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1st Global Earns Two DALBAR Awards For Service Excellence

1st Global Only Firm to Receive DALBAR Crystal Pyramid for 2008

DALLAS - January 22, 2009 - 1st Global's ongoing commitment to providing high standards of service to its affiliated advisors was once again honored in 2008 with two awards from DALBAR, an independent financial services market research firm. The two awards, the DALBAR Service Excellence Award and Crystal Pyramid Award, highlight 1st Global's dedication to excellence, not only as measured by DALBAR but also as perceived by 1st Global's affiliated advisors.

 

The DALBAR Service Excellence Award signifies 1st Global's achievement of the highest tier of service to advisors within the financial services industry. DALBAR presents the service excellence award after evaluating the capabilities, attitudes and knowledge of 1st Global staff against specific customer service benchmarks. 1st Global is the only broker/dealer to win this award six years in a row, and is proud to have exceeded benchmark scores across all measured categories.

 

"The current market conditions have tested us all, and the service centers of the financial industry in particular. Achieving the Service Excellence Award during this trying financial climate is a testament to the commitment and dedication of these companies to their customers and their unwavering efforts to do the right thing under the most challenging of circumstances," says Kathleen Whalen, managing director at DALBAR.

 

The DALBAR Crystal Pyramid Award is presented to firms for their success at achieving excellence in the eyes of their advisors. DALBAR performs an annual survey of financial professionals affiliated with a company, and the company is presented the Crystal Pyramid Award only after receiving high marks across the board. For the second time in three years, 1st Global is honored to be the only financial services firm to receive this award. Receipt of the Crystal Pyramid Award recognizes 1st Global's continuous improvement and high standards upheld when providing service to its affiliates.

"1st Global is proud to be recognized by our affiliated tax, accounting and estate planning firms as deserving of these extraordinary awards. This achievement reaffirms our ability to honor 1st Global's powerful brand as the business development and resource partner to leading wealth management firms," states David Knoch, 1st Global's president and chief operating officer.

 

About DALBAR, Inc.
DALBAR, Inc., the nation's leading financial services market research and consulting firm, is committed to raising the standards of excellence in the financial services industry. With offices in both the U.S. and Canada, DALBAR develops standards for, and provides research, ratings, and rankings of intangible factors to the mutual fund, broker/dealer, life insurance, property and casualty, and managed account industries. They include investor behavior, customer satisfaction, service quality, communications, Internet services and financial professional ratings.

 

***NOTICE***

 

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.

 

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.

 

About 1st Global
1st Global was founded in 1992 by CPAs who believe that accounting, tax and estate planning firms are uniquely qualified to provide comprehensive wealth management services to their clients.

1st Global provides CPA, tax and estate planning firms the education, technology, business-building framework and client solutions that make these firms leaders in their professions through dedicated professional client relationships built around wealth management.

More than 600 firms have chosen to affiliate with 1st Global, making us one of the largest financial services partners for the tax, accounting and legal professions.

1st Global Capital Corp. is a member of FINRA and SIPC and is headquartered at 8150 N. Central Expressway, Suite 500 in Dallas, Texas,(214) 265-1201. Additional information about 1st Global is available via the Internet at www.1stGlobal.com.