Introduction

This Code of Ethics is an expression of the Retirement Industry Trust Association’s (RITA) recognition of its members’ professional responsibilities to their clients, their regulatory bodies, their industry and the general public. These principles apply to all RITA members and provide guidance to them in the performance of their professional services. 

 Principle 1: Integrity

A RITA member shall offer and provide professional services with integrity. All members shall exercise the utmost integrity when providing professional services. The nature and extent of services rendered must be dictated by professionalism, honesty and candor. 

 Principle 2: Competence

A RITA member shall provide services to clients and their respective financial advisers competently and maintain the necessary knowledge and skills to continue to do so in those areas in which the member is engaged. All RITA members shall acquire and maintain the necessary knowledge, skills and business acumen to assure delivery of high quality professional services. The cornerstones of competency are knowledge and experience. These are to be delivered within each member company’s contracts and operating principles at a high level of competency. 

 Principle 3: Confidentiality

In accordance with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations, members shall adopt a Privacy Policy for the protection of customer privacy and information. Compliance with these policies, as well as conformity with the principles set forth in this Code of Ethics, is expected of all members. Information obtained with respect to member customers from any source, other than public documents, is considered privileged and must be held in strict confidence. Information received from or about customers is to be used solely for business purposes. All members will make all reasonable efforts to protect client information from theft or identity fraud. 

 Principle 4: Fairness, Honesty and Due Care

All RITA members shall perform professional services in a manner that is fair and honest to all clients, financial advisers, partners and other service providers. All relevant conflicts of interest must be disclosed. Fairness demands impartiality and intellectual honesty as well as the subordination of one’s own feelings, prejudices and desires so as to achieve a proper balance of conflicting interests. Due care must be taken to deliver reliable, accurate and timely services within professional standards and guidelines. 

 Principle 5: Competition

RITA believes in the free enterprise system and is dedicated to the maintenance of fair competition in an open market. Members are to avoid any circumstances that will or would appear to violate antitrust or competition laws. Members shall refrain from discussing or entering into any arrangement or understandings with competitors concerning prices, products or territories, boycotting certain customers or in any way engaging in other anti-competitive practices. Normal business activities by members occasionally require contacts with competitors, but on such occasions discussion of any of the above-mentioned subjects must be avoided. Any violation of these conditions must be reported immediately to the Executive Director of the Association. 

 Principle 6: Compliance

All RITA members must comply with their respective federal or state laws, regulations and rules. Every reasonable effort will be made to comply with all applicable laws so that each RITA member will maintain sufficient regulatory reviews in order to continue doing business without interruption.

 Principle 7: Professionalism

RITA members shall conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively upon the profession. All services provided by RITA members to their clients, their financial advisers and others shall be performed with dignity, integrity, diligence, courtesy and cooperation. Each member will strive to protect and preserve the retirement industry’s high standards of quality service. All members shall commit to ongoing education and development within the retirement industry. Principle 8: Enforcement Anyone violating these policies may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of membership in the association. The Retirement Industry Code of Ethics will be agreed upon in writing before any company becomes a member of the association. 2008