Use this syllabus as your checklist for CIRE. Work top-down (topic → section → learning objectives), and keep a miss log so every wrong answer becomes a one-sentence rule.
Quick links:
- Practice: drill each topic as you study -> open CIRE practice
- Official CIRO pages: Exam Hub and CIRE page -> open
What’s covered
Overview of Canadian securities regulatory framework (10%)
CSA and Securities Law Framework
- Explain the role of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and how it coordinates provincial/territorial securities and derivatives regulators.
- Describe the mandate and objectives of provincial/territorial securities regulators and how those objectives support investor protection and fair, efficient markets.
- Identify core sources of Canadian securities law and related policy instruments (legislation, National Instruments, Multilateral Instruments, National Policies, Staff Notices, and Companion Policies) and explain their purpose at a high level.
- Explain the purpose of prospectus regulation and the high-level role of regulators in reviewing/approving prospectus disclosure.
- Describe common enforcement powers of securities regulators at a high level and the types of misconduct those powers address.
- Apply a high-level regulatory map to identify whether a scenario is primarily a securities-law issue (provincial/territorial regulator/CSA) versus a dealer conduct issue (CIRO).
CIRO Role, Rulebooks, and Registration
- Explain CIRO's jurisdiction, mandate, and objectives as the national self-regulatory organization for investment dealers and market integrity oversight.
- Identify the main types of CIRO rule sources (rules, guidance notes, forms, and supporting schedules) and explain how they guide dealer and Approved Person conduct.
- Differentiate the Investment Dealer and Partially Consolidated (IDPC) Rules from the Universal Market Integrity Rules (UMIR) at a high level (dealer obligations versus market integrity obligations).
- Describe CIRO's enforcement powers and discipline process at a high level and explain how enforcement supports confidence in markets.
- Explain why investment dealer registration and individual approval exist and how registration/approval supports supervision and client protection.
- Explain the roles of the CSA/provincial regulators and CIRO in investment dealer registration and individual approval processes at a high level.
Marketplaces, Clearing, and Investor Protection
- Explain the function and purpose of marketplaces in Canada (exchanges and other trading venues) and why marketplace oversight matters.
- Differentiate exchanges, alternative trading systems (ATS), crypto-asset trading platforms (CTPs), and foreign organized regulated markets (FORM) at a high level.
- Describe the function and purpose of key clearing agencies (CDS and CDCC) and their role in post-trade processing at a high level.
- Explain the purpose of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) at a high level, including its objective, the concept of eligible claims/claimants, what it is intended to protect against, and what it does not protect against.
- Describe how investor protection arrangements can operate in a dealer insolvency scenario at a high level (including pooling of customer assets and dealer funding requirements by investment dealers).
Other Regulators, Financial Crime, and Privacy
- Identify other regulators and agencies relevant to Canadian financial services and match them to scenarios at a high level (FSRA, Bank of Canada, OSFI, FINTRAC, RCMP IMET, privacy commissioners, OBSI, and foreign regulators).
- Explain how the Bank Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (including securities firm bankruptcy concepts) can affect financial services and client outcomes at a high level.
- Explain how the Criminal Code relates to financial crime and why registrants must recognize and avoid conduct that can lead to criminal liability.
- Explain the purpose and implications of the PCMLTFA and its Regulations at a high level, including stages of money laundering and key compliance program elements (policies/procedures, risk assessment, client due diligence, recordkeeping, training, and ongoing monitoring).
- Explain the purpose and implications of confidentiality and privacy requirements (e.g., PIPEDA) and anti-spam rules for handling client, corporate, and third-party information at a high level.
Prospective client relationships (10%)
Client Relationship Model
- Explain the client relationship model at a high level, including relationship disclosure, conflicts management/disclosure, suitability assessment, and account performance reporting.
- Explain why relationship disclosure is required and how it supports informed client decisions and appropriate expectations.
- Explain why conflicts of interest must be identified, addressed, and disclosed within the client relationship model.
