Ethical and Professional Standards Flashcards
What must all the Members of CFA Institute (including CFA charterholders) and candidates for the CFA designation do ?
- Act with integrity, competence, diligence, and 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.
What is the second Standard of professional conduct ?
II. INTEGRITY OF CAPITAL MARKETS :
A. Material Nonpublic Information
Members and Candidates who possess material nonpublic information
that could affect the value of an investment must not act or cause others
to act on the information.
B. Market Manipulation
Members and Candidates must not engage in practices that distort
prices or artificially inflate trading volume with the intent to mislead
market participants.
Which of the following statements is most accurate? An optimal ethical decision-making framework:
A
culminates with decisions and actions.
B
considers situational influences in the initial phase.
C
allows individuals to move through the various phases of the decision-making process in a non-sequential manner.
C
What is the first Standard of professional conduct ?
I. PROFESSIONALISM :
A. Knowledge of the Law
Members and Candidates must understand and comply with all
applicable laws, rules, and regulations (including the CFA Institute Code
of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct) of any government,
regulatory organization, licensing agency, or professional association
governing their professional activities. In the event of conflict, Members
and Candidates must comply with the more strict law, rule, or
regulation. Members and Candidates must not knowingly participate or
assist in and must dissociate from any violation of such laws, rules, or
regulations.
B. Independence and Objectivity
Members and Candidates must use reasonable care and judgment to
achieve and maintain independence and objectivity in their professional
activities. Members and Candidates must not offer, solicit, or accept any
gift, benefit, compensation, or consideration that reasonably could be
expected to compromise their own or another’s independence and
objectivity.
C. Misrepresentation
Members and Candidates must not knowingly make any
misrepresentations relating to investment analysis, recommendations,
actions, or other professional activities.
D. Misconduct
Members and Candidates must not engage in any professional conduct
involving dishonesty, fraud, or deceit or commit any act that reflects
adversely on their professional reputation, integrity, or competence.
E. Competence
Members and Candidates must act with and maintain the competence
necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities.
What is the third Standard of professional conduct ?
III. DUTIES TO CLIENTS :
A. Loyalty, Prudence, and Care
Members and Candidates have a duty of loyalty to their clients and must
act with reasonable care and exercise prudent judgment. Members and
Candidates must act for the benefit of their clients and place their
clients’ interests before their employer’s or their own interests.
B. Fair Dealing
Members and Candidates must deal fairly and objectively with all clients
when providing investment analysis, making investment
recommendations, taking investment action, or engaging in other
professional activities.
C. Suitability
1. When Members and Candidates are in an advisory relationship with a
client, they must:
a. Make a reasonable inquiry into a client’s or prospective client’s
investment experience, risk and return objectives, and
financial constraints prior to making any investment
recommendation or taking investment action and must
reassess and update this information regularly.
b. Determine that an investment is suitable to the client’s financial
situation and consistent with the client’s written objectives,
mandates, and constraints before making an investment
recommendation or taking investment action.
c. Judge the suitability of investments in the context of the client’s
total portfolio.
- When Members and Candidates are responsible for managing a
portfolio to a specific mandate, strategy, or style, they must make
only investment recommendations or take only investment actions
that are consistent with the stated objectives and constraints of
the portfolio.
D. Performance Presentation
When communicating investment performance information, Members
and Candidates must make reasonable efforts to ensure that it is fair,
accurate, and complete.
E. Preservation of Confidentiality
Members and Candidates must keep information about current, former,
and prospective clients confidential unless:
1. The information concerns illegal activities on the part of the
client or prospective client,
2. Disclosure is required by law, or
3. The client or prospective client permits disclosure of the
information.
What is the fourth Standard of professional conduct ?
IV. DUTIES TO EMPLOYERS :
A. Loyalty
In matters related to their employment, Members and Candidates must
act for the benefit of their employer and not deprive their employer of the
advantage of their skills and abilities, divulge confidential information, or
otherwise cause harm to their employer.
B. Additional Compensation Arrangements
Members and Candidates must not accept gifts, benefits, compensation,
or consideration that competes with or might reasonably be expected to
create a conflict of interest with their employer’s interest unless they
obtain written consent from all parties involved.
C. Responsibilities of Supervisors
Members and Candidates must make reasonable efforts to ensure that
anyone subject to their supervision or authority complies with applicable
laws, rules, regulations, and the Code and Standards.
What is the fith Standard of professional conduct ?
