Ethics CFA

Question 1

What are the Standards of Professional Conduct?

Answer 1

PIDDICR

1. Professionalism
2. Integrity of Capital Markets
3. Duties to Clients
4. Duties to Employers
5. Investment Analysis, Recommendations, and Actions
6. Conflicts of Interest
7. Responsibilities as a CFA Institute Member or CFA Candidate

Question 2

1. Professionalism

Answer 2

A - Knowledge of the Law
B - Independence and Objectivity
C - Misrepresentation
D - Misconduct

Question 3

2. Integrity of Capital Markets

Answer 3

A - Material Nonpublic Information

B - Market Manipulation

Question 4

3. Duties to Clients

Answer 4

A - Loyalty, Prudence and Care
B - Fair Dealing 
C - Suitability 
D - Performance Presentation 
E - Preservation of Confidentiality

Question 5

4. Duties to Employers

Answer 5

A - Loyalty
B - Additional Compensation Arrangements
C - Responsibilities of Supervisors

Question 6

5. Investment Analysis, Recommendations and Actions

Answer 6

A - Diligence and Reasonable Basis
B - Communication with Clients and Prospective Clients
C - Record Retention

Question 7

6. Conflicts of Interest

Answer 7

A - Disclosure of Conflicts
B - Priority of Transactions
C - Referral Fees

Question 8

7. Responsibilities as a CFA Institute Member or CFA Candidate

Answer 8

A - Conduct as a Participants in CFA Institute Programs

B - Reference to CFA Institute, the CFA Designation and the CFA program

Question 9

CFA Code of Ethics

Answer 9

6 = IIIEGP

1. Integrity = 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.
2. Interests of clients = Place the integrity of the investment profession and the interests of clients above their own personal interests.
3. Independence = Use reasonable care and exercise independent professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, making investment recommendations, taking investment actions, and engaging in other professional activities.
4. Ethical Manner = Practice and encourage others to practice in a professional and ethical manner that will reflect credit on themselves and the profession.
5. Global Capital Markets = Promote the integrity and viability of the global capital markets for the ultimate benefit of society.
6. Professional Competence = Maintain and improve their professional competence and strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.

Question 10

1 A Knowledge of the Law

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

1 B Independence and Objectivity

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

1 C Misrepresentation

Answer 12

Members and Candidates must not knowingly make any misrepresentations relating to investment analysis, recommendations, actions, or other professional activities.

Question 13

1 D Misconduct

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

2 A Material Nonpublic Information

Answer 14

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.

Question 15

2 B Market Manipulation

Answer 15

Members and Candidates must not engage in practices that distort prices or artificially inflate trading volume with the intent to mislead market participants.

Question 16

3 A Loyalty, Prudence and Care

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

3 B Fair Dealing

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

3 C Suitability

Answer 18

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.
2. 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.

Question 19

3 D Performance Presentation

Answer 19

When communicating investment performance information, Members and Candidates must make reasonable efforts to ensure that it is fair, accurate, and complete.

Question 20

3 E Preservation of Confidentiality

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

4 A Loyalty

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

4 B Additional Compensation Arrangements

Answer 22

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.

Question 23

4 C Responsibility of Supervisors

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

5 A Diligence and Reasonable Basis

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

5 B Communication with Clients and Perspective Clients

Answer 25

Members and Candidates must: 1. 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. 2. Disclose to clients and prospective clients significant limitations and risks associated with the investment process. 3. 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. 4. Distinguish between fact and opinion in the presentation of investment analysis and recommendations.

Question 26

5 C Record Retention

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

6 A Disclosure of Conflicts

Answer 27

Members and Candidates must make full and fair disclosure of all matters that could reasonably be expected to impair their independence and objectivity or 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.

Question 28

6 B Priority of Transactions

Answer 28

Investment transactions for clients and employers must have priority over investment transactions in which a Member or Candidate is the beneficial owner.

Question 29

6 C Referral Fees

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

7 A Conduct as a CFA Member/Candidate

Answer 30

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.

Question 31

7 B Reference to CFA, CFA Designation or Program

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS)

Answer 32

Mission of GIPS is to promote ethics and integrity and instill trust through the use of the GIPS standards. 1. Promote investor interests and instill investor confidence 2. Ensure accurate and consistent data 3. Obtain worldwide acceptance of a single standard for calculating and presenting performance 4. Promote fair, global competition among investment firms 5. Promote industry self-regulation on a global basis

Question 33

GIPS Compliance

Answer 33

Any firm that actually manages assets may choose to comply with the GIPS standards. Compliance is a firm wide process, not product specific. Key aspect is to use composites, a selection of the firms funds so the firm cannot cherry pick. Firms self regulate their claim of compliance. can hire third party to verify.