Global Investment Performance Standards, more commonly referred to as “GIPS” in the investment industry, have been adopted by 37 countries around the world. In 1999, the CFA Institute, a global association leading the ethics, education, and professional standards within the investment profession, formally published GIPS protocol. Since then, the prevalence of firms claiming GIPS compliance has gradually grown and is now considered to be part of the investment management industry’s best practices.

Michael Hultzapple is the Managing Director of Alpha Performance Verification Services, a Richmond, Virginia-based company specializing in providing GIPS compliance and verification services to investment firms. Before starting his own firm, he worked in the investment management industry for over 20 years, operating a Fortune 500 pension plan and served as Director of Operations for an institutional money manager. Hultzapple, who is a CPA, also holds a Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement from the CFA Institute.

“GIPS standards are based on fair representation and full disclosure of your performance information. Consumers can do an apples-to-apples comparison of any two investment management firms,” said Hultzapple, in explaining the impact of GIPS. He cites comparing the performance numbers of a firm in New York City to a firm in London, and comparing the numbers of a large firm to that of a small firm as two examples. According to GIPS compliance requirements, a firm must present a minimum of five years of performance information.

Among the services provided by Alpha Performance Verification Services are pre-verification and compliance consulting, firm-wide GIPS verification, performance examination and investment performance verification.

“We’re a small boutique investment verification firm – and we tend to offer a high level of personal service,” said Hultzapple.

For more information, visit: www.alphaverification.com