- Explain suitability assessment as a core component of the relationship model and identify common triggers that require revisiting suitability.
- Explain the purpose of account performance reporting and the limits of performance information (what it can and cannot tell a client) at a high level.
- Apply the relationship model to scenario questions by selecting the correct next step (disclosure, KYC collection, conflict mitigation, or suitability review).
- Explain why documentation at the prospect stage supports defensible suitability, supervision, and dispute resolution.
Client Categories and Exemptions
- Differentiate a retail client from an institutional client and explain the practical implications for onboarding, disclosure, and suitability at a high level.
- Remember the CIRO rules and categories for clients to qualify as an institutional client (accepted counterparty, accepted institution, regulated entity, registrant under securities law other than an individual, the $10 million category based on total securities and precious metals bullion under administration or management, and qualifying hedgers).
- Apply institutional client classification in scenario questions, including when client request/consent is required (e.g., individuals and hedgers) and how the $10 million category interacts with documentation and client communications.
- Explain the concept of permitted client waivers/exemptions and how waivers can affect onboarding and suitability obligations at a high level.
- Explain what an accredited investor conceptually means under NI 45-106 and why exemption categories matter for product access and investor protection.
- Apply exemption concepts to scenario questions by selecting appropriate next steps (confirm eligibility, provide required disclosure, and escalate when needed) based on the eligibility criteria provided.
- Explain how institutional sophistication and product knowledge influence disclosure and suitability analysis at a high level.
Onboarding, KYC Data, and Records
- Describe the investment dealer onboarding process at a high level, including KYC collection, documentation, approvals, and recordkeeping.
- Identify core KYC information to collect for retail clients (financial and personal circumstances, investment knowledge, objectives/needs, risk profile, and time horizon).
- Differentiate risk tolerance from risk capacity and explain why both are needed to evaluate suitability.
- Explain how to identify and document the roles of third parties and other professionals in a client's life (power of attorney, trusted contact person, and other professionals) and how authority affects communication and instructions.
- Explain how cost influences product selection and why costs should be considered alongside risk, liquidity, and objectives.
- Explain how fees, turnover, and taxes can affect investment returns at a high level and how to communicate these impacts to clients.
- Identify key documents typically included in an account agreement and firm welcome package (fee schedule, account opening information, conflict disclosures, and complaint-handling materials) and explain why each matters.
- Describe requirements for documenting, filing, and maintaining client records, including the importance of completeness and an audit trail.
Scope of client relationships (15%)
Roles and Service Boundaries
- Explain the role of a Registered Representative in retail client service, including collecting KYC, providing recommendations, and applying suitability.
- Describe how Registered Representative responsibilities can differ in institutional contexts at a high level (services, client sophistication, and suitability considerations).
- Explain the role of an Investment Representative in client service, including responding to enquiries, giving quotes, gathering information before orders, and entering orders.
- Explain the Investment Representative's role in trade reporting and error correction, including documentation and escalation.
- Explain the prohibition on investment recommendations for Investment Representatives and why maintaining role boundaries is a client protection control.
- Differentiate Registered Representative versus Investment Representative responsibilities in scenario questions and select the appropriate person or escalation path.
- Identify typical retail service models (order execution only, advisory, managed, discretionary) and describe the client experience differences at a high level.
- Identify typical institutional services (trading, research, underwriting, M&A advisory, prime brokerage, and securities lending) and match them to client needs at a high level.
- Explain why internal escalation to subject matter experts and supervisors is required in some situations and how escalation supports appropriate client outcomes.
Relationship Disclosure and Duty Concepts
- Explain the concepts of trust, agency, and fiduciary duty and identify when each concept is relevant in dealer-client relationships at a high level.
- Explain how the nature of the relationship (OEO vs advisory vs managed/discretionary) can affect the level of reliance and duty expectations at a high level.
- Explain the purpose of relationship disclosure and what it should cover about products, services, account types, and limitations.
- Explain how relationship disclosure should address fees, charges, fee structures, and compensation guidelines, including conflict-related disclosures.
- Explain how relationship disclosure should describe account operation (regulatory and dealer-based) and the account reporting a client will receive.
- Explain how relationship disclosure should describe suitability determination processes (account-level, household-level supplementary, and portfolio-level) at a high level.
- Apply relationship disclosure concepts to scenario questions by selecting the key information that must be communicated for a given account type or service model.
- Explain the concept of account appropriateness obligation and how it differs from suitability determination at a high level.
Appropriateness, Due Diligence, and KYP
- Explain product due diligence obligations at a high level and how they apply to both the investment dealer and the Approved Person.
- Explain the know-your-product (KYP) obligation to understand investments purchased, sold, or recommended for a client.
- Identify key KYP dimensions to assess (structure, features, risks, initial and ongoing costs, and the impact of costs) at a high level.
- Apply KYP in scenario questions by identifying missing product information that must be obtained before recommending or facilitating a transaction.
- Explain the difference between account appropriateness determination and account suitability determination.
- Explain retail client suitability determination requirements at a high level, including common triggers for reassessment.
- Explain how institutional client sophistication assessment can affect suitability expectations and the availability of suitability exemptions at a high level.
- Identify common categories of suitability exemptions (by account type, service type, and client type) at a high level and apply them in scenario questions.
Investment Management Concepts and Cross-Border
- Describe systematic approaches to investment management and client strategies at a high level, including active versus passive bond and equity investment styles.
- Explain how benchmarks are used to evaluate investment performance and set client expectations.
- Differentiate money-weighted and time-weighted performance measures conceptually and identify when each approach is more appropriate at a high level.
- Explain how performance reporting and benchmark selection can influence client understanding and suitability discussions at a high level.
- Explain the importance of internal escalation procedures for complex products or situations and how escalation supports defensible suitability decisions.
- Describe high-level procedures and requirements for working with clients residing in the United States or other foreign jurisdictions, including why additional restrictions or approvals may apply.
- Apply cross-border client servicing concepts to scenario questions by identifying when additional controls, disclosures, or restrictions may apply.
- Apply service model and account type concepts (OEO/advisory/managed/discretionary, margin/leverage) to determine whether a relationship is appropriate and what limitations must be disclosed.
Client complaint handling and reporting (5%)
Complaint Framework and Client Recourse
- Describe the roles of CIRO and provincial securities regulators in the Canadian complaint handling framework at a high level.
- Explain recourse options available to dissatisfied clients (such as OBSI, litigation, and arbitration) and when each may be relevant at a high level.
- Identify potential client issues that can lead to liability (e.g., unsuitable recommendations, misrepresentation, unauthorized activity, privacy issues) and describe likely consequences at a high level.
- Remember standard complaint-handling timelines (acknowledgement within 5 business days; substantive response within 90 calendar days of receipt) and explain why timely, well-documented handling is a professional and regulatory obligation.
- Apply complaint handling principles to scenario questions by selecting an appropriate next step and escalation path, including distinguishing service complaints from complaints alleging misconduct.
Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Settlements
- Explain an investment dealer's obligations to report client complaints to CIRO and/or securities regulators at a high level, including distinguishing reportable complaints alleging misconduct from non-reportable service complaints.
- Explain the dealer's obligations to clients in the complaint context (legislative, contractual, and other applicable laws) at a high level.
- Describe the requirement for dealer policies and procedures governing complaint intake, handling, escalation, and record retention for retail and institutional clients.
- Remember complaint record retention requirements (maintain the complaint file for at least 7 years from receipt and keep it retrievable within a reasonable period) and identify key recordkeeping elements that support an audit trail.
- Identify prohibited practices related to settlement agreements (e.g., improper approvals or using release/confidentiality terms to prevent client reporting to regulators) and explain why such practices are problematic.
- Apply settlement and reporting concepts to scenario questions by selecting actions that protect the client, maintain record integrity, and meet oversight expectations.
Market and company analysis (8%)
Economic Theories and Policy Basics
- Define and compare basic economic theories (Keynesian, monetarist, and supply-side) at a high level.
- Explain how fiscal and monetary policies can interact and how policy choices can influence growth, inflation, and financial conditions at a high level.
- Explain how interest rates are determined conceptually and how interest rates relate to inflation expectations at a high level.
- Explain the business/economic cycle at a high level and how cycle phases can influence markets and asset performance.
- Identify determinants of long-term economic growth at a high level and explain why growth expectations matter for valuation and investment decisions.
Indicators and Macroeconomic Impacts
- Explain international trade, balance of payments, and exchange rates at a high level and how they can affect domestic investing conditions.
- Describe the role of central banks (including the Bank of Canada) and key monetary policy concepts at a high level.
- Describe government fiscal policy and common channels of intervention at a high level and explain how fiscal actions can affect markets.
- Identify key economic indicators used in analysis (business conditions, labor market/unemployment, inflation/CPI) and interpret their directional implications at a high level.
- Explain how macroeconomic factors can affect financial markets through investor expectations and security pricing at a high level.
- Explain the role of capital markets and how client needs (risk, liquidity, horizon) influence the demand for financial assets at a high level.
- Describe valuation concepts at a high level and identify the types of inputs that commonly drive valuation (rates, growth expectations, and risk).
- Describe how to analyze industry performance using industry classifications and valuation information, and relate industry performance to economic cycle stages at a high level.
- Identify tools used to analyze company performance (financial statements, notes/auditor's report, and continuous disclosure) and explain what each tool provides at a high level.
Company Rules and Market Theories
- Explain the purpose and implications of company disclosure rules and statutory investor rights at a high level.
- Describe takeover process concepts at a high level and differentiate insider bids and issuer bids conceptually.
- Differentiate fundamental analysis, quantitative analysis, and technical/statistical analysis at a high level and describe what each approach is designed to evaluate.
- Identify common tools and information sources used in technical/statistical analysis and explain how to use them responsibly, including recognizing limitations.
Market integrity, trade execution and settlement (12%)
UMIR Core Requirements
- Explain the purpose of UMIR and how market integrity rules support fair and orderly markets.
- Explain best execution at a high level and how execution quality can be affected by order handling decisions.
- Identify manipulative, deceptive, and other unacceptable trading activities at a high level and explain why they are prohibited under market integrity expectations.
- Explain principal trading at a high level (dealer acting as principal versus agent) and identify why disclosure and controls matter for managing conflicts and maintaining market integrity.
- Explain the concept of front running and identify controls designed to prevent trading ahead of client orders or sensitive information.
- Explain direct electronic access and routing arrangements at a high level, including key risks and why controls and supervision are required.
Gatekeeping and Escalation
- Explain UMIR gatekeeping obligations at a high level, including their application, purpose, and key requirements.
- Apply gatekeeping concepts to identify suspicious trading by comparing activity to a client's typical financial patterns.
- Identify appropriate steps to escalate suspicious transactions, preserve records, and involve supervision/compliance when required.
- Recognize indicators of potential insider trading or other market abuse and identify appropriate escalation actions.
- Explain whistleblower concepts at a high level and why internal reporting pathways and protections matter for market integrity.
- Apply market integrity requirements to scenario questions involving manipulative/deceptive practices, unacceptable activities, or front running.
Trade Lifecycle and Dealer Functions
- Describe the basic function and purpose of investment banking, research, and corporate finance within an investment dealer at a high level.
- Describe the trade lifecycle from order entry through execution, confirmation, clearing, and settlement at a high level.
- Explain at a high level how different trading desks operate and why desk structure matters for client service and execution.
- Explain algorithmic trading at a high level and identify basic considerations relevant to supervision and best execution.
- Explain requirements to confirm orders with clients, including disclosure of fees and commissions, and why confirmations support transparency and dispute prevention.
Order Types and Order Handling
- Differentiate key order types and features (market, limit, stop, IOC, FOK, iceberg, short sale orders) at a high level.
- Apply order type selection to scenario questions by matching order type to a client's objective and constraints (price certainty vs execution certainty).
- Explain processes for handling order variations, cancellations, and corrections, including the need for documentation and client confirmation when required.
- Explain trade correction workflows at a high level and why timely escalation and transparent remediation reduce client harm.
- Explain settlement and delivery processes at a high level, including that timelines can vary by product and that relevant settlement conventions should be stated when they matter.
Account Types, Margin, and Reporting
- Differentiate advisory, order execution only, managed, discretionary, and margin accounts and identify key differences in client experience and obligations at a high level.
- Explain the purpose and general application of margin requirements and how long versus short positions can affect margin and risk at a high level.
- Explain why a specialized trading agreement is required for derivative accounts and how agreements and disclosures support client understanding and risk controls.
- Identify applicable reporting obligations to firms and regulators at a high level and explain why reporting supports supervision and market integrity.
Securities, managed products, mutual funds and other investments (19%)
Asset Classes and Product Considerations
- Identify major asset classes sold and traded at an investment dealer (cash/cash equivalents, fixed income, equity, commodities, and derivatives).
- Explain at a high level how cash and cash equivalents function in portfolios and identify key risks (liquidity, interest rate, and credit) conceptually.
- Explain the risk-return tradeoff across asset classes at a high level and relate asset class selection to client objectives and constraints.
- Differentiate direct ownership of securities from exposure through pooled/managed products at a high level.
- Explain at a high level how fees, turnover, and taxes can affect product returns and why total cost of ownership matters for product selection.
- Apply product category selection in scenario questions by identifying the most relevant asset class or product type and the key considerations to validate.
Equities
- Differentiate common shares and preferred shares by key features (claims, dividends, voting, and seniority) at a high level.
- Explain key equity risk and return drivers at a high level (business performance, growth expectations, valuation, and market sentiment).
- Explain market access to equity trading in Canada at a high level and why trading venue and liquidity can matter for execution.
- Identify information sources for equity products (disclosure filings, research, quotes) and explain how to use them responsibly at a high level.
- Explain decision factors between managed products and individual equities (diversification, cost, control, complexity) at a high level.
- Compare passive versus active equity portfolio management at a high level and identify typical tradeoffs for investors.
- Explain how dividends are declared and received at a high level and describe tax considerations conceptually without relying on tax rates.
- Explain the impact of stock splits and consolidations on shareholders at a high level and identify common misconceptions in scenario questions.
Fixed Income
- Differentiate major fixed income instruments and products (government bonds, corporate bonds, STRIPs, treasury bills, and commercial paper) at a high level.
- Explain key fixed income risk factors at a high level (interest rate, credit, liquidity, and reinvestment risk).
- Explain market access to debt trading in Canada at a high level and how liquidity and pricing can differ from equity markets.
- Identify information sources for fixed income products (quotes, ratings, disclosures) and explain how to interpret them at a high level.
- Compare passive versus active fixed income portfolio management at a high level and identify common tradeoffs.
- Explain how coupons are declared and received at a high level and describe tax considerations conceptually without relying on tax rates.
- Differentiate bond coupon and bond yield conceptually and explain why they can differ and why the difference matters to investors.
- Explain components of assessing bond risk at a high level (term, credit rating, duration) and identify factors that affect bond yields.
Indices, Pooled Products, and Managed Products
- Explain the purpose and uses of market indices (market summary and benchmarking performance) at a high level.
- Differentiate an index from an average at a high level and explain why construction method can matter.
- Differentiate market value weighted and price weighted indices at a high level and identify implications for concentration and behavior.
- Differentiate price return and total return indices at a high level and explain why distributions matter for performance measurement.
- Explain how indices can be segmented (asset class, sector, country, international) and how segmentation supports exposure decisions.
- Identify types of pooled products (mutual funds, closed-end funds, ETFs, and REITs) and describe how pooling changes investor outcomes at a high level.
- Describe features, risks, and returns of managed product structures at a high level (mutual fund trusts/corporations, income trusts, closed-end funds, ETFs, wrap/fund-of-funds, pooled funds).
- Explain main investor considerations for managed products (access, information sources, exposure range, diversification, and the impact of fees/turnover/taxes) at a high level.
Mutual Funds and ETFs
- Explain access to mutual funds in Canada at a high level and how dealer platforms can affect purchase and redemption processes.
- Identify key information sources for mutual funds (Fund Facts) and explain why disclosure documents support suitability and informed consent.
- Differentiate mutual fund management styles at a high level and explain how style can influence risk, fees, and performance variability.
- Explain advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds at a high level and compare mutual funds to direct security ownership conceptually.
- Explain risk ranking methodologies for funds at a high level and why risk classification is used in client communications and suitability.
- Explain mutual fund pricing methods at a high level and how costs and charges can affect returns.
- Explain access to ETFs in Canada and identify key information sources (ETF Facts), including why market price versus NAV can matter.
- Compare ETFs and mutual funds at a high level (management style, trading mechanics, costs, and leverage considerations) and apply the comparison in scenario questions.
Other Investments
- Identify key features, risks, return drivers, and disclosure considerations for hedge funds, structured products, alternative investment funds, and crypto assets at a high level.
- Explain ESG-related products at a high level, including how ESG objectives and claims should be supported by clear disclosures and how misleading claims can create conduct risk.
- Apply suitability and due diligence thinking to non-traditional products by identifying the most important questions (liquidity, valuation, leverage, counterparty risk, fees, and disclosure).
- Recognize when product access or client category may require additional approvals or escalation to specialists and apply that judgment in scenario questions.
Derivatives (5%)
Derivative Types and Markets
- Differentiate put and call options and compare American-style and European-style options at a high level.
- Differentiate futures, forwards, swaps, and contracts for difference (CFDs) at a high level and describe typical use cases conceptually.
- Differentiate listed and over-the-counter derivative markets at a high level, including key differences in standardization, transparency, and counterparty risk.
- Explain market access and account requirements for derivatives at a high level, including why approvals, margin, and disclosures are required.
Uses and Pricing Drivers
- Explain the basic uses of derivatives (hedging, speculation, and arbitrage) and how objectives differ across use cases.
- Identify basic transactional elements of futures and options (underlying interest, premium, strike price, time to expiry, volatility, mark-to-market, margin, and leverage) at a high level.
- Explain at a high level how changes in underlying price, volatility, and time to expiry can affect an option premium directionally (no formulas).
Derivative Strategies
- Identify common single- and multi-legged derivative strategy categories (bullish, bearish, neutral, income-producing, spread, and volatility strategies) and describe typical risk profiles at a high level.
- Apply strategy-category selection at a high level by matching a market view and constraint to an appropriate strategy type and identifying the primary risk.
Administration and Prohibited Practices
- Identify key administrative requirements and documents for derivatives trading with clients (applications, agreements, letters of undertaking, margin agreements, risk disclosure statements, statements, and confirmations) and explain why they matter.
- Identify prohibited derivative trading practices (e.g., trading while under margin, beyond margin or credit limits, or exceeding risk limits) and apply escalation/control concepts to scenario questions.
Conflicts of interest and ethics (16%)
Conflicts of Interest Management
- Explain why investment dealers must manage conflicts of interest to protect clients, maintain trust, and support market integrity.
- Describe the conflict management process at a high level: identify conflicts, avoid conflicts where appropriate, address/control conflicts, and disclose conflicts in the client's best interests.
- Differentiate avoiding a conflict, addressing/controlling a conflict, and disclosing a conflict, and identify when each approach is appropriate at a high level.
- Identify common sources of conflicts of interest in investment dealer settings (compensation, referrals, product shelf, proprietary products, and outside activities) at a high level.
- Apply conflict identification and mitigation to scenario questions by selecting actions that prioritize the client's best interests.
- Explain how firm supervision, policies, approvals, and surveillance support effective conflict management at a high level.
- Explain how relationship disclosure and conflict disclosure interact and why disclosures must be clear, specific, and actionable.
- Explain responsibilities of both the investment dealer and Approved Persons in conflict management (firm-level controls and individual professional judgment).
- Recognize red flags indicating conflicts may be unmanaged (undisclosed incentives, pressure, inconsistent rationale) and identify appropriate escalation steps.
Ethics, Responsibilities, and Standards
- Describe an investment dealer's ethical and legal responsibilities to clients at a high level (fair dealing, honesty, good faith, competence, and diligence).
- Explain the importance of ethics in the investment industry and how ethical principles relate to rules (ethics can exceed minimum compliance).
- Explain why ethical principles and standards of conduct are important for Approved Persons and investment dealers in maintaining public confidence.
- Describe CIRO and other ethical standards of conduct at a high level and how standards guide day-to-day decisions.
- Apply a structured ethical decision-making process (clarify facts, identify stakeholders, evaluate options, consult, decide, and document) to scenario questions.
- Recognize and respond to ethical dilemmas that involve client vulnerability, pressure, or incomplete information by selecting the safest and most defensible next step.
- Explain why independent judgment and critical thinking are required for ethical best-answer decisions when rules do not explicitly address a situation.
- Explain why information security is an ethics issue (confidentiality, integrity of records, and preventing misuse of sensitive information).
Personal Dealings, Influence, and Outside Activities
- Identify inappropriate or prohibited personal financial dealings with clients (borrowing/lending, receiving funds, undue influence) and explain why they create conflicts and client harm.
- Explain the concept of a position of influence and why additional restrictions and controls apply to protect clients.
- Identify requirements related to positions of influence at a high level (client restrictions, material conflicts, disclosure, and reporting concepts) and apply them in scenario questions.
- Apply position-of-influence concepts to determine whether a relationship triggers restrictions and what next steps (disclosure, supervision, reassignment) are appropriate.
- Explain requirements governing activities outside an investment dealer at a high level and why approvals are required for outside business activities.
- Identify key considerations in approving outside activities (client confusion risk, conflicts, supervision controls, due diligence) at a high level.
- Explain recordkeeping expectations for outside activity approvals and ongoing supervision at a high level.
- Explain how referral arrangements and compensation can create conflicts and identify appropriate disclosure and control approaches at a high level.
- Recognize when outside activities create information security or confidentiality risks and identify appropriate safeguards and escalation steps.
- Describe requirements for dealer policies and procedures to maintain client confidentiality at a high level, including access controls and secure handling of information.
- Explain methods of controlling information at a high level, including information barriers/firewalls and the purpose of grey and restricted lists.
- Apply information barrier concepts to scenario questions by selecting actions that prevent inappropriate information sharing across functions.
- Explain how restricted lists and pre-clearance controls can help prevent misuse of material non-public information at a high level.
- Explain the role of cybersecurity in protecting confidential information and maintaining trust (confidentiality, integrity, and availability) at a high level.
- Recognize common cybersecurity threats relevant to client confidentiality (phishing, credential theft, social engineering) and identify appropriate immediate responses.
- Describe incident response basics at a high level (containment, escalation, documentation) and why timely reporting matters.
- Explain how confidentiality obligations can apply to corporate and third-party information in addition to client information.
- Apply confidentiality and cybersecurity principles to scenario questions by selecting actions that safeguard information and escalate potential breaches appropriately.
Sources: https://www.ciro.ca/registered-individuals/proficiency/exam-hub and https://www.ciro.ca/registered-individuals/proficiency/exam-hub/canadian-investment-regulatory-exam-cire