Friday, 3 May 2019

CFA Institute Investment Foundations Program: Chapter 2 – Ethics & Investment Professionalism


In a previous article, we introduced the CFA Institute Investment Foundation Program (Read more here).  It is a free program designed for anyone who wants to enter or advance within the investment management industry, including IT, operations, accounting, administration, and marketing.  Candidates who successfully pass the online exam earn the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Certificate.

There are total of 20 Chapters in 7 modules, covering all the essential topics in finance, economics, ethics and regulations.  This series of article will highlight the core knowledge of each chapter.
Chapter 2 provides an overview of ethics & investment professionalism. The learning outcome of chapter 2 is as follows:

·        Describe the need for ethics in the investment industry;
·        Identify obligations that individuals in the investment industry have to clients, prospective clients, employers, and co-workers;
·        Identify elements of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics;
·        Explain standards of practice (professional principles) that are based on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics;
·        Describe benefits of ethical conduct;
·        Describe consequences of conduct that is unethical or unprofessional;
·        Describe a framework for making ethical decisions.

Ethics plays an essential role in protecting financial market’s integrity and the functioning of the investment industry. Financial market integrity refers to financial markets that are ethical and transparent and provide investor protection. Trust in the investment industry is enhanced when workers in the industry make decisions that are ethically sound.

When trust is absent, investors are less likely to participate in financial markets. Without investment, investors may be unable to reach their financial goals. Without available capital for companies, economic growth will slow. So, it is important that investors are treated fairly because society benefits from well-functioning financial markets.

The CFA Institute Code of Ethics

Members of CFA Institute (including CFA charterholders) and candidates for the CFA designation must:
·        Act with integrity, competence, diligence, respect, and in an ethical manner with the public, clients, prospective clients, employers, employees, colleagues in the investment profession, and other participants in the global capital markets.
·        Place the integrity of the investment profession and the interests of clients above their own personal interests.
·        Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment actions, and engaging in other professional activities.
·        Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect credit on themselves and the profession.
·        Promote the integrity and viability of the global capital markets for the ultimate benefit of society.
·        Maintain and improve their professional competence and strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.




Sample Question:

Unethical behaviour by investment professionals may lead to higher:
 
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