The Chartered Financial Analyst Society of The Bahamas has wrapped up its second annual Investor Day and Research Challenge, with presentations by two publicly traded companies and a College of The Bahamas competition set to raise public awareness on investment opportunities in the country.

The yearly event is a designated time during a global campaign to “Put Investors First” in the month of May that sees local CFA charterholders gather to focus not only on their global portfolios, but on creating a more liquid domestic market and increasing investor education.

“We want to shape a forward thinking financial society that better serves society.”

Held at COB’s Harry C. Moore library, this year’s presentations were made by the Bahamas International Securities Exchange as well as two companies listed on the local exchange, Family Guardian and the Arawak Port Development (APD Ltd).

Open to the public and at no cost, many COB students were in attendance to gain understanding on investment options in The Bahamas as well as to participate in a competition that involved research and analysis of APD Ltd.

During the event, the CFA Society Bahamas donated CFA learning material to COB’s School of Business as well as awarded two new - of three - charterholders their CFA charters after not only meeting the work experience requirements but also completing three rigorous examinations.

Burrows is now looking forward to continued growth as the organization introduces more BISX-listed companies to the general public at the yearly event.

Following a period of financial advisors like Bernie Madoff being publicly convicted of fraud in the international market, Burrows said a commitment by financial advisors to re-build confidence in the investment market through initiatives like this recent event was the best way forward.

“That’s what the CFA Society of The Bahamas is trying to do,” said Burrows, who is also a lecturer at the COB. “Through this we are doing our part to help the liquidity of the local market.”

ABOUT: The CFA Society The Bahamas is a member Society of the CFA Institute (CFAI), a global association of investment professionals who sets the standard for professional excellence. CFAI is a champion for ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community.