SINGAPORE Exchange (SGX) and CFA Singapore (CFAS) will jointly run a two-year series of investment forums from July to promote investment and build greater trust in the financial planning industry.

The forums will be delivered by prominent CFA holders and will target two groups: trading representatives and financial advisers, and young investors.

The tie-up was announced in a joint news release yesterday. It aims to raise competencies and standards of service in the industry so customers will benefit, said SGX executive vice-president Chew Sutat.

Dan Schaefer, CFAS president, said the forums will "impart practical and relevant knowledge to trading representatives and financial advisers, and be delivered with the same high quality standards as our CFA programme".

For the professionals, the forum will emphasise the practitioner's perspective on investing, portfolio management and trading.

Ethics will be a key component to promote trust and integrity in the industry, said the joint statement.

A survey by the CFA Institute (CFAI) last November found that the most important issues in local and global markets included the mis-selling of products by financial advisers and market fraud.

Referring to the survey, CFAI Asia-Pacific managing director Ashvin Vibhakar said a strong ethics component in the tie-up is welcome as "greater professionalism and trust will help push the community forward".

The CFAI is an association of investment professionals that awards the CFA charter, one of the most recognised qualifications in the financial sector.

For young investors, the forum will emphasise prudent investing and developing an investment plan.

SGX Academy and CFAS will also work with investment clubs at tertiary institutions to promote investor education.

"We hope to convert a nation of savers into investors," said Mr Chew, who oversees the SGX Academy.

More information on the investment forums can be found by emailing forum@sgxacademy.com or forum@cfasingapore.com.