Principle Wealth Partners :: Our Team

Cynthia J. Griffith, JD, EPLS, AEP<sup><span>®</span></sup>

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203.318.8892

At a glance

Certified Estate Planning Specialist (NAEPC)
Retired Partner, CT Shoreline Estate Planning Practice
Frequent Speaker on Estate Planning and Trust Administration
Former Board Member, SARAH Foundation (Guilford); Gaylord Hospital (Wallingford)

Cynthia J. Griffith, JD, EPLS, AEP^®

Director | Fiduciary Services

How do I help clients live better?

The intersection of financial planning, tax planning and estate planning can be confusing for people. I hope that when clients sit with me, I can make them feel more comfortable with the terminology so they can have peace of mind that their goals have been addressed.

Outside of work…

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling to far-away places, and pet-sitting for a little bit crazy labradoodle and 2 guinea pigs. This year I plan to finally finish the legal drama I started writing 16 years ago.

Favorite quote

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children… to leave the world a bit better… this is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

At a glance

Certified Estate Planning Specialist (NAEPC)
Retired Partner, CT Shoreline Estate Planning Practice
Frequent Speaker on Estate Planning and Trust Administration
Former Board Member, SARAH Foundation (Guilford); Gaylord Hospital (Wallingford)

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Terms Of Use & Disclaimers

Principle Wealth Partners LLC is an SEC registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Principle Wealth Partners and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

Important Disclaimers

Principle Wealth Partners LLC ("PWP") is a Registered Investment Advisor ("RIA"), located in the State of Connecticut. PWP provides investment advisory and related services for clients nationally. PWP will maintain all applicable registration and licenses as required by the various states in which PWP conducts business, as applicable. PWP renders individualized responses to persons in a particular state only after complying with all regulatory requirements, or pursuant to an applicable state exemption or exclusion.

Terms of Use

Please read these terms and conditions of use (“Terms”) carefully before using the website located at https://principlewealthpartners.com/ (“Website”) or any of the information or services provided by Principle Wealth Partners LLC (collectively “PWP”, “we”, “our”, “us”) in connection with the Website. By using the Website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Terms and accept to be legally bound by them. If you do not accept and agree to these Terms, you are not an authorized user of the Website or any of the information or services provided by PWP in connection with the Website and should promptly terminate all use thereof. The terms “you” and “your” mean you and any entity you may represent in connection with the use of the Website. You may use your browser to download or print a copy of these Terms for your records.

PWP reserves the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of these Terms at any time for any reason. We suggest that you review these Terms periodically for changes. Such changes shall be effective immediately upon posting. You acknowledge that by accessing our Website after we have posted changes to these Terms, you are agreeing to these Terms as modified.

These Terms were last updated on October 30, 2023.

Risk Disclosure

Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy will be profitable.

Asset allocation may be used in an effort to manage risk and enhance returns. It does not, however, guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Performance of the asset allocation strategies depends on the underlying investments.

This website is intended to provide general information about PWP and its services. It is not intended to offer or deliver investment advice in any way. Information regarding investment services are provided solely to gain an understanding of our investment philosophy, our strategies and to be able to contact us for further information.

Market data, articles and other content on this website are based on generally available information and are believed to be reliable. PWP does not guarantee the accuracy of the information contained in this website. The information is of a general nature and should not be construed as investment advice.

Please remember that it remains your responsibility to advise PWP, in writing, if there are any changes in your personal/financial situation or investment objectives for the purpose of reviewing/evaluating/revising our previous recommendations and/or services, if you would like to impose, add, or to modify any reasonable restrictions to our investment advisory services.

PWP will provide all prospective clients with a copy of our current Form ADV, Part 2A ("Disclosure Brochure") and the Brochure Supplement for each advisory person supporting a particular client. You may obtain a copy of these disclosures on the SEC website at http://adviserinfo.sec.gov or you may Contact Us to request a free copy via .pdf or hardcopy.

Source: Forbes Best-In-State: The 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 ranking of the Forbes’ Best–in–State Wealth Advisors1 list was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in–person and telephone due–diligence meetings to evaluate each advisor qualitatively and on a ranking algorithm that includes client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, and quantitative criteria (including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms). Overall, approximately 18.9 percent of candidates were recognized. The full methodology2 that Forbes developed in partnership with SHOOK Research is available at www.forbes.com. 1This recognition and the due–diligence process conducted are not indicative of the advisor’s future performance. Your experience may vary. Winners are organized and ranked by state. Some states may have more advisors than others. You are encouraged to conduct your own research to determine if the advisor is right for you. 2Portfolio performance is not a criterion due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. SHOOK does not receive a fee in exchange for rankings. Methodology: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rjshook/2023/04/04/methodology-americas-top-wealth-advisors-2023/.

