Securities and Futures Institute

The SFI is an integrated service provider of professional knowledge for the capital and financial markets. We plan professional courses that keep abreast with the developments of international financial markets in a systematic and leveled manner. We have a comprehensive training system in place and promote continuous learning to help improve the competitiveness of financial professionals and the industry as a whole.

I. Core Courses in Securities and Futures

We foster well-rounded financial talents by offering training courses in various areas, including: 10 types of courses, such as asset and investment management, trusts and wealth management, financial innovation and engineering, and internal control and audit.

II. Pre-job and On-the-job Financial Training Courses

The SFI is a designated training facility that provides more than 20 types of pre-job and on-the-job training in the fields of securities, futures, securities investment trust and consulting, anti-money laundering, and legal compliance.

III. Practical Training Courses for Corporate Governance and Senior Management

The SFI is a designated training facility that arranges regular training courses for first-time and incumbent corporate directors and supervisors, as well as corporate governance personnel.

IV. Talent Training Services in Accordance with Government Policies

1. In response to the Financial Supervisory Commission's encouragement of financial institutions’ investment on social welfare, the SFI was commissioned by the Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (TDCC) to organize the Financial Literacy for Youth (FLY) program, which assists college senior students from families in straitened circumstances in receiving professional certificates to enhance their employment competitiveness.
2. We have cooperated with the “Corporate Governance 3.0 - Sustainable Development Roadmap” and “Green Financial Solution 2.0” to cultivate talents in green and sustainable finance
3. We have cooperated with the "FinTech Development Roadmap" and worked on the planning of FinTech certification mechanisms and competency training courses, in order to cultivate FinTech talents.
4. We have cooperated with the "Financial Information Security Solutions" project for the cultivation of information security for securities and futures talents.
5. We regularly organize the Securities and Futures Markets Regulations and Case Studies Seminar to help judicial officers, prosecutors, and investigators gain a better understanding of financial crime patterns as well as relevant laws and regulations for securities and futures markets in the hope of curbing economic crimes and stabilizing the capital market.
6. We are also occasionally commissioned by related institutions and businesses to offer courses, including professional courses on futures as well as business marketing skills, which target recent university graduates and the unemployed, with the hope of bringing new blood into the securities and futures market.

V. International Financial Professional Training

1. To facilitate the internationalization of capital markets, we assist competent authorities in organizing the biennial Taipei Corporate Governance Forum (TAICGOF), in which officials from international competent authorities, professionals and academics in the domains of securities and futures are invited to Taiwan to discuss issues relevant to corporate governance.
2. We continue to organize the “SFI GoProS Training Program” and “ALPHA+ Training Program for Asset Management” in order to train international professionals.
3. We co-organize finance-related professional courses with international professional securities and futures institutions.
4. We organize international study programs, and occasionally invite internationally renowned financial practice experts to give lectures in Taiwan, as to acquaint Taiwanese professionals with the latest overseas practical experiences.
5. We assist universities in arranging Master's courses on international finance, in accordance with the extension of financial practices into university campuses.
6. We have held business English communication courses every quarter and have had a long-term cooperating relationship with UCLA to host field language training sessions on campuses.

I. Offer Advanced Practical Courses on the Capital and Financial markets

We organize comprehensive professional training courses, strengthen the pre-job and on-the-job professional knowledge and skills of financial professionals, and cultivate financial professionals in Taiwan.

II. Accept Commissions from Government agencies and Private organizations to Hold Training Programs and Seminars

We design custom-made professional courses for public and private organizations to foster outstanding personnel for enterprises and thereby enhance corporate competitiveness.

III. Organize Talent Training Programs in International Financial Management

We invite international financial practice experts to act as course lecturers to acquaint participants with the latest financial professional knowledge and keep up with international pace.

IV. Organize Seminars on International Finance, and Collaborate and Exchange with International Training Institutions

We collaborate with internationally renowned training institutes to hold overseas study camps, providing the best opportunity of advanced studies for financial professionals.

V. Organize Courses on International Communication and Foreign Languages

We offer diverse courses on foreign language finance and economics to help participants learn about the latest information of international finance and improve their communication skills during international activities.

Service hotline：

886-2-2393-1888#168

The Testing Center is dedicated to the organization of qualification exams for professionals in the securities and futures markets. It offers aspiring individuals in the securities and futures markets basic professional knowledge, and assists the competent authorities and related associations in administering overall market professionals and maintaining their quality. All globally renowned and systemically sophisticated securities and futures markets require qualification exams from professionals as well as implement pre-job and on-the-job trainings to improve their professional competency, thereby protecting investors’ rights and facilitating a sound development of the securities and futures markets.

The SFI conducts qualification exams for market professionals in a fair and prudent manner with the efforts to enhance the self-regulation and professional image of the overall market. We also design an accessible and efficient exam system based on the principles of service and innovation, and roll out exam framework and contents that keep abreast with current market.

