What is the CFA Institute?
The CFA institute is a global not for profit association of investment professionals that is responsible for administering—and subsequently awarding upon completion–the chartered financial analyst and the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement. In addition to administering the tests and offering the charter, the CFA institute distributes a range of educational resources and services for the charter’s members, program candidates, employers, institutions, the media and investors.
The Chartered Financial Analyst designation is an international professional license or designation offered by the CFA institute to financial professionals who successfully pass a series of three examinations. In order to become a CFA Chaterholder, candidates must successfully complete each of the three six-hour exams offered by the CFA institute and possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Furthermore, the CFA institute requires candidates to possess at least 48 months of qualified or professional work experience in a related field. If passed, all CFA charter holders are obligated to adhere to a strict code of ethics and standards which govern their professional conduct.
The CFA Institute was originally established in 1947 when it was referred to as the Financial Analysts Federation. In hopes of boosting the credentials of the public, the CFA Institute was created as a result of the merger between the FAF and the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts. The CFA program began in the United States but became increasingly popular overseas, with many professionally becoming charter holders across Asia, Australia and Europe. The CFA designation was first awarded in 1963; currently the CFA institute is home to more than 100,000 members around the world.
CFA Institute’s Code of Ethics:
All members of the CFA institute, including all candidates and charterholders for the CFA designation must adhere to the following code of ethics:
• The CFA institute requires all candidates and charterholders to act with integrity, diligence, respect, competence and in an ethical manner with the public, all prospective clients, employers, employees, clients and colleagues in the investment profession.
• The CFA institute requires all charterholders and members of the organization to place the integrity of the investment profession and the interests of the client above their own personal interests
• The CFA institute requires all individual members and charterholders to use reasonable care and exercise professional judgment when conducting investment analysis, offering investment recommendations and affirming investment initiatives.
• The CFA institute wants its members to practice and encourage others to practice their profession in an ethical manner that will reflect responsibility and credit on themselves and their profession.
• The CFA institute promotes the integrity of the capital markets; the CFA Institute aims at achieving this by upholding the rules governing the profession
• The CFA institute maintains and improves the professional competence of its members who in turn must strive to maintain and improve the competence of other investment professionals.