Source: FA Magazine, July 2022 FA's RIA survey is a ranking based on assets under management at year end of independent RIA firms that file their own ADV with the SEC. FA's RIA ranking orders firms from largest to smallest, based on AUM reported to us by firms that voluntarily complete and submit FA's survey by our deadline. We do our best to verify AUM by reviewing ADV forms. To be eligible for the ranking, firms must be independent registered investment advisors and file their own ADV statement with the SEC and provide financial planning and related services to individual clients. Firms must have at least $500 million in assets under management as of December 31, 2021, to be included in the print edition of Financial Advisor magazine's 2022 RIA survey. Firms with under $500 million will be included in FA's expanded 2022 online RIA survey. Hybrid RIA firms, corporate RIA firms and investment advisor representatives (IARs) are not eligible for this survey. No fee was paid by either Financial Advisor magazine or Principle Wealth Partners for inclusion on this list, however, a fee was paid for the use of the award logo in marketing materials. Principle Wealth Partners and Financial Advisor magazine are not affiliated

Forbes 2023 Top RIA

SHOOK ® Research, LLC – October 2023 – Data as of 12/31/22. America’s Top Registered Investment Advisor Firms ranking was developed by SHOOK Research and is based on in-person, virtual and telephone due diligence meetings and a ranking algorithm that includes: a measure of best practices, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations; and quantitative criteria, including assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerance vary, and advisors rarely have audited performance reports. Neither SHOOK nor Forbes receive compensation in exchange for its Registered Investment Advisor Firm placements or rankings, which are determined independently. Participation in this directory is limited to ranked firms; once placed on a ranking, firms may choose to pay fees to Forbes and Shook for premium listing features as indicated by highlighted names. Principle Wealth Partners has not paid SHOOK Research, LLC to be included on this list, however, Principle Wealth Partners has paid for the use of the award logo on various media. SHOOK’s research and rankings provide opinions intended to help investors choose the right financial advisor or firm and not indicative of future performance or representative of any one client’s experience. Investors must carefully choose the right advisor or firm for their own situation and perform their own due diligence. Past performance is not an indication of future results. For more information, please see www.SHOOKresearch.com, SHOOK is a registered trademark of SHOOK Research, LLC. Principle Wealth Partners and SHOOK Research, LLC are not affiliated.

Citywire

CityWire RIA, July 2022 Methodology: This report is based on the most recent Form ADV data reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission at the time of publication, as helpfully gathered by a data partner, Discovery Data. Only firms that manage more than $100m were considered, and which aren’t affiliated on a firm level with a broker-dealer or other institution (though a firm’s employees may be dually registered). Since we wanted to make sure we were only considering financial planning-oriented RIAs and not money managers, we excluded firms that don’t report having many financial planning clients. And, in the spirit of fostering apples-to-apples comparisons, we also generally excluded those where the bulk of assets were non-discretionary. We’ve also endeavored to remove RIAs whose assets under management aren’t truly ‘theirs”, so we did our best to strike companies that are primarily back-end service providers, operating under brand names that are likely unknown to the retail clients being served. Then we looked at percentage growth in AUM and percentage growth in employees over the last three years, summed those numbers, and came up with our ‘growth score.’ If a firm grew AUM by $100m over the past three years, it got a leg up in the rankings. From there it was simple to select the winner in each state, and then the runners-up if there were any. After doing all this, we reached out to some of the firms to learn more. The RIAs in this supplement did not ask to be here. There was no way to compensate to be considered or to be named. For that matter, they could not do anything to not be named. The mention of a RIA is not at all an endorsement of its services or its business.

Barron’s Top 1200

Barron’s “Top 100 1,200 Financial Advisors,” March, 2022. Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, formal succession plans, high client retention, and more. Financial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, regulatory records, quality of practice and philanthropic work with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s past or future performance. Neither Principle Wealth Partners nor its Financial Advisors pay a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating, however Principle Wealth Partners does pay to use the award ribbon for marketing materials. Principle Wealth Partners is not affiliated with Barron’s or Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All of the information provided has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness, and does not constitute a recommendation. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved.

Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments (“Fidelity”) is an independent company unaffiliated with Principle Wealth Partners LLC. Fidelity is a service provider to Principle Wealth Partners LLC. Fidelity is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Fidelity Investments® provides clearing, custody, or other brokerage services through National Financial Services LLC or Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Members NYSE, SIPC. 1074375.1.0

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Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional℠ (“ABFP℠”)

The Accredited Behavioral Finance Professional℠, or ABFP℠ is currently offered and recognized by Kaplan Financial Education. Individuals who hold the ABFP℠ studied to enhance their client interactions, emotional competencies and financial planning advice through an understanding of phycological explanations for economic behavior. To obtain the designation, there are no prerequisites. 16 hours of continuing education is required, every two years.

Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ (“AWMA®”)

Individuals who hold the AWMA® designation have completed a course of study across eight modules to provide financial advice to high-net-worth clients, pass the final examination, and complete the designation application. Continued use of the designation is subject to ongoing renewal requirements. Every two years, individuals must renew their right to continue using the designation by:

Completing 16 hours of continuing education;

Reaffirming to abide by the Standards of Professional Conduct, Terms and Conditions, and a self-disclose any criminal, civil, self-regulatory organization, or governmental agency inquiry, investigation, or proceeding relating to their professional or business conduct; and
Paying a biennial renewal fee

AWMA® and Accredited Wealth Management Advisor™ are registered service marks of the College for Financial Planning.

Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor™ (“APMA®”)

Individuals who hold the APMA® designation have completed a course of study encompassing client assessment and suitability, risk/return, investment objectives, bond and equity portfolios, modern portfolio theory and investor psychology. Students have hands-on practice in analyzing investment policy statements, building portfolios, and making asset allocation decisions including sell, hold, and buy decisions within a client’s portfolio. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations. All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct™ and are subject to a disciplinary process. Designees renew their designation every two years by completing 16 hours of continuing education, reaffirming adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct™ and complying with self-disclosure requirements.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (“CFP®”)

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® and federally registered CFP® (with flame design) marks (collectively, the “CFP® marks”) are professional certification marks granted in the United States by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP® Board”).

The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification; no federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold the CFP® certification. It is recognized in the United States and a number of other countries for its (1) high standard of professional education; (2) stringent code of conduct and standards of practice; and (3) ethical requirements that govern professional engagements with clients. Currently, more than 71,000 individuals have obtained CFP® certification in the United States.

To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:

Education – Complete an advanced college-level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas that CFP® Board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, and attain a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or its equivalent from a foreign university). CFP® Board’s financial planning subject areas include insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning;
Examination – Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination includes case studies and client scenarios designed to test one’s ability to correctly diagnose financial planning issues and apply one’s knowledge of financial planning to real world circumstances;
Experience – Complete at least three years of full-time financial planning-related experience under the supervision of a CFP® professional (or the equivalent, measured as 2,000 hours per year); and
Ethics – Agree to be bound by CFP® Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, a set of documents outlining the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.

Individuals who become certified must complete the following ongoing education and ethics requirements in order to maintain the right to continue to use the CFP® marks:

Continuing Education – Complete 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and other parts of the Standards of Professional Conduct, to maintain competence and keep up with developments in the financial planning field; and
Ethics – Renew an agreement to be bound by the Standards of Professional Conduct. The Standards prominently require that CFP® professionals provide financial planning services at a fiduciary standard of care. This means CFP® professionals must provide financial planning services in the best interests of their clients.

CFP® professionals who fail to comply with the above standards and requirements may be subject to CFP® Board’s enforcement process, which could result in suspension or permanent revocation of their CFP® certification.

Certified Exit Planning Advisor™ (“CEPA®”)

The Certified Exit Planning Advisor™ and CEPA® are professional certification marks granted by The Exit Planning Institute®. It is recognized as the designation that business owners look for when looking for a trusted advisor. CEPA® applicants must meet strict requirements, including: a minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university (or the equivalent from a foreign university); completion of the 5-day CEPA® program taught by a faculty of experts; and passing the CEPA® exam consisting of 150 multiple choice questions. Applicants must also have 5 years of experience dealing with the owners of privately-held businesses in some advisory capacity. All applicants for the CEPA® program must sign an attestation agreeing to abide by the Code of Ethics and Professional Standards™ of the Exit Planning Institute.