Types of Exams	Written Exams	Computer-based Exams	Types of Question
Qualification exams for Securities Specialists, Senior Securities Specialists, Securities Regulations and Practice, Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Professionals, Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Regulations, Futures Specialists, and Sales Personnel of Futures Trust Fund Distributors	Sundays of April, August, and December	Mondays to Sundays	Multiple choice questions
Qualification exams for Securities Investment Analysts and Futures Trading Analysts	Sundays of April, August, and December	None	Multiple choice questions (70%) and essay questions (30%)
Securities Specialist License Validation Exams for Foreign Examinees	Regular: Second Fridays in March, May, August, and November. Upon request: The SFI accepts applications from the examinees’ employers and shall hold exams within 45 working days after receiving the applications.	None	Multiple choice questions
Futures Specialist License Validation Exams for Foreign Examinees	None	Regular: Second Thursdays in March, May, August, and November. Upon request: The SFI accepts applications from the examinees’ employers and shall hold exams within 45 working days after receiving the applications.	Multiple choice questions
Securities Investment Analyst License Validation Exam for Foreign Examinees	Regular: Second Fridays in May and November. Upon request: The SFI accepts applications from the examinees’ employers and shall hold exams within 45 working days after receiving the applications.	None	Multiple choice questions
Senior Securities Specialist English Qualification Exam	Regular: Second Fridays in May and November. Upon request: The SFI accepts applications from the examinees’ employers and shall hold exams within 45 working days after receiving the applications.	None	Multiple choice questions
Enterprise Internal Control Basic Competency Exam	Sundays of April, August, and December	Mondays to Sundays	Multiple choice questions
Corporate Governance, Asset Securitization, and Business Ethics Basic Competency Exams and Professional Proficiency Examinations for Bond and Stock Affair Specialists	Nonee	Mondays to Sundays	Multiple choice questions
Financial Markets and Professional Ethics Exam	Mondays to Fridays and holidays	None	Multiple choice questions
Qualification Exams for Bills Finance Specialists	None	Mondays to Fridays Group registrations for the exams are accepted on holidays	Multiple choice questions
Professional Proficiency Exams for Bond Specialists, Stock Affair Specialists, and Basic Competence Exams for Enterprise Internal Control and Asset Securitization	Exams for Bond Specialists and Stock Affair Specialists: First Sundays in the first and third quarters; Exams on Internal Control and Asset Securitization: First Sundays in the second and fourth quarters.	Mondays to Fridays Group registrations for the exams are accepted on holidays	Multiple choice questions
Foundation and Final Exams for Certified International Investment Analysts(CIIA®)	Once every March and September	None	Foundation Exam: Multiple choice questions (points are subtracted for wrong answers) Final Exam: Question sets consisting of study essays and applied computation
Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries in Hong Kong	None	Once every April and September	Multiple choice questions
※ The computer-based exams and exam sessions on common subjects are not held daily. Please refer to the SFI’s online exam timetables.

I. Qualification exams for Securities Specialists, Securities Investment Trust and Consulting Professionals, Futures Specialists, and Bills Finance Specialists.

II. Financial Markets and Professional Ethics Exam.

III.Proficiency Exams for Corporate Governance, Bond Specialists, Stock Affair Specialists, Enterprise Internal Control, Asset Securitization, and Business Ethics.

IV. Securities Specialists, Futures Specialists and Securities Investment Analysts License Validation Exams for Foreign Examinees.

V. Licensing Examination for Securities and Futures Intermediaries in Hong Kong.

VI.Certified International Investment Analysts(CIIA®) Foundation and Final Exams.

The Department of Investor Education was established to promote financial literacy education and advocate investor protection, and the public commendation of excellent individuals and companies in the securities and futures market.

The Department promotes the Financial Literacy Program in coordination with the Financial Supervisory Commission, assists in the stable development of the securities and futures market, and regularly invites organizations related to securities and futures to convene education and training task forces for the planning of events and projects. The Department not only promotes financial literacy in metropolitan areas, but also in remote areas and offshore islands; it promotes investment and financial education to the general public, teachers, military personnel and public servants, students, the elderly, indigenous peoples, new immigrants, and women's organizations, among other groups regardless of age or ethnic background, as well as broadens public education via print and social media.

Starting from 2006, under the directive of the competent authorities, the Department has been organizing the Golden Goblet Award, the highest honor for securities and futures professionals, to honor outstanding individuals and corporate teams in securities and futures as examples for emulation. The award is held biennially since the 7th edition, and has been held 16 times as of 2021.

Planning and accepting external orders to hold various types of investor education activities, including physical lectures, workshops, investment knowledge quizzes, and multiple online educational projects such as producing online quiz contests for prizes, short films, comics, and e-books.

