Reading 2-III: Standards of Professional Conduct & Guida

class, Jackson, manager, black

Q20.Karen Jackson is a portfolio manager for Super Selection. Jackson is friendly with David James, president of AMD, a rapidly growing biotech company. James has provided Jackson with recommendations in the biotech industry, which she buys for her own portfolio before buying them for her clients. For three years, Jackson has also served on AMD's board of directors. She has received options and fees as compensation.

Recently, the board of AMD decided to raise capital by voting to issue shares to the public. This was attractive to board members (including Jackson) who wanted to exercise their stock options and sell their shares to get cash. When the demand for initial public offerings (IPO) diminished, just before AMD's public offering, James asked Jackson to commit to a large purchase of the offering for her portfolios. Jackson had previously determined that AMD was a questionable investment but agreed to reconsider at James' request. Her reevaluation confirmed the stock to be overpriced, but she nevertheless decided to purchase AMD for her clients' portfolios.

Did Jackson violate Standard III(C) concerning Portfolio Recommendations and Actions?

A) Yes, she did not consider the appropriateness and suitability of investment recommendations or actions for each portfolio or client.

B) Yes, she did not deal fairly with all clients.

C) No.

Q21.According to CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct, when a client asks her portfolio manager to change the current investment strategy of the client’s portfolio, the manager should:

A) examine whether the strategy is appropriate for the client and explain the implications of the new strategy before implementing the strategy.

B) explain the implications of the new strategy after the member manager implements the strategy.

C) obey the client's request without question.

Q22.Bob Hatfield, CFA, has his own money management firm with two clients. The accounts of the two clients are equal in value. One of the clients gets married and the assets of the new spouse and the client are combined. With the larger portfolio of the now married client, Hatfield determines that they can assume a higher level of risk and begins a change in the policy concerning that portfolio. Which of the following would violate Standard III(C), Suitability?

A) Assess the return objectives of the newly married client and his spouse.

B) Assess the time horizon of the newly married client and his spouse.

C) Implement a similar policy for the other client who did not just get married.

Q23.Janet Reilly has just approached Betty Miller, CFA, about purchasing 10,000 shares of Brookshire Co., a newly incorporated real estate development firm. Reilly is a retired schoolteacher living off the income from her late husband's life insurance policy. This investment will represent a significant shift in her investment portfolio. Brookshire Co. is a local firm that has recently received a lot of press concerning some exciting, but speculative projects that they have undertaken in the region. Consistent with the Standards, Miller should:

A) not accept the order, because it is not a suitable investment for Reilly.

B) accept Reilly's order after she acquaints Reilly with the downside risks associated with a risky investment of this type.

C) accept Reilly's order, but have her sign a disclaimer absolving Miller of any potential losses.