Event Overview

Ethics Challenge hosted by the CFA® Societies of Florida embodies the mission of CFA Institute by promoting "the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence." The competition is designed to increase students' awareness of the ethical dilemmas they may face as investment management professionals and to better prepare them for the workforce.

The Ethics Challenge touches on many of CFA Institute Future of Finance six areas of focus including: Transparency and Fairness, Regulation and Enforcement, and Safeguarding the System. It also promotes ethical awareness and fosters a healthy financial environment.

The Ethics Challenge summons students to analyze a situation with a "grey" area where right or wrong may not be apparent. Student teams are given a case study with an ethical dilemma and present their recommendations to a panel of senior charterholders. A question and answer period follows and a champion is later announced during a reception.

Components of the Competition:

Analysis / Research of Ethics Case

Each team is given an identical case which focuses on an ethical dilemma such as front running, insider trading, a conflict of interest etc. With their professor's guidance, the students dissect the case study and provide recommendations.

Each teams of 3-5 students is given an identical real-world case to analyze containing a variety of ethical dilemmas. Students learn about and apply the principles of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. Teams formulate solutions and present results to a panel of judges who score each presentation and award one winner.

Students will be provided with CFA Institute readings regarding:

CFA Institute Standards of Practice Handbook

Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct 2 Page Summary

The CFA Institute Ethical Decision-Making Framework

CFA Institute Game-Based Course

This self-paced, 90-minute online course presents the ethical decision-making framework and uses multi-media case studies to show you how to apply the framework in the real world. Your score is the number of clients earned as a result of the decisions you make.

Ethical Decision-Making for Investment Professionals

CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct 

Presentation to Panel of Industry Experts and Leaders

Each team presents their analysis and recommendations to a panel of experts from top financial institutions. The team with the highest presentation score is the winner.

Ethics Challenge Official Rules

Official Rules will be available to teams.

Are you up to the challenge? Register to compete or volunteer today.