The Research and Policy Center Celebrates Global Ethics Day

The CFA Institute Research and Policy Center marks Global Ethics Day on 21 October 2026 by highlighting research and resources that help investment professionals put ethics into practice. Current topics in this area range from using artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly to managing conflicts of interest in private markets.
 

The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs established Global Ethics Day in 2014. This annual event invites individuals and organizations—including schools, businesses, governments, and community groups—to reflect on ethical choices and strengthen ethics in everyday life.
 

This year’s Global Ethics Day theme, “Re-centering Ethics,” calls on us to place ethical considerations at the heart of our decisions. As technology, firms, and markets change, the investment profession must keep ethics and human judgment at the center of decision making. That includes explaining AI decisions clearly, describing technology honestly, and treating investors fairly regardless of any competing interests.
 

Ethical standards for investment professionals

The CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct establishes expectations for ethical behavior in investment management and supports our mission to lead the investment profession for the ultimate benefit of society. We encourage financial industry participants in any role to explore CFA Institute ethics resources.
 

Research on AI ethics and private markets

Our research reports help investment professionals, risk and compliance teams, and policymakers understand ethical challenges in finance and identify practical responses. Recent topics include the following:

• Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Finance examines how AI could reshape investment decisions and financial markets, raising questions about accountability, human oversight, and fiduciary responsibility.

• Explainable AI in Finance: Addressing the Needs of Diverse Stakeholders explores why stakeholders need to understand AI decisions and how clear explanations support ethical practice, institutional trust, and effective risk oversight.

• AI Washing: Signs, Symptoms, and Suggested Solutions for Investment Stakeholders examines misleading claims about AI use and offers ways to identify and address them.

• Continuation Funds: Ethics in Private Markets, Part I of our Ethics in Private Markets series, explains how these funds work, their benefits, and the ethical challenges they create. Part II, Conflicts of Interest in Continuation Funds, examines the conflicts that arise when a manager acts on both sides of a transaction and discusses governance, disclosure, and fair processes that help protect investors.