The CFA Institute is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides an education and standards framework to investment professionals. It was formed in 1947 in the US and has since grown to be a globally recognised entity. The Institute was established with the idea that its professionals have great responsibility and therefore must be highly competent and ethical in their work.

The organisation offers a “Chartered Financial Analyst” designation to those who complete its CFA Program. This includes extended education in areas such as economics, corporate finance, financial analysis and ethics, and is regarded worldwide as one of the highest achievements in the investment management profession.

The institute also provides memberships and worldwide events allowing connections with a global association of highly competent and ethical workers, allowing networking and interaction of like-minded people. Additionally, it offers a variety of learning resources on timely topics, which help users stay up-to-date with the latest market trends in areas such as fintech, cryptocurrency and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, among others. It hosts a variety of events and conferences, and provides strong resource support for existing CFA holders to ensure they maintain a high standard of competence.

Integrity and ethics is a cornerstone of the CFA Institute. There are clear standards of conduct for membership and the risk of withdrawal of accreditation if found to be in violation of these. There is also emphasis on reporting misconduct, with risks to the holder if they do not do so.

The CFA Institute is led by a board of governors that is comprised of 20 board members, each elected by the CFA members for a term of three years. The organisation is based in Charlottesville, Virginia and has offices all over the world, including London, Mumbai, Brussels and Hong Kong.

The mission of CFA Institute is served by generating value for core investment management professionals and engaging with the core investment management industry to advance ethics, market integrity, and professional standards of practice, which collectively contributes value to society.

The CFA institute’s main funding sources include education fees, membership fees, and contributions.

Find out more