V. INVESTMENT ANALYSIS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ACTIONS :
A. Diligence and Reasonable Basis
Members and Candidates must:
1. Exercise diligence, independence, and thoroughness in
analyzing investments, making investment
recommendations, and taking investment actions.
2. Have a reasonable and adequate basis, supported by
appropriate research and investigation, for any investment
analysis, recommendation, or action.
B. Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients
Members and Candidates must:
1. Disclose to clients and prospective clients the nature of the
services provided, along with information about the costs to
the client associated with those services.
2. Disclose to clients and prospective clients the basic format and
general principles of the investment processes they use to
analyze investments, select securities, and construct
portfolios and must promptly disclose any changes that
might materially affect those processes.
3. Disclose to clients and prospective clients significant limitations
and risks associated with the investment process.
4. Use reasonable judgment in identifying which factors are
important to their investment analyses, recommendations, or
actions and include those factors in communications with
clients and prospective clients.
5. Distinguish between fact and opinion in the presentation of
investment analysis and recommendations.
C. Record Retention
Members and Candidates must develop and maintain appropriate
records to support their investment analyses, recommendations, actions,
and other investment-related communications with clients and
prospective clients.
What is the sixth Standard of professional conduct ?
VI. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST :
A. Avoid or Disclose Conflicts
Members and Candidates must avoid or make full and fair disclosure of
all matters that could reasonably be expected to impair their
independence and objectivity and interfere with respective duties to their
clients, prospective clients, and employer. Members and Candidates
must ensure that such disclosures are prominent, are delivered in plain
language, and communicate the relevant information effectively.
B. Priority of Transactions
Investment transactions for clients and employers must have priority
over investment transactions in which a Member or Candidate is the
beneficial owner.
C. Referral Fees
Members and Candidates must disclose to their employer, clients, and
prospective clients, as appropriate, any compensation, consideration, or
benefit received from or paid to others for the recommendation of
products or services.
What is the seventh Standard of professional conduct ?
VII. RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CFA INSTITUTE MEMBER OR CFA CANDIDATE :
A. Conduct as Participants in CFA Institute Programs
Members and Candidates must not engage in any conduct that
compromises the reputation or integrity of CFA Institute or the CFA
designation or the integrity, validity, or security of CFA Institute
programs.
B. Reference to CFA Institute, the CFA Designation, and the CFA
Program
When referring to CFA Institute, CFA Institute membership, the CFA
designation, or candidacy in the CFA Program, Members and Candidates
must not misrepresent or exaggerate the meaning or implications of
membership in CFA Institute, holding the CFA designation, or candidacy
in the CFA Program.
What are the 6 codes of ethic ?
➀ Act with integrity, competence, diligence, and respect and in an ethical manner with:
the public
clients (current & prospective)
employers
employees
colleagues
➁ Place the integrity of the investment
profession and the interest of clients
above their own personal interests
➂ Use reasonable care and exercise
independent professional judgement when
conducting investment analysis, making
investment recommendations, taking investment
actions
➃ Practice, and encourage others to practice,
in a professional and ethical manner that
will reflect credit on themselves and the
profession
➄ Promote the integrity and viability of the
global capital markets for the ultimate
benefit of society
➅ Maintain and improve professional
competence and strive to maintain and
improve the competence of other
investment professionals
ONGOING EDUCATION
How can we describe ethics ?
Ethics can be defined as a set of moral principles or rules of conduct that provide
guidance for our behavior when it affects others. Widely acknowledged fundamental ethical principles include honesty, fairness, diligence, and care and respect for others. Ethical conduct follows those principles and balances self-interest with both the direct and the indirect consequences of that behavior for other people.
Laws and regulations often attempt to
guide people toward ethical behavior, but they do not cover all unethical behavior. Ethical behavior is often distinguished from legal conduct by describing legal behavior as what is required and ethical behavior as conduct that is morally correct. Ethical principles go beyond that which is legally sufficient and encompass what is the right thing to do.
An ethical decision-making framework can come in many forms but should
provide investment professionals with a tool for following the principles of the
firm’s code of ethics. Through analyzing the particular circumstances of each
decision, investment professionals are able to determine the best course of action to fulfill their responsibilities in an ethical manner.
All CFA Institute members (including holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst [CFA] designation) and CFA candidates have the personal responsibility to embrace and uphold the provisions of the Code and Standards and are encouraged to notify their employer of this responsibility.
Standard I(A) Knowledge of the Law :
Members and Candidates must understand and comply with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations (including the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct) of any government, regulatory organization, licensing agency, or professional association governing their professional activities. In the event of conflict, Members and Candidates must comply with the more strict law, rule, or regulation. Members and Candidates must not knowingly participate or assist in and must dissociate from any violation of such laws, rules, or regulations.
