ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING THINGS  about becoming a volunteer with CFA Society Toronto is getting to know other members. Although many of us are able to interact with other charterholders through our places of employment, our connections through the Society help us to network within the larger financial community. At a time when we can’t gather in person, membership surveys have become increasingly vital in ensuring that CFA Society Toronto can continue to meet the needs of our members.

From May to June of 2020, CFA Society Toronto’s board of directors conducted a member survey to provide us with a better understanding of how we should prioritize our efforts in helping you meet the evolving demands of the investment industry. From the survey, we gained valuable insights into the different opportunities CFA charterholders are currently seeking. Some of the priorities you have helped us identify include:

1. creating opportunities for professional skills and career development, including relevant technical training;
2. networking, mentoring, and social opportunities; and
3. access to educational courses (i.e., ESG, Canadian financial markets, fintech, AI, and machine learning).

The feedback we received has provided us with a strong foundation for the Society’s next three-year strategic plan, which will be made available in the coming months. In the meantime, we have summarized the key findings of the survey and posted them on our website.

I would like to thank those who took the time to participate in our survey. The information we gathered, based on the high-quality feedback received from all segments of our membership, has provided us with a deeper understanding of your needs. Your comments in the survey have also helped to identify key opportunities that exist in our industry.

I look forward to being a part of the team responsible for the creation of a strategic plan that will make our membership proud, and I will be providing further updates soon.