The IFM is a nonprofit educational foundation founded in 1989 and is an independent affiliate of the  Futures Industry Association (FIA) — the leading global trade organization for the futures, options, and centrally cleared derivatives markets. Together the IFM and FIA promote high standards of professional conduct.

The Institute was originally authorized by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 1994 to provide ethics training to all relevant categories of Commission registrants.  The IFM has completed relevant proficiency testing as mandated by the National Futures Association (NFA) and meets the requirements set by NFA in its Interpretative Notice on Compliance Rule 2-9.

IFM's qualifications as an ethics training provider may be verified by contacting NFA’s Vice President of Registration by telephone at 312-781-1300.

Course Content Development

IFM develops its training content from interviews with U.S. regulators and exchange and industry compliance professionals, industry working groups, and through research and review of enforcement cases. In some cases, and as needed, course content is developed in collaboration with other bodies such as the FIA, NFA, and global futures exchanges.