It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the CFA Institute Research Foundation Review for 2019.

Although I recently took on the role of president and CEO of CFA Institute, I have long been affiliated with this organization— starting when I earned my charter, of course. Throughout the years, I have always marveled at the convening power and thought leadership emanating from our organization.

It is my privilege to lead the CFA Institute Research Foundation. Together with my colleagues on the Board of Trustees, we govern the mission of the enterprise. The day-to-day operations of the Research Foundation are led by an enthusiastic triumvirate: Bud Haslett, CFA, executive director; Laurence B. Siegel, director of research; and Luis Garcia-Feijóo, CFA, CIPM, associate director of research.

The 54th year for the CFA Institute Research Foundation (RF) is now complete, and it was quite a year. As usual, investment publications lead the highlights, with four monographs, a literature review, and six briefs published during the year. Topics for the monographs included governance, retirement, economic productivity, and behavioral finance. In addition, we published literature reviews and briefs on performance attribution, reflections on the great crash, endowments, tontines, and relationships in private wealth. 

In 2019, the Research Foundation disseminated four research monographs, a literature review, and six briefs.

The CFA Institute Research Foundation complements the wider activities of the research division of CFA Institute, which also comprises journal publications (Financial Analysts Journal and CFA Digest), the Future of Finance initiative, and the Enterprising Investor blog.