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HOLBROOK, N.Y. (Jan. 25, 2018)—For the third consecutive year, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP), a privately-held, independent broker/dealer that services financial advisors across the country, has been named one of the Best Companies to Work for in New York State for 2018 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG). The annual awards are part of a program that identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in New York, whose practices benefit the state’s businesses, economy and workforce.
“Once again being included among an elite group of New York state’s top employers is a tremendous honor,” says Vice President of Human Resources Lisa DiBella, who firmly believes the company’s core values directly contributed to earning this recognition for a third time. “As our firm is steadfast in ensuring lasting client relationships, providing the highest level of customer service is paramount to that objective. At American Portfolios, we strive to create a positive and supportive work environment, realizing that when you treat the people who work for you well, they are not only better equipped to do their jobs, but they are more motivated to go the extra distance for the company and its customers.”
In 2016, AP was formally recognized by the NYS-SHRM and the BCG in the category of small/medium-sized employers with 15 to 249 United States employees, in which the firm ranked No. 1. The independent broker/dealer once again ranked within the Top Five Best Small/Mid-Size Companies to Work for in New York state in 2017. These accomplishments directly correlate to the firm’s noteworthy achievement of having been dubbed Broker/Dealer of the Year three times in a row (2015, 2016 and 2017) by Investment Advisor magazine.
AP’s 100-plus employees work collaboratively to service the business needs of 806 independent investment professionals, and their affiliated assistants and support staff located in 371 branch offices throughout the United States. Employees are part of a corporate culture that embraces the tenets of the company’s strategic roadmap for sustainable growth, which is built on six equally important, interconnected strategic company perspectives—People, Innovation, Process, Customer, Financial and Community—and the foundation from which all planning and executions are derived.
AP continually strives to ensure that its employees are afforded a positive and supportive work environment. Employees receive a robust benefits package, inclusive of health insurance, free life insurance, unprecedented 401(k) matching, stock options, bonus incentives, and performance and service awards. The firm is highly invested in the educational betterment of its employees, offering tuition reimbursement, free license testing, and unlimited training seminars and courses. The company also provides Six Sigma training, which helps staff members to firmly establish the “Voice of the Customer,” resulting in the ability to exceed client needs and expectations. The company also recognizes the importance of work-life balance by offering employees a flexible work schedule, health and wellness lunch and learns, appreciation events, massage sessions and private coaching sessions with a registered dietician. In 2017, the firm implemented several new initiatives, including an employee mentorship program designed to nurture AP’s emerging business leaders, shortened working hours on Fridays throughout the year and a casual dress code. As of Jan. 1, 2018, AP employees now receive full pay for up to a maximum of 12 weeks of leave while out on FMLA in order to maintain financial stability.
As an integral part of its strategic focus, engrained in its corporate culture is a keen awareness to the community by taking part in socially responsible programs, such as its ongoing association with non-profit organizations like World T.E.A.M. Sports (WTS), which organizes athletic events for disabled and able-bodied citizens to achieve a common goal. Employees actively volunteer, coach and compete in WTS events, such as the annual Face of America Bike Ride, Coastal Team Challenge and Adventure Team Challenge. The firm also has a long-standing relationship with Virtual Enterprises International, Inc. (VEI), an experiential learning program that fosters the nation’s future business leaders, by hosting and judging business plan competitions and facilitating summer interns at the corporate offices and practices of its investment professionals through its Internship Fellows Program.
The firm’s human resources and corporate communications representatives look forward to attending the NYS-SHRM and BCG annual awards ceremony, which will be held April 18 in Albany, N.Y., to learn of the company’s official ranking for 2018.
About American Portfolios
Headquartered in Holbrook, N.Y., American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently serves 806 independent investment professionals located in 371 branch locations throughout the nation. It was named Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine in 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as one of the top five Best Small/Mid-Size Company to Work for in the state of New York for 2016 and 2017 by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG).
*Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.”
About NYS-SHRM and the BCG
The NYS-SHRM operates as an affiliate of the nation’s SHRM, which is the world’s largest association devoted to serving the needs of and advancing the interests of the human resources profession. The BCG is an independent firm that manages the Best Places to Work programs on state, regional and national levels worldwide. The process of selection consisted of two parts: a questionnaire completed by the employer, which detailed company policies, practices, benefits and demographics; and an employee engagement and satisfaction survey, which allowed employees to rate their employer on a variety of practices, culture and overall fulfilment. The BCG conducted, analyzed and evaluated the surveys to reveal the 70 best companies to work for in the state of New York for the following year.
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