FOR OVER A YEAR NOW, we have been faced with a new reality: work weeks that are filled with webinars and Zoom meetings, coupled with the daily challenges of managing home life and family within social distancing protocols. This longer-than-expected pause has prompted many to reflect on and re-evaluate what matters most to them, accelerating a shift in the way people are choosing to invest their money, with a greater importance placed on aligning their investments with their own core values and beliefs.

As vaccination efforts ramp up and we begin to look forward to our communities opening back up, we have a unique opportunity to shape the way the “new normal” looks, particularly within the world of finance. 

Thanks to a forward-looking perspective, CFA charterholders have been examining education and programming in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing for quite some time. This knowledge is highly relevant in today’s investment landscape, as more of our clients are looking to us to provide well-informed recommendations for ethical investing.  

CFA Society Toronto is therefore thrilled to assist CFA Institute in promoting the Certificate in ESG Investing (a product of CFA Society of the United Kingdom). Recognized by the PRI, this certificate is designed by practitioners for practitioners and is intended to help finance professionals make a difference both in their careers and in society. What’s interesting is that over half of the 5,000 candidates in Europe have been from the broader financial services industry—professionals such as trustees, sales representatives, and business development officers who are responding to their clients’ needs for deeper knowledge and effective reporting of ESG considerations. 

In addition to this exciting new global certificate, CFA Society Toronto has designed a unique ESG Bootcamp for portfolio managers, analysts, and other investment industry professionals who are in the early stages of improving their working knowledge and application of ESG investing. This three-part, three-hour virtual bootcamp series features guest portfolio managers and provides the fundamentals of ESG investing and accreditation for charterholders and regulators/IIROC. 

CFA Society Toronto will continue to develop meaningful partnerships and learning opportunities to enhance our members’ skillsets to meet the evolving demands of the investment industry. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in elevating the pride we have in our profession during this pivotal time in which we can truly make a difference.