FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

About IFM Ethics Programs

Why choose the IFM?

Is the IFM qualified to provide ethics training?

Who develops the IFM's Ethics Course Content?

Which Futures Ethics program do I need - the Initial or the Periodic Training program?

What is the IFM Tracking and Reporting System?

Why choose the IFM?
The Institute for Financial Markets founded in 1989 is a Section 501(c)(3), nonprofit, industry-supported educational foundation, and independent affiliate of the Futures Industry Association. The IFM's mission is to promote professional knowledge, judgment and integrity by providing research, educational resources and training to financial services industry participants and to interested constituencies including investors, journalists, academicians and public-policy makers.

The IFM has earned an unparalleled reputation for developing and delivering of quality ethics and AML programs. Our experience as an ethics training provider is unrivaled. Click here to learn more about our work experience.
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Is the IFM qualified to provide ethics training?
The IFM has provided ethics training to the futures industry since 1994 and has qualified and completed relevant proficiency testing, as mandated in the National Futures Association Compliance Rule 2-9 and its Interpretive Notice. The Institute's qualification as a futures industry ethics training provider may further be verified by contacting National Futures Association's Vice President of Registration.
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Who develops the IFM's Ethics Course Content?
The Institute develops its ethics and anti-money laundering compliance training content from interviews with regulators and industry compliance professionals, and through research and review of enforcement cases as well as client working groups. Our course content is cleverly crafted by a team that includes former U.S. regulators, compliance professionals and financial ethics educators who endeavor to produce an engaging and effective courses. Our team's diverse background provides a range of practical and academic experience in the exploration of ethics, professional conduct and education not found in programs provided by commercial vendors.
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Which Futures Ethics program do I need - the Initial or the Periodic Training program?
The Initial/ New Industry program is designed for someone who has never taken a futures ethics training course or has recently registered with the NFA. While the Periodic Training program is designed to fulfill the ongoing training requirement . It is suggested that periodic training be taken every three years at a minimum, however, many of firms have chosen to provide programs to their employees every year or year two years. Both the intial and periodic programs help the firm and the registrant meet their respective obligations for ongoing ethics education, as mandated by Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and NFA Rule 2-9 and its Interpretative Notices.
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What is the IFM Tracking and Reporting System?
The Tracking and Reporting System is a FREE and valuable tool that lets compliance administrators easily manage and track training for their employees via the Web. IFM's Tracking and Reporting System allows authorized administrators to monitor staff enrollments, training progress and print completion reports (in Excel format) for internal use and NFA audit purposes.

Questions?
Please contact us at 202.223.1528 or email info@theIFM.org.