¹ The DALBAR Service Excellence Award is awarded to financial services firms for service provided to their representatives. The award recognizes a company's ability to exceed pre-determined measures of service in four categories: Attitude, Accommodation, Expertise and Call Interrupts. The DALBAR Service Excellence Award qualifying standard is set using industry averages from the previous year plus DALBAR’s projection of industry trends in the service excellence category. 1st Global pays no fee to participate in the DALBAR service excellence survey. 42 percent of the 36 participating firms received awards for service excellence.

² The DALBAR Crystal Pyramid Award is awarded to financial services firms for service provided to their representatives. The Crystal Pyramid is awarded to firms who attain excellent scores in a comprehensive, customized client survey designed and conducted by DALBAR. 1st Global’s survey measured financial advisors’ ratings for Key Vital Signs including Willingness to Recommend, Intent to Remain with 1st Global, and Overall Opinion. Evaluations of 1st Global’s support in the areas of Operations, Marketing, Compliance, Practice Development and Technology also factored in the final score. 1st Global paid a fee for DALBAR’s survey design and implementation. However, the Crystal Pyramid is only a recognition of the evaluated firm’s leading standards and practices, and no fee is associated with receiving the award.