EX-99.302 CERT 2 b_equitycert.htm CERTIFICATIONS SECTION 302 d_equitycert302.htm
CERTIFICATIONS
 
                   I, Kathryn S. Head, certify that:
 
                   1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of First Investors Equity Funds;
 
                   2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
 
                   3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to
include a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;    
 
                   4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:
 
     (a)           Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                   disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
                   material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
                   made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
                   this report is being prepared;
 
     (b)          Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
                   internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
                   reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
                   financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
                   accounting principles;
 
     (c)          Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and
                   procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
                   disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
                   this report based on such evaluation; and
 
     (d)          Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control
                   over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period
                   covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                   affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
                   5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing
the equivalent functions):


   (a)                    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report
financial information; and
 
   (b)                    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting.  
 
                                                             By: /S/ KATHRYN S. HEAD
                                                                           Kathryn S. Head
                                                                           President and Principal Executive Officer
 
 
                                                             Date: June 3, 2008


CERTIFICATIONS
 
                   I, Joseph I. Benedek, certify that:
 
                   1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-CSR of First Investors Equity Funds;
 
                   2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of
the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
period covered by this report;
 
                   3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information
included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of
operations, changes in net assets, and cash flows (if the financial statements are required to
include a statement of cash flows) of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
report;    
 
                   4. The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the
Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the Registrant and have:
 
     (a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
                   disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
                   material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is
                   made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which
                   this report is being prepared;
 
     (b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
                   internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
                   reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
                   financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
                   accounting principles;
 
     (c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and
                   procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the
                   disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
                   this report based on such evaluation; and
 
     (d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control
                   over financial reporting that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period
                   covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
                   affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
 
                   5. The Registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed to the Registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing
the equivalent functions):


   (a)          All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report
financial information; and
 
   (b)          Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial
reporting.  
 
 
 
                                                             By: /S/ JOSEPH I. BENEDEK
                                                                           Joseph I. Benedek
                                                                           Treasurer and Principal Financial Officer
 
 
                                                             Date: June 3, 2008