One of the SFI's founding objectives is “to promote academic and practical research in the domains of securities and futures to bring sound development to the financial markets”. Under the guidance of competent authorities, the SFI operates in accordance with government policies and market developments, actively proposing major projects or conducting researches commissioned by securities-related institutions. Through regular or occasional data collection and database establishment, we keep track of the developmental trends in international financial markets. We organize seminars and forums to gather opinions from diverse sources, which serve as reference for the establishment of policies, systems, and directions for promotion, all with the hope of strengthening capital market development in Taiwan and promptly aligning it with international standards.

To respond to the rapid development of corporate governance in neighboring countries, to accelerate the promotion of corporate governance for TWSE and TPEx listed corporations, and to help corporations develop and increase the confidence of investors in the market, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) published the 5-year “Corporate Governance Roadmap” (2013-2017) in December 2013. Since 2014, the SFI has held the Corporate Governance Evaluation for TWSE and TPEx listed corporations every year to replace the Information Transparency and Disclosure Ranking, taking a big step toward the promotion of corporate governance in Taiwan. In addition to corporate regulatory compliance, we also value corporate governance, which it can substantially improve corporate operations and enhance the international image of Taiwan in terms of corporate governance.

I. Special Project and Commission Research

We propose research projects based on the current status of capital market development, timely provide professional recommendations on markets and systems in accordance with current events, as well as accept commissions from securities and futures-related institutions to conduct special research projects. Our role as a bridge between industry, government, the academia, as well as a think tank for government policies contributes substantially to the sound development of the overall financial market.

II. Promotion of Corporate Governance in Taiwan's Capital Market

1. From 2003 to 2014, commissioned by the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) and Taipei Exchange (TPEx) , the SFI conducted the Information Transparency and Disclosure Ranking for TWSE and TPEx listed companies to urge them to value and implement information disclosure and transparency , thus significantly improving immediacy and transparency of information disclosure by these companies.
2. Since 2014, the TWSE and TPEx have organized the Corporate Governance Evaluation, urging TWSE and TPEx-listed enterprises to place higher emphasis on corporate governance according to the respective comparative results on the market as a whole, rewarding companies with excellent corporate governance and leading them toward benign competition, reinforcing corporate governance levels, further shaping the culture of corporations, and proactively improving corporate governance.
3. We established the Independent Directors Registry(Talent) Database for use by publicly offered companies. The Database also serves as a reference for TWSE or TPEx listed companies in appointing directors or independent directors.
4. We set up corporate governance webpages, issue the bi-monthly newsletter International Corporate Governance Development, and offer information regarding the latest trends in the corporate governance system.
5. We have published books such as Corporate Governance - Theories and Practices, Introduction and Application of Enterprise Internal Control as well as the SFI Sustainability Report.

III. System Recommendations, Research Opinions, Amendment Proposals and Data Compilation

1. We propose recommendations with foresight and international perspectives to facilitate the promotion and implementation of government policies, and act as a driving force to strengthen market reforms.
2. We host seminars and forums to discuss and make recommendations on market reform key issues in coordination with government policies and market development. These events serve as a think tank platform for competent authorities, the industry, and the academia.
3. We regularly update information regarding developments of laws, regulations and systems of major securities and futures markets around the world.
4. We collect data regarding the latest developments of international capital markets to remain updated about supervisory systems in different countries or the promotion of newproducts, and actively provide references for competent authorities and securities-related institutions. We compile and organize latest information announced by competent authorities in the major markets and institutions about asset management, and publish Compilation of Information on International Securities and Futures Markets on the Asset Management Fund webpage monthly for public reference.

IV. Quality Enhancement of Capital Market Researches and Relevant Information

1. The SFI published the first issue of Review of Securities and Futures Markets (RSFM) in January 1989. Since 1999, the journal has been continually listed in the Taiwan Social Sciences Citation Index (TSSCI), demonstrating its importance among the domestic securities and futures research field..
   1. In 1996, 2002, and 2003, the journal won the Outstanding Journal Awards (in the category of science & humanities) presented by the Ministry of Education and the National Science Council. In 2016 and 2017, the journal won the Most Influential Periodical (Humanities and Social Sciences) Award presented by the National Central Library. In 2019, the journal won 2nd place periodical (economics) for Knowledge Influence in the Most Influential Academic Resources in Taiwan and 4th place periodical for Knowledge Dissemination by the National Central Library. And in 2021 and 2022, the journal won 5th place in the Long-term Periodical (economics) Dissemination Awards of the Taiwan Academic Resource Influence Conference.
   2. The journal picks two outstanding papers each year and confers certificates as well as NT$50,000 to the winners as reward.
2. We propose periodic and special research reports, and establish an information platform to provide comprehensive information services, and promote academic researches and Taiwan's capital market development.