EXHIBIT (16)


                      FIRST AMERICAN INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned hereby
appoints Jeffery M. Wilson, Robert H. Nelson and James L. Chosy, and each and
any of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name,
place and stead, in his or her capacity as director or officer, or both, to
execute a Registration Statement of First American Investment Funds, Inc. on
Form N-14 pursuant to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Acts"), and all instruments necessary
or incidental in connection therewith pursuant to said Acts and any rules,
regulations, or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in
respect thereof, and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, and each and any of said attorneys-in-fact and agents shall have
full power and authority, to do and perform in the name and on behalf of the
undersigned in any and all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or
necessary to be done, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he or she
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or each and any of them, may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.

Dated: February 21, 2002


/s/ Robert J. Dayton                       /s/ Roger A. Gibson
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Robert J. Dayton                           Roger A. Gibson


/s/ Andrew M. Hunter III                   /s/ Leonard W. Kedrowski
- -------------------------------------      ------------------------------------
Andrew M. Hunter III                       Leonard W. Kedrowski


/s/ Richard K. Riederer                    /s/ Joseph D. Strauss
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Richard K. Riederer                        Joseph D. Strauss


/s/ Virginia L. Stringer                   /s/ James M. Wade
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Virginia L. Stringer                       James M. Wade


   /s/ John M. Murphy, Jr.
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John M. Murphy, Jr.