Ethics and Professional Standards Flashcards
What is the role of the CFA Institute’s Disciplinary Review Committe?
Overall responsibility for the Professional Conduct Program and enforcement of the Code and Standards
What three circumstances can prompt an inquiry from the CFA’s Designated Officer?
- Self-disclosure by a member or candidate,
- Written complaints, and
- evidence of misconduct
What three courses of disciplinary action may a Designated Officer take?
- Decide no disciplinary sanctions are appropriate,
- Issue a cautionary letter
- Discipline the member or candidate.
What are the seven ethical responsibilities of a CFA member or candidate?
- Professionalism.
- Integrity of Capital Markets.
- Duties to Clients.
- Duties to Employers.
- Investment Analysis, Recommendations, and Action.
- Conflicts of Interest.
- Responsibilities as a CFA Member or Candidate.
What are the four qualities of professionalism as outlined in the Code of Standards?
- Knowledge and adherence to the Law,
- Independence and Objectivity,
- No Misrepresentation, and
- No Misconduct.
What are the five duties to clients as outlined in the CFA’s code of ethics?
- Loyalty, Prudence, and Care,
- Fair Dealing,
- Suitability,
- Fair/Accurate Performance Presentation
- Preservation of Confidentiality.
What are the three duties to employers as outlined in the CFA’s code of ethics?
- Loyalty,
- Additional compensation(gifts, benefits, etc) that might create a conflict of interest with employers cannot be accepted UNLESS there is written consent.
- Make reasonable efforts to detect/prevent violations of applicable laws, rules, etc. by anyone under their supervision.
What are the three requirements of proper investment analysis as outlined in the CFA’s code of ethics?
- Diligence and Reasonable Basis,
- Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients, and
- Record Retention.
What are three conflict of interest areas for a CFA?
- Disclosure of Conflicts,
- Priority of Transactions, and
- Referral Fees.
When there are two or more conflicting laws, which should the CFA follow?
The strictest law, rule or regulation.
What is the CFA Institute’s viewpoint on gifts?
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. (Modest gifts are permitted though)
What gifts must be disclosed to a member’s employer?
ALL! Gifts must be disclosed to the member’s employer in ANY case.
What two qualities make information material?
- If its disclosure would impact the price of a security
2. If reasonable investors would want the information before making an investment decision
When does nonpublic information become public?
When it has been made available to the marketplace.
*An analyst conference call is not public disclosure
What is the mosaic theory?
There is no violation when a perceptive analyst reaches an investment conclusion about a corporate action or event through an analysis of public information together with items of nonmaterial nonpublic information.