If you, the complainant, indicate you would like to continue the process with CIFP, the CIFP Retirement Institute will conduct a preliminary investigation of the complaint to determine if it has merit. This may take up to 90 days although it is typically completed in relatively short order.
As part of this initial review, you may be contacted by CIFP and asked for further details, to clarify certain facts and to provide additional supporting documentation to supplement what was submitted when your original complaint form was filed. You will also be informed that in the interests of fairness and due process, the licensee will be made aware of your complaint and will be given 30 days to respond in writing to the accusations.
The CIFP Retirement Institute will make a determination as to whether it can rule on your case or, if the allegations against the licensee are more serious in nature, the matter needs to be escalated. If the Institute does in fact preside over the case, it will render a decision in as timely a manner as is reasonably feasible. The decision will be delivered in writing to both you, the complainant, as well as to the licensee and where the Institute sides with you, the complainant, the sanctions, if any, to be imposed against the licensee will be made clear.
On the other hand, if the CIFP Retirement Institute deems the nature and the complexity of your complaint to be beyond its scope, it will refer the matter to the Conduct Committee.