How long does certification take once an application has been submitted?
RIAA Certification is a comprehensive and rigorous process. The timing for certification greatly depends on factors including the readiness of the application, how well the product meets the assessment criteria under our Responsible Investment Standard and Guidance Notes , analyst capacity at the time, and provider response times.
The process usually takes between two and three months from application to certification outcome.
It is important to note that not all products that apply for certification are successful in achieving certification. In fact, the vast majority of products that apply must make changes to the produce in order to meet the Responsible Investment Standard and achieve certification.
How much does certification cost?
See the Certification Pricing section on our Product Certifications Page for pricing information. For bespoke pricing options and more information, email info@responsibleinvestment.org.
I have a fund that has only recently started up and has not yet traded for a full year. Can it still be certified?
The Program approaches certification for pre-launch funds on case-by-case basis. To assess your product’s readiness for certification, we consider several criteria:
- Does the product have a draft offering document (e.g., PDS, factsheet, or product webpage)?
- Does the product have a formalised investment process?
- Is the product building upon an already trading product (i.e. same strategy but different structure)?
- What are the responsible investment strategies used by the product?
- In the case of products trading with the term ‘impact’, has the product traded for a full year?”
Contact RIAA to learn more about applying for certification of products that have traded for less than a year at info@responsibleinvestment.org.
What do I need to do to keep my certification in good standing?
You must fulfill the ongoing commitments of certification, comply with the requirements of your license agreement, make appropriate use of your certification or classification symbol, and either apply for recertification on time, or email certification@responsibleinvestment.org to request an extension.
How do I get my product recertified?
Upon receipt of our recertification notification and information sheet, respond to our email to let us know that it has been received in good order. All recertifying product providers are responsible for submitting an application for recertification two years from the effective date of their most recent license agreement, reflecting the current practices of the recertifying product/service. Application submission is required one month prior to, and no later than, a product’s license expiration date.
Could you explain the Certification Assessment Panel’s (CAP) decision-making process?
Each month, following a review of certification assessments provided by the RIAA Certification Team, panel members convene to discuss the products/services assessed for that month. CAP meetings often involve robust interrogation of the products/services adherence to the Responsible Investment Standard and the Quality and Thresholds Test. Conditions and recommendations for certification are presented by the Certification Team at the meeting. Panel members may raise additional queries about products/services attributes not included in the analyst assessment. A quorum of three votes is required for a product/service to pass. They may pass without conditions or recommendations, or with conditions and/or recommendations. For more detailed information on CAP approval types, please see the FAQs under Approvals.
How long does certification take once an application has been submitted?
RIAA Certification is a comprehensive and rigorous process. The timing for certification greatly depends on factors including the readiness of the application, how well the product meets the assessment criteria under our Responsible Investment Standard and Guidance Notes , analyst capacity at the time, and provider response times.
The process usually takes between two and three months from application to certification outcome.
It is important to note that not all products that apply for certification are successful in achieving certification. In fact, the vast majority of products that apply must make changes to the produce in order to meet the Responsible Investment Standard and achieve certification.
How much does certification cost?
See the Certification Pricing section on our Product Certifications Page for pricing information. For bespoke pricing options and more information, email info@responsibleinvestment.org.
I have a fund that has only recently started up and has not yet traded for a full year. Can it still be certified?
The Program approaches certification for pre-launch funds on case-by-case basis. To assess your product’s readiness for certification, we consider several criteria:
- Does the product have a draft offering document (e.g., PDS, factsheet, or product webpage)?
- Does the product have a formalised investment process?
- Is the product building upon an already trading product (i.e. same strategy but different structure)?
- What are the responsible investment strategies used by the product?
- In the case of products trading with the term ‘impact’, has the product traded for a full year?”
Contact RIAA to learn more about applying for certification of products that have traded for less than a year at info@responsibleinvestment.org.
What do I need to do to keep my certification in good standing?
You must fulfill the ongoing commitments of certification, comply with the requirements of your license agreement, make appropriate use of your certification or classification symbol, and either apply for recertification on time, or email certification@responsibleinvestment.org to request an extension.
How do I get my product recertified?
Upon receipt of our recertification notification and information sheet, respond to our email to let us know that it has been received in good order. All recertifying product providers are responsible for submitting an application for recertification two years from the effective date of their most recent license agreement, reflecting the current practices of the recertifying product/service. Application submission is required one month prior to, and no later than, a product’s license expiration date.
Could you explain the Certification Assessment Panel’s (CAP) decision-making process?
Each month, following a review of certification assessments provided by the RIAA Certification Team, panel members convene to discuss the products/services assessed for that month. CAP meetings often involve robust interrogation of the products/services adherence to the Responsible Investment Standard and the Quality and Thresholds Test. Conditions and recommendations for certification are presented by the Certification Team at the meeting. Panel members may raise additional queries about products/services attributes not included in the analyst assessment. A quorum of three votes is required for a product/service to pass. They may pass without conditions or recommendations, or with conditions and/or recommendations. For more detailed information on CAP approval types, please see the FAQs under Approvals.
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