I dedicated more than two decades of my career working in international finance as a lawyer, a regulator and a compliance executive. Throughout this journey, I found immense satisfaction in the intellectual challenges and collaborative aspects of my work. 

 

As I honed my expertise in regulatory compliance, I learned to appreciate that capital markets serve two overarching goals: enabling individuals to attain their financial objectives and benefiting society as a whole through capital formation.  

 

In regulatory terms, this means that market participants are not merely obligated to comply with rules as a precondition for market access; their compliance also ensures the orderly functioning of the entire system.

 

Regulators and supervisors don't draft and enforce rules with just the individual market participant in mind; they have the greater good of the entire system as their guiding principle.

 

Strict compliance with the rules is not sufficient to meet the expectations of supervisors, understanding the spirit behind the rules is necessary so that the whole system can be protected. 

 

Throughout my professional journey, I often observed regulations being perceived as mere costs of doing business, leading to attempts to minimize them. This misconception reduced compliance to quantitative analysis or mechanical checklist reviews, overlooking the fact that effective compliance necessitates an ethical approach, one that comprehends the right conduct expected to align with both the letter and the spirit of the rules.

 

Ethical compliance entails decisions that are not only legally sound but also morally right, incorporating notions of fairness, integrity, and respect for stakeholders.

It entails taking responsibility for one's actions and those of the organization, including the willingness to acknowledge mistakes and implement corrective measures.

It is about prioritizing the interests and well-being of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, the community, and the environment.

 

In 2023, drawing upon more than two decades of experience, I decided to harness my expertise and passion, founding my own advisory business, Ethical Investor Services (EIS). EIS is dedicated to serving those who share the conviction that ethical compliance is the key to fostering more resilient and efficient capital markets, that by upholding the principles of ethical compliance, we can contribute to a financial landscape that benefits both individuals and society as a whole.