Basic Principles of an Investment Counsellor

1. An investment counsellor is independent, and has no business affiliation or gainful association that could prejudice decisions.
2. Compensation for investment counsel services consists exclusively of direct charges to clients for services rendered.
   Compensation is never contingent upon the number or value of transactions.
   Normally, fees are a percentage of assets managed, but may also be a professional advisory fee.
3. An investment counsellor does not act as a custodian, and does not hold clients' cash, or other assets.
4. Investment counselling firms and their principal employees do not, directly or indirectly, engage in activities which might influence their ability to render unbiased investment advice.
5. Investment research is independent and opinions are arrived at without any prejudice to ownership or involvement in securities being traded or recommended.