A robust Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct (Code and Standards) are fundamental to the values of any profession. Following a recent partnership agreement, the CMT Association and CFA Institute now follow a single Code and Standards benefiting the global financial community by setting high standards of education, integrity, and professional excellence. This licensing agreement makes the entirety of the CFAI’s Code and Standards developed over several decades available to CMT Association members. For CMT candidates, this licensing agreement provides clear readings which make studying for the exam a more efficient process.

A more detailed description of the rationale behind our decision to partner with the CFAI was included in the May 2015 issue of Technically Speaking. To read the article, along with a contemporaneous letter from CMT Association president Craig Johnson, CMT, CFA, download the May 2015 Issue of Technically Speaking.

An integral part of the CMT Association’s mission is to establish, maintain, and encourage the highest standards of professional competence and ethics among our membership. As such, CMT Association members must abide by the Code and Standards and are encouraged to notify their employer of this responsibility. Violations may result in disciplinary sanctions by the CMT Association. Sanctions can include revocation of membership and the right to use the CMT designation. Candidates should know that all three levels of the CMT Program include questions pertaining to the Code and Standards. Below you will find a link to the Code and Standards from the CFA Institute which have been licensed by the CMT Association on behalf of its members. All references to “CFA Institute,” “members,” “candidates,” “CFA Program,” etc. in the Code and Standards should be read to apply to the CMT Association and its members, candidates, programs, etc.

When preparing for the CMT exams, candidates are encouraged to review the Standards of Practice Handbook. According to the CFA Institute, “the Standards of Practice Handbook grounds the concepts covered in the Code and Standards for practical use. You can use this handbook for guidance on how to navigate ethical dilemmas you might face in your daily professional life.” Reviewing the Handbook provides candidates with a comprehensive study process and commensurate preparation for professional practice. If you become aware of information that would warrant an investigation by the CMT Association’s Ethics and Standards Committee, please visit the Reporting Misconduct page or alert the CMT Association staff at admin@cmtassociation.org

Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct (Code and Standards) are fundamental to the values of any profession. The CMT Association and CFA Institute believe a single Code and Standards benefit the global financial community by setting high standards of education, integrity, and professional excellence. High ethical standards are critical to maintaining the public’s trust in financial markets and in the investment profession.

Since their creation in the 1960s, the Code and Standards have promoted the integrity of CFA Institute members and served as a model for measuring the ethics of investment professionals globally, regardless of job function, cultural differences, or local laws and regulations. The CMT Association joins the CFA Institute in promoting a single standard for all finance professionals.