CFA-Level-I Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 11

Which of the following AIMR Standards states that referral fees must be disclosed in writing to clients or customers?

V
VI (A)
IV (B.8)
IV

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Standard IV (B.8) - Disclosure of Referral Fees states: "Members shall disclose to clients and prospects any consideration or benefit received by the member or delivered to others for the recommendation of any services to the client or prospect."

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QUESTION: 12

Omega Prime Securities is a sizable investment bank that undertakes security issuances on behalf of small and medium-size businesses. Treffil Ellis is the senior vice president of corporate finance at Omega. Treffil, on one of his golf junkets, made acquaintance with Tralth Trevor, owner of a growing chain of resort hotels. Tralth invites Treffil to his estate mansion the next day and over drinks, asks him how fast Omega could issue equity- linked callable notes to finance the $200 million construction of new hotel businesses in Cairo and Bali. He

forthrightly tells him that Omega could receive as much as 150 basis points above the normal fee if the issuance could be completed within the month. Treffil knows that this is not enough time to complete a research on Tralth's business and determine the issue price. However, he does know that his research wing could quickly do a comparison with one of the other hotel chains and determine an approximate issue price. He instructs his department to do so. In a month, the public offering is ready for issuance and Omega ends up making almost $15 million more than on other similar business deals. Treffil receives commendation from the CEO for "going beyond the call of duty for his employer." Treffil has

violated Standard IV (B.3) - Fair Dealing.
II. not violated any code of ethics.
III. violated Standard IV (1) - Reasonable Basis & Representations.
IV. violated Standard IV (B.1) - Fiduciary Duties.
III and IV only
I and III only
III only
II only

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

If adequate research is not put into determining the fair price of a security issue, investors could end up paying a price that has no relevance to the intrinsic value of the security. This is in direct violation of Standard IV (A.1) - Reasonable Basis & Representations.

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QUESTION: 13

Which of the following statements clearly conflicts with the recommended procedures for compliance presented in AIMR's Standards of Practice Handbook?

Investment recommendations may be changed by an analyst without prior approval of a supervisory analyst.
Prior approval must be obtained for the personal investment transactions of all employees.
For confidentiality reasons, personal transactions should not be compared with those of clients or the employer unless requested by regulatory organizations.
Personal transactions should be defined as including transactions in securities owned by the employee and member of his or her immediate family and transactions involving securities in which the employee has beneficial interest.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

This question deals with the compliance procedures relating to personal investments of members. Employees should compare personal transactions of employees with those of clients on a regular basis, regardless of the existence of a regulatory organization. Such comparisons ensure that members' personal trades do not conflict with their duty to their clients. All the other statements do not conflict with the procedures in the Handbook.

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QUESTION: 14

Trust Fund is a reasonably successful investment management firm that has as its clients a few pension plans. Trust Fund executes all of its trades with Prime Brokerage, an average brokerage firm. Prime Brokerage charges higher commissions than comparable players in the market but in return, provides investment research on the stocks which are part of the pension plan assets under Trust Fund's management. Portfolio managers at Trust Fund know about the close relationship on the golf links between Prime Brokerage's chief broker, Ralph Fiennes, and Trust Fund's CEO, Armis Arvanitis. They also believe that the research provided by Prime

Brokerage, while not superlative, is quite useful and justifies the excess expense in brokerage. This "soft- dollars" practice is disclosed in Trust Fund's official documents and contracts but Sisko, a freshly minted CFA charterholder, thinks that Trust Fund managers are in violation of the AIMR code of Ethics. Which of the following is true?

Trust Fund's managers are violating Standard IV (B.8) - Disclosure of Referral Fees by not revealing the arrangement to pension plan beneficiaries.
Trust Fund's managers are violating Standard IV (1) - Fiduciary Duties by not executing the trades at the lowest price available.
Sisko is not applying the AIMR code correctly. Trust Fund's managers are not violating any AIMR standards.
Trust Fund's managers are violating Standard IV (B.3) - Fair Dealing by unfairly diverting funds from the plan assets to Prime Brokerage through higher fees.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The practice of using "soft dollars" (i.e., the usage of brokerage for purchase of research services) is not forbidden by the AIMR code or securities laws, as long as they are commensurate with the services received and the practice is disclosed to the clients. In this case, there is no evidence that Trust Fund is overpaying Prime Brokerage or that it is not seeking best price and execution. Hence, Sisko is mistaken and Trust Fund managers are not in violation of the AIMR code.

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QUESTION: 15

A financial analyst should conduct himself with ________, competence and dignity and act in an ethical manner in his dealings with the public, clients, customers, employers, employees and fellow analysts.

integrity
morality
none of these answers
honor
principal

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The Code of Ethics: "Members of AIMR shall act with integrity, competence, dignity and in an ethical manner when dealing with the public, clients, prospects, employers, employees and fellow members."

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Test Prep CFA-Level-I Exam (page: 3) Test Prep CFA® Level I Chartered Financial Analyst Updated on: 25-Dec-2025

QUESTION: 11

Explanation:

QUESTION: 12

Explanation:

QUESTION: 13

Explanation:

QUESTION: 14

Explanation:

QUESTION: 15

Explanation:

Test Prep CFA-Level-I Exam (page: 3)
Test Prep CFA® Level I Chartered Financial Analyst
Updated on: 25-Dec-2025