management service, click here.
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