MARINETTE, Wis. -Jeff Bauman, chief investment officer of the Stephenson National Bank & Trust (SNBT), has been awarded the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) designation from the Center for Fiduciary Studies.

The AIF designation demonstrates the ‘gold standard’ of fiduciary excellence and full understanding of all aspects of investment management, including: asset allocation, fund evaluation and selection, performance monitoring, reporting, governance, and compliance.

“SNBT has a vested interest in developing employees to represent the most advanced knowledge in all areas of banking, trust, and investment management,” said Greg Salmen, SNBT executive vice president.

“In this case, Jeff Bauman already had more than 20 years of experience. He sought to earn this designation to add further credibility to his already robust set of skills,” Salmen said.

The AIF designation is the culmination of a rigorous training program, a comprehensive examination, ongoing education, and adherence to a strict ethics agreement. Those who hold this accreditation have obtained a specialized knowledge on the start-to-finish process of making investment decisions in the best interests of, and with undivided loyalty to, the investor and/or beneficiary.

This process is based on law, regulation, and best practices to increase the likelihood of positive investment outcomes.

“Simply stated, it’s about making sure we have the most knowledge and experience to set-up our clients’ investment portfolios for success,” added Salmen.

Bauman joined SNBT in 2010, with 15 years of experience in equity and fixed income markets. Prior to joining SNBT, he was responsible for overseeing a multi-billion dollar trust and wealth management division and had successfully devised and implemented various investment strategies that focused on total return and tax efficiency.

His role with SNBT includes evaluating and recommending appropriate investment options, monitoring portfolio performance, optimizing asset allocation strategies, and account administration.

The Stephenson National Bank & Trust is a 140-year old independent community bank with more than $1 billion in bank, mortgage, and trust and investment assets under management.

Offices are located in Marinette, Wausaukee, Crivitz, Pembine, and Oconto, Wis. and Menominee in Michigan with a trust and investment office in Marquette.

For more information about the Stephenson National Bank & Trust, visit www.snbt.com.

The Center for Fiduciary Studies is the standards-setting body for fi360.

Based near Pittsburgh, Pa., it is the first full-time training and research facility for fiduciaries, and conducts training programs throughout the United States and abroad.

Since 1999, fi360 has been helping its clients gather, grow, and protect assets through better investment and decision-making.