Bartiromo wouldn't make it at Motley Fool

Motley Fool contributor S.J. Caplan, a former vice president and assistant general counsel of Goldman Sachs and former vice president and derivative finance specialist at Lehman Brothers, writes that CNBC anchor Maria Bartiromo would not have been able to make her trip on the Citigroup jet if she worked for the personal finance news site.

Caplan wrote, “The Fool is guided by a strict disclosure policy based on transparency and accountability. Writers disclose any ownership of a stock discussed at the end of each article, and employees must reveal their holdings on their personal profile pages. Employees must hold stocks they own for at least 30 days; they can’t write about a stock in the 10 days before or after they buy or sell that stock; and they’re forbidden to trade based on knowledge about articles yet to be published.

“We also adhere to a Code of Foolish Conduct that sets high ethical standards. We can’t accept or solicit compensation for activities performed for the Fool, and we must avoid situations in which our personal interests may conflict with the company’s. Even the appearance of impropriety is admonished. As for gifts, benefits exceeding $100 from those who may have a business relationship with the company are also a no-no, unless permission is granted in writing.

“We believe these guidelines help define us as responsible folks who value the integrity of the market and the importance of financial communication. By respecting these rules, we hope that we earn your trust as well.”

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