As the 2021 calendar year starts to wind down, we hope you plan on joining us this December for either one or both of our in-person events. 

• NEW YORK HOLIDAY PARTY: FISD and FIF are teaming up to host a holiday party for the financial information industry on December 7 in NYC. While 2021 was nearly as challenging year as 2020, we hope that you can take some time to catch up with colleagues and make new contacts. This in-person event will be held at Tavern 29 (47 East 29th Street). Admission to this joint event is limited to companies who are members of FISD and/or FIF. We will require attendees to provide proof of vaccination onsite. Please contact Tom Davin if you have any questions.
•  LONDON ISSUE BRIEF & CHRISTMAS PARTY: We look forward to welcoming everyone back IN PERSON on December 15 at the London Stock Exchange for the 2021 London Issue Brief & Christmas Party. In true FISD fashion, we will start the day off by hearing from industry experts on all things market data. We will finish the evening with our Christmas Party, where guest can share in some holiday cheer! Please get in touch with David Anderson if you have any questions. 

FISD takes COVID-19 very seriously. We will comply with local and national government rules that are in-force at the time of each event – and the rules/policies of the venue. The networking element of these event will provide a high degree of individual choice, respecting that people have understandably different views on risk.

FISD completed the collection and compilation of member satisfaction responses. FISD Executive Committee members conducted interviews and online surveys were sent to those members not available for personal interviews. A total of 67 members responded. The topline results were very favorable, with 88% of respondents reporting that they were “Satisfied” with the value of their FISD membership. FISD will provide a brief to the full membership shortly.

Think back on your personal career trajectory. It probably wasn’t a straight line from university to the market data industry. Experiential learning got you where you needed to be, but it took time. If you’re hiring a group of bright-eyed graduates and career changers you may need to wait months or years for them to become truly proficient. Or you can help them compress that timeline with the FISD Financial Information Associate (FISD FIA) certification.

The FISD FIA is the only credential designed specifically for market data professionals. Candidates are tested on their knowledge of a broad range of industry information they’ll need to do their job as well as communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. Exam material is divided into four major categories:

• Markets: This includes the trade life cycle, major asset classes, market participants, key job functions, and the role of the markets.
• Data: This includes sources, providers, types of data, uses of data, and commercial arrangements.
• Technology: This includes connectivity, hardware, messaging, algorithmic trading, data management, and cloud computing.
• Issues & Trends: This includes commercial trends, economic issues, regulations, and typical contract terms.

Want to give your new team members an edge? Download the FISD FIA syllabus PDF now to see everything they’ll learn.

As ESG’s importance to investors grows, it is important to understand what ESG data is and how it’s generated. While the “E” – environmental impact – is straightforward, the “S” is more slippery. This harder to quantify element covers employee diversity, human rights, animal testing, and consumer protections. How are data providers, aggregators, and ratings agencies meeting the challenge of defining and measuring social responsibility?

This session will address:

• How ESG is commonly defined, especially the social factors
• What puts a company “on the side of the angels” as far as the “S” is concerned?
• The recent history of demand for ESG information and how data providers have responded
• Use of AI to assess companies against ESG parameters – how much weight is given to the “S” factor?

Advance registration is required in order to receive the Zoom details. I encourage you to register now using the link below so you can be sure to block off the time. Questions? Email Hope Wilkes.