Help to shape the next generation of financial analysts: become a GIRC mentor

This year, the Swiss CFA Society will hold the inaugural Swiss Investment Research Challenge. The Challenge is an equity research competition among student teams from the world’s top university business and finance programs. Students write an equity research report on a publicly traded company, and present their findings to an expert panel. The teams are judged on their written reports and the presentations and a winner is selected. The local winners will progress to the EMEA finals in Istanbul and eventually to the global finale in Hong Kong.

We are looking for volunteers to support the students during the competition as mentors or graders to teach them best practices in equity research and corporate analysis. The universities have been very receptive and have expressed a strong interest. Most of the large universities have agreed to participate, and to field a team. In addition, the University of Zurich and the University of Neuchatel have made the challenge part of their curriculum and are staging an internal competition.

The mentors will have a dedicated student team. We will try to match your geographic location with the university. The involvement is clearly defined. Student contact will be limited to a maximum of 3 face-to-face meetings with their mentors, not to exceed 6 hours total, prior to submitting the written report. Teams may spend an additional 2 hours with their mentors for each local, regional or global final in which the team participates. Interactions may take place over the phone as well, but is not preferred. Mentors will be allowed to review students’ written work and provide comments only.  In addition, we strongly encourage the mentors to participate in the kick-off sessions in Zurich and Neuchatel.

The graders will assess the different student reports to determine the best report as well as select the teams for the finals. We would expect each grader to have to dedicate about 4 hours to grade the different papers.

Both mentors and graders will be offered complimentary copies of Tagesanzeiger, Finanz und Wirtschaft and Le Temps.

We are looking for active participation of our members to support the society in this exciting undertaking. If you would like to participate, please send us an e-mail at girc@scfas.org with a few lines about yourself and your geographic preferences.

 

CFA® Exam Preparation

The Swiss CFA Society has entered an exclusive partnership with Top Finance Stalla as they provide an outstanding and flexible review program with Weekend, Evening & Intensive Review Week in Zurich and Geneva. We are now able to offer you a choice of course format with live or online courses and self-study CD & study materials. You can find more information on our homepage

 

Global Practice Analysis

We are cooperating with CFA Institute to assist them with the CFA Institute global practice analysis project. The primary goal of the global practice analysis project is to assess and update the Global Body of Investment Knowledge (GBIK), which identifies knowledge, skills, and abilities that CFA charterholders need to perform successfully throughout their career. The GBIK contains the Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) which determines the subject matter contained in the CFA curriculum, and ultimately tested on CFA exams.

A critical part of this study is to obtain the recommendations of regional expert panels throughout the world.  An expert panel is being set up in Zurich from 16:00 – 20:00h (this includes a working dinner) on 20 October 2009. The regional expert panel will discuss proposed topics for inclusion in the GBIK as well as evaluate relevant sections of the CBOK. We are still looking for a few volunteers for this panel. If you are interested please send a brief message to ak.scherer@scfas.org including a brief cv.

 

Global Body of Investment Knowledge (GBIK)

CFA institute invites volunteers to participate in the collaborative website and discussion forum to update and refine the Global Body of Investment Knowledge (For more details see link: GBIK) --- a living document.
To learn more about this interesting opportunity, please contact carey.hare@cfainstitute.org

 

Upcoming SCFAS Events 

 

We are once more using an online registration process. The fastest way of registering is by clicking on the hyperlinks below or by going to the frontpage of our website and clicking on the upcoming event, which you are interested in.

 

Thursday, 24.09.2009 in Zurich:

Event:          Monthly Apéro (informal, self-financing evening)

Purpose:      Informal Chat and Networking

Time:           18h, last Thursday every month (apart from on public holidays)

Location:     Kaufleuten Lounge, Talacker 34, Zurich

 

The Swiss CFA Society cordially invites you to the launch of its first monthly Apéro in Zurich! This is an informal event during which you will have the opportunity to discuss and network with fellow members and friends. Members, Charterholders, Candidates, and friends are all welcomed at the Kaufleuten Lounge starting at 18h – take a drink at the bar and if not obvious, ask the staff where the CFA gathering takes place. The monthly Apéro will take place the last Thursday of every month. There is no entrance fee or need for registration. If you have any questions, please contact Geneviève Lincourt g.lincourt@scfas.org

 

Thursday, 01.10.2009 in Geneva:

Event:          Wine Tasting (informal, self-financing wine evening)

Purpose:      Informal Chat and Networking

Time:           After Work, first Thursday every month (apart from on public holidays)

Location:     Soleil Rouge, Boulevard Helvétique 32, 1207 Genève

 

The SCFAS encourages you to join fellow Charterholders and others at the Soleil Rouge, Boulevard Helvétique 32, 1207 Genève, every first Thursday in the month for wine and informal discussion. This is a self-financing event, so grab a glass of something wine-like and if it’s not obvious, ask the counter staff where the CFA institute gathering is. We will usually be towards the back or downstairs. This is an open event and so non-CFA friends, partners and colleagues are very welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Vidhi Tambiah on +41788849530 or vtambiah@aii-group.com.

 

Wednesday, 07.10.2009 in Geneva:

Event:          CE Event: “Durable Competitive Advantages: Using Economic Moats to Improve Investment Returns”

Speaker:      Pat Dorsey, Director of Equity Research / Head Equity Strategist Morningstar

Time:           12.15 - 13.45

Location:     Societe de Lecture – Salons jaune et bleu

 

Please register via our homepage

 

Wednesday, 07.10.2009 in Zurich:

Event:          CE Event: “Durable Competitive Advantages: Using Economic Moats to Improve Investment Returns”

Time:           18.00 – 19.30

Location:     Au Premier, Raum Alcina, Zurich Bahnhofplatz

Please register via our homepage

 

Tuesday, 27.10.2009 in Geneva:

Event:          CE Luncheon: “The lack of protagonism of foreign exchange markets in this crisis”

Speaker:      Speaker:           Juan Ignacio - Research Analyst - Thomson Reuters 

Time:                12.15 – 13.45

Location:          Le Bistropôle" au Swissôtel Métropole, 34 Quai Général Guisan, 1204 Genève