SIA and PLI-Corpedia Introduce Online Ethics Training for Investment Advisers

In response to increasing scrutiny by federal regulators, the Securities Industry Association (SIA), in collaboration with the Practising Law Institute (PLI) and PLI-Corpedia has created the SIA/PLI Investment Adviser Code of Ethics System (ACE System) a customized eLearning program to facilitate the creation of an investment organizations Code of Ethics, the Codes distribution and the acknowledgement of its receipt by employees.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 1, 2004 - In response to increasing scrutiny by federal regulators, the Securities Industry Association (SIA), in collaboration with the Practising Law Institute (PLI) and PLI-Corpedia has created the SIA/PLI Investment Adviser Code of Ethics System (ACE System) a customized eLearning program to facilitate the creation of an investment organizations Code of Ethics, the Codes distribution and the acknowledgement of its receipt by employees.

The ACE System transforms an investment companys Code of Ethics into a dynamic and interactive, online, eLearning program. This enables the organization to electronically distribute the Code workforce-wide, monitor its completion, record comprehension, and archive the results. The ACE System contains educational programs in more than 35 possible areas of concern to investment advisers, including marketing timing, late trading and soft-dollar brokerage arrangements.

In recent months, the sales and trading practices in the mutual fund industry have come under increased scrutiny by federal regulators. This attention has escalated to the point that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed a rule that would require registered investment advisers to adopt and strictly enforce revised codes of ethics applicable to their supervised persons.

Some investment organizations have expressed concern regarding the additional costs and time-consuming logistics required to fulfill new obligations by the SEC and expectations by the investment shareholder community," said Don Kittell, EVP of the Securities Industry Association. We are pleased to announce this product in collaboration with PLI whereby investment companies can rapidly and cost-effectively show tangible steps towards instituting organization cultures that more heavily emphasize compliance and ethics."

SIA plays a fundamental role in maintaining the public's trust and confidence in the securities industry and the US capital markets," says Victor Rubino, Executive Director of the Practising Law Institute. We are proud to be working with such an esteemed organization on such an important initiative."

PLI and SIA recognize that just distributing paper-based Codes, which can all to easily be ignored or otherwise not taken seriously, is insufficient to address industry problems," says Alex Brigham, CEO of Corpedia. Deploying the ACE System is an important way to drive a culture that emphasizes ethics and compliance."

To learn more about the Investment Adviser Code of Ethics System, go to www.sia.com or www.pli-corpedia.com or call us at (877) 629-8724.

About PLI-Corpedia
PLI-Corpedia is a joint venture between the Practising Law Institute (PLI) and Corpedia Education, two leaders in the field of compliance education. By combining its industry expertise with a substantial and growing Internet-based compliance library, PLI-Corpedia has created the most comprehensive legal compliance solution available to organizations. The result is the creation of customized, enterprise-wide training for all employee levels, coupled with the ability to reduce your organization's costs and risks. PLI-Corpedias courseware has won many awards and has been recognized by Forbes.com as a Best of the Web" eLearning provider for the past four years. For more information, go to www.pli-corpedia.com.

About the Securities Industry Association (SIA)
The Securities Industry Association (SIA) was established in 1972 through the merger of the Association of Stock Exchange Firms (1913) and the Investment Banker's Association (1912). The Securities Industry Association brings together the shared interests of more than 600 securities firms to accomplish common goals. SIA member-firms (including investment banks, broker-dealers, and mutual fund companies) are active in all U.S. and foreign markets and in all phases of corporate and public finance. For more information, go to www.sia.com.

About the Practising Law Institute (PLI)
Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a non-profit continuing legal education organization chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, founded in 1933. PLI is dedicated to providing the legal community and allied professionals with the most up-to-date, relevant information and techniques which are critical to the development of a professional, competitive edge. PLI achieves these goals through the highest quality programs held annually in locations across the United States, annually supplemented treatises, audio and video programs, interactive multimedia CD-ROMs, course handbooks, web programs and customized training and specialized services all with the guidance of practice specific Advisory Committees. For more information, go to www.pli.edu.
###