Our Standards

Public FA’s standard for success requires a foundation of ethical standards that ensures the best interests of our clients are always served. Our reputation has been built one client at a time, one transaction at a time.

PFA guides our clients through the complex relationships and transactions of public finance with a simple, very straightforward, but very effective approach. Our role is to assist in the structuring and issuance of bonds whether through a competitive or negotiated sale process. In this capacity we represent the issuer, and only the issuer, in the sale of bonds. PFA has also worked, and continues to work, as the independent FA for financings that are done on a negotiated basis with an underwriting team. The independence and resulting objectivity that PFA brings to such transactions is a clear benefit to its issuer clients.

We are very proud that in our collective fifty years in the very competitive/negotiated field of public finance, there have never been any questions raised regarding the integrity of our work. That is why we chose to serve our clients in an independent/non-underwriting role. When public agencies seek investment advice, the public interest is best served when that advice is rendered by firms that are independent and free from conflicts of interest. Independent financial advisors can provide those services without conflicts of interest. This is why we pride ourselves in being independent financial advisors as well as being members of NAIPFA, the National Association of Independent Public Finance Advisors, a professional organization of independent financial advisory firms located throughout the U.S. that specialize in providing financial advice to public agencies related to financing of public projects and issuance of bonds. NAIPFA members must adhere to the Association's high ethical standards, and are committed to providing public agencies with professional advice on public financing that protects the public interest. Our Principals, Phil Dotts and Marcie Porter, have both been certified as Certified Independent Public Finance Advisors (CIPFA) by NAIPFA. CIPFAs are Individual Financial Advisors are certified by NAIPFA after passing a certifying test and meeting other requirements.

As a representative of the NAIPFA, and as a representative of clients, Certified Independent Public Finance Advisors and other employees of member firms have a responsibility to conduct themselves with dedication, integrity and honor of the profession. An Advisor shall not engage in underwriting activity and shall accept compensation only from the client for providing independent advice. An Advisor shall be guided by personal conscience and approval of professional peers and thus strive to attain the greatest level of skill to improve the quality of advice. In the ever changing environment of laws, securities regulations and rules, it is imperative for the Advisor and NAIPFA to continue our education to provide the highest quality advice. This commitment to continuing education in matters related to advising our clients provides for better Advisors and enhances the credibility of NAIPFA.