Q & A Database

The GIPS Standards Q&A database contains questions and answers (Q&As) on various searchable topics that provide additional interpretation on an issue. Q&As are considered to be authoritative guidance and must be followed in order to claim compliance with the GIPS standards.

Content from prior Q&As was included in the GIPS Standards Handbook as much as possible and many Q&As were archived. Change the Status drop-down filter to "Archived" to see the archived Q&As.

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Archived

Effective: 1 November, 2012 - 31 December, 2019

Categories: Recordkeeping

Source: GIPS Handbook, 3rd Edition

Certain types of records (e.g., thermal printed faxes) have a limited life, and in many cases, such documents are more than 10 years old. What happens if these records begin to disintegrate and are no longer readable? Will we meet the recordkeeping requirements if we no longer have these records?

Original hard copy documents are not required to be maintained. Firms can rely on electronic scans of paper documents in order to satisfy the recordkeeping requirements. However, records stored in a system that is not operable will not satisfy the requirements of the GIPS standards to capture and maintain all data and information necessary to support all items included in a firm’s compliant presentations.

Please also see original Q&A