
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Finance
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is critical to the future of the investment management industry
Why Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Important in Finance?

Diversity in Asset Management
CFA Institute Recruits Industry Partners to Drive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Asset Management
CFA Institute seeks to drive DEI efforts in the investment management industry toward more progressive policies and to demonstrate best practice to create more inclusive investment profession. Through the CFA Institute-led Experimental Partners Program, more than 40 participating firms (representing $17 trillion in assets under management) are committed to incorporating more diverse perspectives into how they run their businesses, and into investment decision making to improve investor outcomes. They are also encouraging the industry to embrace different viewpoints.
A key area of focus is on managing biases, including in hiring and advancement. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has shown that those firms that have stressed inclusive leadership, built trust through leveraging Employee Resource Groups, and supported regular unconscious bias training for managers adapted more quickly to widely adopted work-from-home arrangements.
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Accelerating Change: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Investment Management
This CFA Institute 2021 report captures the vast array of data collected throughout the Experimental Partners Program. It records the seismic shift from diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership being centered in HR to ownership by business heads, supported by increasingly expert DEI leads.
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Driving Change: Diversity & Inclusion in Investment Management
This CFA Institute 2018 report on the state of inclusion & diversity in the investment management industry, including survey data and conclusions on where the industry needs to get and how to get there.
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Twenty Actions to Promote Inclusion in the Investment Industry
Stemming from the inception of the Experimental Partners Program, collaborators identified 20 key concepts of inclusion & diversity and made recommendations for actions that asset management firms can take to improve in each area.
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Why Diversity Is More Critical Than Ever
Machel Allen, CFA, discusses the ever-growing importance of inclusion & diversity in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
External Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Motivations

Millennial Trust

Regulators and Policymakers

Investor Demand
I can’t think of a problem that more urgently requires a better outcome than racism. I believe we need to begin to answer the “what must we do” question by focusing on our firm and how we make it better — for our people, our clients, and our communities.
Internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Motivations

Teams Dominate

Awareness of Biases
Benefits of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace
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Innovation
Finance firms that foster inclusive cultures are more open and innovative.
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Representation
Firms that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion also recognize the importance of responding to changing client demographics with a more diverse professional team.
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Competition
Diversity, equity, and inclusion enables firms to better serve prospective and current clients and to better compete for top talent.