When Abdullah Younis, CFA, was hired as a portfolio manager at an asset management firm two years ago, he was told he could allocate his work hours as he saw fit. At that time, Younis served on the board of three non-public golf equipment companies and managed a pooled investment fund for several members of his immediate family. Younis was not compensated for his board service or for managing the pooled fund. Younis’ investment returns attract interest from friends and co-workers who persuade him to include their assets in his investment pool. Younis recently retired from all board responsibilities and now spends more than 80% of his time managing the investment pool for which he charges non-family members a management fee. Younis has never told his employer about any of these activities. To comply with the CFA Institute Standards of Professional Conduct with regards to his business activities over the past two years, Younis would least likely be required to disclose which of the following to his employer?
A is correct because golf equipment is a business independent of the financial services indstry such that any board obligations would not likely be considered a conflict of interest requiring disclosure according to Standard IV (B) Additional Compensation Arrangements. Standard IV (B) requires members and candidates to obtain permission from their employer before accepting compensation or other benefits from third parties for the services that might create a conflict with their employer’s interests. Managing investments for family and non-family members could likely create a conflict of interest for Younis’ employer and should be disclosed to his employer.