Do you need permission from employer to teach a class online?

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blackomen

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I work for a hedge fund, but I’d like to start a side business with an online class on Personal Finance (i.e. managing debt, saving money, basic investing like creating a passive index portfolio like one of those recommended at Bogleheads.) I’m curious if this will require written permission from my employer.. although it may utilize some of the same fundamental finance skills I also use in my job, the responsibilities are completely different (i.e. I have no responsibilities even remotely related to teaching students at my current job.)
Still awaiting a response from CFAI.. what do you think?
 
CFAI has got nothing to do with this here. You just need to inform your employer about this part time work you are taking. (Again it depends on the policy of your org). In my present org, all you need to do is to make sure its outside of work hours and its not in competition with the firms activities.
 
sooraj wrote:
CFAI has got nothing to do with this here. You just need to inform your employer about this part time work you are taking. (Again it depends on the policy of your org). In my present org, all you need to do is to make sure its outside of work hours and its not in competition with the firms activities.
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I think he ment he was writing to the CFAI to get their take on the matter, not to ask for their permission.
 
As someone who has earned money from side activities while fully employed in finance, trust me, here’s a good rule of thumb: If you earn any money at all doing it on the side, it should be reported to your full-time employer.
I don’t adopt a “permission” approach, though. I inform my employer that this is what I’ll be doing, and hope that they don’t give me any pushback. Most of the time, if you are getting paid as an educator on the side, firms have no problem with this as the educational realm is non-threatening and most employers like the idea of their employees dabbling in this area (good for firm’s reputation, etc.). What I then do is to pre-write a letter of authorization for my boss to review and sign. If you eliminate the burden of someone having to write something up, this significantly eliminates hurdles.
 
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