CIFA - Convention of Independent Financial Advisors

CIFA - Convention of Independent Financial Advisors is a non-profit Swiss foundation established in Geneva in December 2001 under the auspices of the Swiss Group of Independent Financial Advisors (GSCGI). It was created as a high-level international center in the fields of finance, asset management and global financial counselling, with the aim of protecting and defending the interests of investors and independent financial advisors (IFAs) at both national and international levels. From its inception, CIFA has positioned itself as a contact point for financial advisors, wealth managers, legislators and regulators, promoting the highest professional standards, best-practice rules and ethical rules. CIFA operates as a think tank specialized in reform of the financial system. Its stated objectives include creating a unique network of resources in Switzerland and internationally, proposing projects to national and international authorities for the harmonization of differing operating rules and regulations among member states, and facilitating the implementation of new rules and procedures imposed by national and supranational authorities. The organization is a non-governmental organization in general consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), having first obtained special consultative status by 2007. It is also accredited to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and partners with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) on an educational program on ethics in finance. Among its flagship initiatives is the Charter of Investors' Rights, developed under the supervision of the UN's ECOSOC and introduced in 2008. The charter defines and defends private property against unjustified expropriation, confiscation, spoliation or interference, defends the freedom to undertake and invest in accordance with the laws and customs of signatory countries, and promotes a moral use of financial assets. CIFA is the drafter and guardian of this charter, which has earned it international recognition for its involvement in the moralization of financial practices. By 2011, CIFA brought together more than 50 international professional federations and national professional associations across Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and Asia, representing more than 750,000 natural or legal persons practicing financial intermediation worldwide. The organization is led by a Foundation Council, which elects the members of the Executive Committee and the Advisory Council, as well as the Secretary General. As of the French Wikipedia article, the President of the CIFA Foundation Council is Pierre Christodoulidis and the Secretary General is Jean-Pierre Diserens. CIFA continues to conduct reflection on ethics and governance in financial circles and advocates for better international regulation and fairer, more equitable and more effective regulation in the interest of savers.

CIFA was established in December 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland, at the initiative of a group of independent financial advisors and under the auspices of the Swiss Group of Independent Financial Advisors (GSCGI). It was conceived as a high-level international center in the field of finance, asset management and global financial counselling, in the form of a Swiss foundation. Its founding objectives were to protect and defend the interests of independent financial advisors at national and international levels by creating a unique network of resources in Switzerland and internationally; to propose and present projects to national and international authorities for the harmonization of differing operating rules and regulations within member states; and to facilitate the implementation of new rules and procedures imposed by national and supranational authorities. By 2007, CIFA had already become a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with ECOSOC, the United Nations' Economic and Social Council. It later attained general consultative status. CIFA attends and speaks at several UN gatherings organized at the initiative of the General Assembly, ECOSOC, Group of 77, UNCTAD, UNITAR, FOSS and others. In 2008, the Charter of Investors' Rights, developed under the supervision of the UN's ECOSOC, was introduced. This charter defines and defends private property against unjustified expropriation, confiscation, spoliation or interference; defends the freedom to undertake and invest in accordance with the laws and customs of signatory countries; and promotes a moral use of financial assets. CIFA is the drafter and guardian of the charter, which has brought it international recognition for its involvement in the moralization of financial practices. By 2011, CIFA grouped more than 50 international professional federations and national professional associations across Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and Asia, representing more than 750,000 natural or legal persons practicing financial intermediation worldwide. The organization is structured as a non-profit foundation recognized as being of public utility, directed by a Foundation Council that guarantees the policy defined by the foundation's statutes. The Foundation Council elects the members of the Executive Committee and the Advisory Council, as well as the Secretary General, to whom it delegates all powers to apply CIFA's policy. The Executive Committee, composed of ten permanent members, assists the Secretary General in conducting policy. The Advisory Council brings together high-level experts and its mission is to guide and scientifically validate the work of the various commissions. As of the French Wikipedia article, the President of the CIFA Foundation Council is Pierre Christodoulidis and the Secretary General is Jean-Pierre Diserens. CIFA's work focuses on defending the fundamental rights of citizens in financial markets, including the right to respect for private property and the right to freedom of enterprise and investment, and on influencing investor behavior toward sustainable, responsible and equitable development. It advocates for simple and effective regulation of financial systems in the interest of savers, fights financial crime from both private and governmental sectors, and opposes market manipulation that harms citizens. Other projects include the creation of an international legal body to handle certain financial cases and the design and implementation of a training program on ethics in finance. CIFA partners with UNITAR on an ambitious educational program on the theme of ethics in finance, contributing to the UN's Millennium Development Goals Program.

• 2011

  CIFA groups more than 50 international professional federations and national professional associations, representing over 750,000 individuals and entities practicing financial intermediation worldwide.

• 2008

  The Charter of Investors' Rights, developed under the supervision of the UN's ECOSOC, is introduced.

• 2007

  CIFA becomes a non-governmental organization in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

• 2001

  CIFA is established in December in Geneva, Switzerland, as a non-profit Swiss foundation under the auspices of the Swiss Group of Independent Financial Advisors (GSCGI).

High-level international center and think tank for independent financial advisors and investor rights, operating at the intersection of finance, regulation and UN-level policy dialogue.

• Charter of Investors' Rights

  A charter drafted and guarded by CIFA, deposited at the UN in 2008, defining and defending private property against unjustified expropriation, confiscation, spoliation or interference, and promoting a moral use of financial assets.

• Annual CIFA Forum

  An annual forum bringing together high-level finance experts to debate ethics and governance of financial markets and services.

• UNITAR partnership educational program

  An ambitious educational program on the theme of ethics in finance, in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

1. 1CIFA homepagecifango.org
2. 2About CIFAcifango.org
3. 3Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Convention of Independent Financial Advisors - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org