CEPA® advisors must complete ongoing continuing professional education and ethics requirements to maintain their certification, with recertification every three years and completing 40 hours of continuing education. More information on the CEPA® designation can be found on the Exit Planning website: www.exit-planning-institute.org

Certified Investment Management Analyst℠(CIMA®)

The CIMA certification signifies that an individual has met initial and ongoing experience, ethical, education, and examination requirements for investment management consulting, including advanced investment management theory and application. To earn CIMA certification, candidates must: submit an application, pass a background check and have an acceptable regulatory history; pass an online Qualification Examination; complete an in-person or online executive education program at an AACSB accredited university business school; pass an online Certification Examination; and have an acceptable regulatory history as evidenced by FINRA Form U-4 or other regulatory requirements and have three years of financial services experience at the time of certification.

CIMA certificants must adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility, Standards of Practice, and Rules and Guidelines for Use of the Marks. CIMA designees must report 40 hours of continuing education credits, including two ethics hours, every two years to maintain the certification. The designation is administered through Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA).

Certified Private Wealth Advisor™ (“CPWA®”)

The CPWA® designation signifies that an individual has met initial and on-going experience, ethical, education, and examination requirements for the professional designation, which is centered on private wealth management topics and strategies for high-net-worth clients. Prerequisites for the CPWA® designation are: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or one of the following designations or licenses: CIMA®, CIMC®, CFA®, CFP®, ChFC®, or CPA® license; have an acceptable regulatory history as evidenced by FINRA Form U-4 or other regulatory requirements and five years of professional client-centered experience in financial services or a related industry. CPWA® designees have completed a rigorous educational process that includes self-study requirements, an in-class education component, and successful completion of a comprehensive examination. CPWA® designees are required to adhere to IMCA’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Rules and Guidelines for the use of the Marks. CPWA® designees must report 40 hours of continuing education credits, including two ethics hours every two years to maintain the certification. The designation is administered through the Investment Management Consultants Association™ (IMCA®).

Chartered Financial Analyst™ (“CFA®”)

The Chartered Financial Analyst™ (“CFA®”) charter is a professional designation established in 1962 and awarded by CFA® Institute. To earn the CFA® charter, candidates must pass three sequential, six-hour examinations over two to four years. The three levels of the CFA® Program test a wide range of investment topics, including ethical and professional standards, fixed-income analysis, alternative and derivative investments, and portfolio management and wealth planning. In addition, CFA® charter holders must have at least four years of acceptable professional experience in the investment decision-making process and must commit to abide by, and annually reaffirm their adherence to the CFA® Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA® Institute.

Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®)

The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) program prepares you to meet the advanced financial planning needs of individuals, professionals and small business owners. You'll gain a sustainable advantage in this competitive field with in-depth coverage of the key financial planning disciplines, including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning. The ChFC® requires three years of full-time, relevant business experience, nine two-hour course specific proctored exams, and 30 hours of continuing education every two years. Holders of the ChFC® designation must adhere to The American College’s Code of Ethics.

Program Objectives:

Function as an ethical, competent and articulate practitioner in the field of financial planning
Utilize the intellectual tools and framework needed to maintain relevant and current financial planning knowledge and strategies.
Apply financial planning theory and techniques through the development of case studies and solutions.
Apply in-depth knowledge in a holistic manner from a variety of disciplines; namely, estate planning, retirement planning or non-qualified deferred compensation.

Chartered Market Technician™ (“CMT®”)

The Chartered Market Technician™(CMT®) Program requires candidates to demonstrate proficiency in a broad range of topics in the field of Technical Analysis. The Program consists of three levels. The CMT® Level I and CMT® Level II exams are multiple-choice while the CMT® Level III exam is in short answer and essay form. Those candidates who complete all three levels of the CMT® examination and agree to abide by the Market Technicians Association Code of Ethics are granted the right to use the CMT® credential.

Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ (“FPQP®”)

Individuals who hold the Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional™ or FPQP® designation have completed a course of study encompassing the financial planning process, the five disciplines of financial planning and general financial planning concepts, terminology and product categories. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of- course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations. All designees have agreed to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct and are subject to a disciplinary process. Designees renew their designation every two-years by completing 16 hours of continuing education, reaffirming adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct and complying with self-disclosure requirements.

NRS Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®)

The NRS Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional® (IACCP®) designation is awarded to knowledgeable, experienced individuals who complete an instructor-led program of in-person and/or online study, pass a certifying examination, and meet its work experience, ethics and continuing education requirements. The designation signifies intermediate-level knowledge of investment adviser regulation and compliance best practices, and adherence to nationally recognized professional standards and ethical leadership.

Exhaustive certification and course development, together with expert instructors and facilitators from the compliance, legal, regulatory, financial industry, and academic sectors, help ensure that individuals earning the IACCP designation have been trained, tested and certified to meet high industry professional standards.