NEB Stands Tall in the Winds of Industry Change

August, 2007—Senior-oriented designations have come under fire in recent months due to isolated instances of financial professionals with these designations engaging in questionable sales practices. In this context, it’s important to view your NEB membership in the proper light.

For instance, keep in mind that NEB is not a designation, nor is it viewed that way by most in the industry. Designations are earned after a course of study and result in financial professionals being permitted to place letters after their name. Attaining NEB membership does not involve a course of study or grant you the right to use more letters after your name.

Instead of passing a knowledge exam, prospective members must pass NEB’s Ethics Check System™, a comprehensive nationwide background check for criminal, civil, and business violations. And to further strengthen the NEB brand, additional requirements for membership were added in June 2007. Advisors with NEB-prohibited violations on their records are not eligible for membership.

So if NEB is not a designation, what is it? Think of it as the financial services version of the Better Business Bureau—with a rigorous background check and consumer-protection content as added features. The BBB has served the public successfully since 1912, and we hope to be around at least as long. Why? Because financial professionals understand the importance of standing for ethics and integrity—and consumers value how NEB helps them stay safe in the financial services marketplace.

Bottom line: with greater industry clarity about NEB’s mission, its expanding membership base and growing interest in background-checked advisors, it’s a great time to be an NEB member.

Become NEB’s Next Member of the Month!

1. Have you been an NEB member in good standing for at least a year?
2. Do you stand for ethics and integrity in every aspect of your business?
3. Has NEB membership helped you build stronger client relationships?
4. Are you interested in achieving industry recognition for being named NEB’s
   Member of the Month?

If you answered “yes,” to all of these questions, then we encourage you to apply for NEB’s member of the month program. If selected, you will be profiled in a future issue of Ethics Edge. You will also receive a free PDF reprint of your interview to share with prospects and clients. (see sample)

Interested? Just send an e-mail to hlew@ethicscheck.com expressing your interest and explaining why you should be profiled.