DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - August 12, 2010) - First Western Financial, Inc., the holding company of First Western Trust Bank, announced today that Paula Hendrickson, the firm's Director of Retirement Consulting Services, has been selected as a Founding Lecturer for TRAU™, The Retirement Advisor University at the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education.
TRAU™ is the first retirement planning certification program offered by a nationally recognized institution of higher learning. It offers participating advisors an opportunity to earn a designation that indicates their knowledge and skills to plan sponsors, plan participants, and the retirement industry as a whole.
Advisor lecturers are comprised of highly experienced professionals selected for their achievements in the defined contribution industry. Fewer than 40 distinguished advisors have been chosen from around the nation.
"At a time when so many Americans are not retirement ready, it is absolutely imperative that plan sponsors have access to advisors who know what they are doing," said Scott Wylie, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of First Western. "Paula and her team regularly share their expertise and serve as a resource for plan participants and plan sponsors. Through her participation in TRAU™, Paula is further contributing to the industry and the people it serves."
TRAU™ is the product of a partnership between 401kExchange and the UCLA Anderson Executive Education. The curriculum is a combination of onsite classes at the UCLA campus, virtual classroom courses, e-learning, and self study. By combining world-class professors with retirement industry leaders, TRAU™ has created the most comprehensive retirement training program for financial advisors in America.
"I am excited to play a role formulating and implementing the curriculum for this ground-breaking program," said Ms. Hendrickson. "It has been a great opportunity to collaborate with other accomplished professionals and work toward providing a focused innovative learning solution for the retirement industry as it faces more and more challenges." Ms. Hendrickson, along with the other industry experts, will teach technical subjects to retirement advisers who will also take courses taught by UCLA professors in academic areas, including behavioral finance and business strategy.
Earlier this year, Ms. Hendrickson was nationally recognized among her peers as one of the Most Influential Advisors in Defined Contribution by the online publication 401k Wire. Ms. Hendrickson is responsible for developing and maintaining First Western's retirement plan practice.
About First Western Financial, Inc.
First Western Financial, Inc. (FWF) is the holding company of First Western Trust Bank and First Western Capital Management. First Western Trust Bank strives to be the best private bank for the Western wealth management client providing comprehensive tailored solutions in the areas of wealth planning, private banking, investment management and trust services. With $4 billion in assets under management, FWF was recently ranked by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing bank/bank holding institution in the country. Built specifically for the new economies of the West, the firm has offices in Arizona, California, and Colorado. For more information, please visit www.fwtb.com or call 303-531-8100.
About The Retirement Advisor University
TRAU™ is the first company retirement plan management certification program offered in cooperation with a nationally recognized institution of higher learning. The Mission of The Retirement Advisor University at UCLA Anderson Executive Education is to empower financial professionals focused on the defined contribution and 401(k) industry, with the qualifications and skill sets necessary to deliver on the promise of a secure retirement for plan sponsors and participants. To learn more about TRAU visit www.TRAUniv.com.
About UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive Education
UCLA Anderson Executive Education has been a leader in executive education since 1954. The school offers more than 40 programs, including open enrollment programs that focus on leadership, general and functional management, and strategic vision, as well as custom programs designed in collaboration with leading organizations to meet their specific business objectives. To learn more about UCLA Anderson Executive Education, please visit http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/x24218.xml
Contact Information:
For more information, please contact:
Rebecca Wilson Macsovits
First Western Financial
(303) 531-8100