Biography
Kurt Schacht, JD, CFA, is the Senior Head, Advocacy Advisor, Capital Markets Policy at CFA Institute, where he oversees advocacy efforts and the development, maintenance, and promotion of the highest ethical standards of practice for the global investment management industry.
Despite unprecedented
economic disruption, the US IPO market hit a record $170 billion in 2020, driven in large part by the unexpected surge in the use
of special purpose acquisition companies
(SPACs) to take private companies public. SPACs,
commonly referred to as blank-check… READ MORE ›
With a new Administration comes fresh leadership at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the most important securities regulator on the world stage. We have a simple request, get us back on track for investor protection.
Government must show courage and planning now to ensure that the stimulus lands where it is needed, that accountability is guaranteed, and that our experiment with whatever-it-takes intervention into free markets ends.
Congress, regulators, and enforcement officials at all levels must help ensure public confidence and trust in the financial industry. In short, prompt enforcement based on effective regulations that penalize and deter wrongdoing is critical.
When the Federal Reserve, backed by the US Treasury, is injecting capital into the financial system, blessing banks to take on more leverage and relaxing capital buffers, it is not the time for banks to be ejecting capital in the form of buybacks, dividends, and executive bonuses.
The Systemic Risk Council, sponsored by CFA Institute, says the Covid-19 crisis does not need to lead to an economic meltdown. It calls on the authorities of the major economies to work together… READ MORE ›
Eight questions you should ask your advisor.
We need to invest more in the SEC so it can appropriately police the growing complexity of financial markets.
Snap. Inc. IPO will issue all non-voting shares to investors to reduce or eliminate role of notorious proxy giant ISS.
CFA Institute takes important step to further “globalize” the Systemic Risk Council with the appointment of Sir Paul Tucker.
CFA Institute takes a stance on this controversial issue.
It's time to remove ambiguity around “personal investment advice” while permitting different business and service models.
Recent reports suggest that the private equity industry has been playing games with the fees they get from portfolio companies.
JPMorgan’s FERC settlement renews debate over trust and ethics in finance and the ineffectiveness of regulatory “hand-slaps.”
Does the SAC scandal represent a Wall Street tipping point in which there are serious business consequences to bad behavior and investors are no longer willing to let things slide?