Standard I : PROFESSIONALISM
Standard 1A (Knowledge of the Law):
This standard does not require members and candidates to become experts, however, in compliance. Additionally, members and candidates are not required to have detailed knowledge of or be experts on all the laws that could potentially govern their activities. During times of changing regulations, members and candidates must remain vigilant in maintaining their knowledge of the requirements for their professional activities.
Relationship between the Code and Standards and Applicable Law:
When applicable law and the Code and Standards require different conduct, members and candidates must follow the more strict of the applicable law or the Code and Standards. “Applicable law” is the law that governs the member’s or candidate’s conduct. The “more strict” law or regulation is the law or regulation that imposes greater restrictions on the action of the member or candidate or calls for the member or candidate to exert a greater degree of action that protects the interests of investors. In other words: Members and candidates must not engage in conduct that constitutes a violation of the Code and Standards, even though it may otherwise be legal.
!! Adhere if the law states: the law of the client’s home country governs !!!
Dissociation practices will differ on the basis of the member’s or candidate’s
role in the investment industry. It may include removing one’s name from written reports or recommendations, asking for a different assignment, or refusing to accept a new client or continue to advise a current client. Inaction combined with
continuing association with those involved in illegal or unethical conduct may be
construed as participation or assistance in the illegal or unethical conduct.
CFA Institute strongly encourages members and candidates to report potential violations of the Code and Standards committed by fellow members and candidates. Although a failure to report is less likely to be construed as a violation than a failure to dissociate from unethical conduct, the impact of inactivity on the integrity of capital markets can be significant.
report violations of the Code and Standards by CFA Institute members or CFA candidates by submitting a complaint in writing to the CFA Institute Professional Conduct Program via e-mail or the CFA Institute Website.
Members and candidates involved in creating or maintaining investment services or investment products or packages of securities and/or derivatives should be mindful of where these products or packages will be sold as well as their places of origination. (Take due diligence in order to protect the reputation of their firm and themselves.)
Recommended Procedures for Compliance:
- Members and Candidates:
1- Stay informed: Provide memorandums distributed to employees in the organization. Also, participation in an internal or external continuing education program
2- Review procedures
3- Maintain current files: Accessible current reference copies of applicable statutes, rules, regulations, and important cases.
- Legal Counsel : When in doubt about the appropriate action to undertake, it is recommended that a member or candidate seek the advice of compliance
personnel or legal counsel concerning legal requirements. (Seek Advice also for violations) - Dissociation: Document the violation and urge their firms to attempt to persuade the perpetrator(s) to cease such conduct.
- Firms:
1- Develop and/or adopt a code of ethics: M/C should encourage management to adopt a code of ethics.
2- Provide information on applicable laws:
3- Establish procedures for reporting violations: written protocols for reporting suspected violations of laws, regulations, or company policies.
Standard I(B) Independence and Objectivity :
Members and Candidates must use reasonable care and judgment to achieve
and maintain independence and objectivity in their professional activities. Members and Candidates must not offer, solicit, or accept any gift, benefit, compensation, or consideration that reasonably could be expected to compromise their own or another’s independence and objectivity.
Standard 1B ( Independence and Objectivity): Standard I(B) states the responsibility of CFA Institute members and candidates in the CFA Program to maintain independence and objectivity so that their clients will have the benefit of their work and opinions unaffected by any potential conflict of interest or other circumstance adversely affecting their judgment. Every member and candidate should endeavor to avoid situations that could cause or be perceived to cause a loss of independence or objectivity in recommending investments or taking investment action.
In a client relationship, the client has already entered some type of compensation arrangement with the member, candidate, or his or her firm. A gift from a client could be considered supplementary compensation. The potential for obtaining influence to the detriment of other clients, although
present, is not as great as in situations where no compensation arrangement
exists.
When possible, prior to accepting “bonuses” or gifts from clients, members and candidates should disclose to their employers such benefits offered by clients. If notification is not possible prior to acceptance, members and candidates must disclose to their employer benefits previously accepted from clients.
Recommendations must convey the member’s or candidate’s true opinions, free of bias from internal or external pressures, and be stated in clear and unambiguous language.
Members and candidates also should be aware that some of their professional or social activities within CFA Institute or its member societies may subtly threaten their independence or objectivity.
The members or candidates responsible for the activities should evaluate both the actual effect of such solicitations on their independence and whether their objectivity might be perceived to be compromised in the eyes of their clients.