Hardy Reed, LLC Awarded CEFEX Certification TUPELO

TUPELO, Miss., Oct. 29, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hardy Reed, LLC, one of the region's largest ⁽¹⁾ , independent, SEC registered investment advisory, fiduciary consulting and retirement plan services firms, has once again been recognized by the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) for Investment Advisor Certification. This is the third consecutive year Hardy Reed has received the certification. Hardy Reed's accomplishment is published in the directory of Registered Firms on the CEFEX website www.cefex.org where its certificate can be viewed.

According to the General Manager of the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, Carlos Panksep, "Through CEFEX's independent assessment, the certification provides assurance to investors, both institutional and individual, that Hardy Reed has demonstrated adherence to the industry's best fiduciary practices. This indicates that Hardy Reed's interests are aligned with those of investors."

"We are pleased to be awarded our Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) Certification for the third consecutive year," said Ken Mathis, COO of Hardy Reed. "CEFEX is the leading global assessment and certification organization with a mission to promote fiduciary best practices. Hardy Reed is the State's only CEFEX Certified investment advisory firm and one of the first nationally to have received this distinguished certification. We believe it clearly underscores our commitment to being a leader in providing affluent individuals and families, as well as leading those who oversee retirement plans or trusts with independent, objective fiduciary guidance using fiduciary best practices."

Hardy Reed received the CEFEX certification as an Investment Advisor for its services to high net worth individuals, personal trusts, foundations, ERISA Defined Benefit & Defined Contribution plans, 403(b) plans, and non-qualified plans.

The Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX) fiduciary assessment of Hardy Reed was to determine whether Hardy Reed's practices in providing investment advice to clients conform generally to the fiduciary standards of excellence (referred to as the Fiduciary Practices) as defined by the Prudent Practices for Investment Advisors (U.S. Edition) handbook as published by Fiduciary360. CEFEX's assessment process is based on ISO 19011 and is conducted in accordance with ISO 17021. A full copy of the standard can be downloaded from CEFEX at www.cefex.org and a summary can be viewed by clicking on Hardy Reed's on-line CEFEX certificate.

The standard describes how an Investment Advisor assumes the responsibility for managing a client's overall investment management process, which includes the selection, monitoring and de-selection of investment managers, as well as developing processes to implement investment strategies and fiduciary practices on an ongoing basis.

The standard is substantiated by legislation, case law and regulatory opinion letters from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Uniform Prudent Investor Act (UPIA), Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) and the Uniform Management of Public Employee Retirement Systems Act (MPERS) in the U.S.

About Hardy Reed

Hardy Reed, LLC is an independent, SEC registered, investment advisor, fiduciary consulting, and retirement plan services firm providing - Objective Fiduciary Guidance. The firm has clients throughout the United States. Its team of professionals provides objective investment advisory guidance, fiduciary consulting, and retirement plan services to high net-worth individuals and their families, institutions such as endowments and foundations, and retirement plans.

For more information on Hardy Reed, please visit www.hardyreed.com .

About CEFEX

CEFEX, Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, LLC is an independent certification organization. CEFEX works closely with industry experts to provide comprehensive assessment programs to improve the fiduciary practices of investment stewards, advisors, record-keepers, administrators, and managers. CEFEX has offices in Toronto, Canada, and Pittsburgh, PA.

For more information on CEFEX, please visit www.cefex.org .

(1) Hardy Reed was listed as one of the largest RIAs in the region by Financial Advisor magazine in July 2013. Financial Advisor magazine's 2013 RIA ranking is based on voluntary responses from 522 Registered Investment Advisors who completed an online survey. The ranking was based on assets under management as of December 31, 2012.

Ken Mathis T: (662) 823-4722 E: