CSI Conduct and Practices Handbook (CPH) Cheat Sheet

May 1, 2026

Review a compact Conduct and Practices Handbook (CPH) cheat sheet for KYC, suitability, disclosure, complaints, conflicts, prohibited activities, documentation, and escalation before Finance Prep practice.

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Use this CPH cheat sheet as a conduct-and-documentation checklist before mixed practice. The exam usually rewards the most defensible client-protection step, not the fastest client-service shortcut.

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Exam snapshot

Item	CPH cue
Provider	CSI
Exam	Conduct and Practices Handbook
Format	100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours
Main practice behavior	conduct, disclosure, suitability, complaints, conflicts, trading, and documentation judgment
Finance Prep status	live practice available

Topic checklist

Area	What to know	Common trap
Conduct and ethics	fair dealing, professional conduct, ethical decision making, client protection	choosing what is convenient before what is defensible
Canadian regulatory framework	CIRO, CSA/provincial regulators, firm policies, complaint and escalation context	blending regulator, firm, and representative responsibilities
Working with clients	disclosure, privacy, communication, consent, relationship expectations	assuming client agreement cures a weak process
Client discovery and account opening	KYC, authority, account type, risk tolerance, documentation	recommending before the file supports the action
Product due diligence and recommendations	KYP, suitability, concentration, cost, leverage, risk disclosure	choosing the product with the strongest sales story
Trading and settlement	order handling, authority, settlement, prohibited activities, market integrity	processing an instruction before resolving the conduct issue
Maintaining client relationships	complaints, transfers, updates, conflicts, records, ongoing service	treating a complaint or material change as routine follow-up

Must-know distinctions

KYC versus suitability: KYC collects and updates facts; suitability applies those facts to the recommendation.
KYP versus product preference: product approval or popularity is not client suitability.
Service issue versus complaint: allegations of harm, loss, unfairness, or unauthorized activity require complaint discipline.
Disclosure versus documentation: telling the client something does not replace the required record.
Client-directed order versus discretionary behavior: authority and documentation still matter.
Conflict disclosure versus conflict control: some conflicts require avoidance, mitigation, refusal, or escalation.

Common traps

Using stale KYC for a new recommendation.
Assuming an unsolicited instruction ends the suitability and documentation analysis.
Giving vague fee or conflict disclosure.
Delaying a valid client request because the conversation is uncomfortable.
Handling a complaint informally instead of preserving the record and following procedure.
Treating firm product approval as proof that the trade fits the client.

Practice strategy

After each CPH set, classify misses by conduct issue: KYC, disclosure, suitability, complaint, conflict, trading authority, or documentation. If you chose a fast service answer, rewrite the best answer as a procedure: clarify, document, disclose, refuse, or escalate.

Revised on Friday, May 22, 2026

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