CFA INSTITUTE

ABOUT CFA INSTITUTE

CFA Institute, a global, not-for-profit organization, is the world’s largest association of investment professionals. With over 164,000 members and 151 local member societies worldwide, the mission is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.

CFA Institute offers a range of education and career resources, including the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) credential, the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) designation, and the CFA Institute Investment Foundations certificate.

CFA Institute is a champion of ethical behavior in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. An integral part of our mission is to build market integrity through codes of conduct, best practice guidelines, and standards to guide the investment profession. These standards include the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS), the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, and the Asset Manager Code (AMC) of professional conduct. A primary focus of our standards is the critical importance of placing client interests first.

CFA INSITUTE AND SOCIETIES

CFA Institute and CFA Societies (CFA® Society), enabled by strong infrastructure, solid governance and a shared digital platform, work as one to raise professional standards in over 150 global financial markets through locally-led brand building, delivery of outcome-based professional development, and local advocacy to raise standards and affect change in markets and regulations. Though voluntary, local society membership is the passport to a global professional network of investment professionals.

Join a CFA® Society

When you apply for membership with CFA Institute, you will also apply for membership in a CFA society. Society membership is voluntary and highly recommended. Your application to a society is an introduction to a community of professionals who are committed to the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence.

Regular members can add and switch societies without going through the society application process. This can be done during the renewal process and from the Manage Your Membership page. Go to your page »

Affiliate members must apply for membership in and be approved by all societies they wish to join.

CFA INSTITUTE'S INITIATIVES

CFA Institute brings practitioners together to debate the most important issues in the investment management profession. You want to know what’s next now. Here’s how you take advantage of shared expertise.

CFA Institute Conferences

CFA Institute partners with local societies, universities, and the investment industry to offer a wide range of insightful and engaging events all over the world. CFA Institute members receive substantial discounts on registration fees for many of our events, as well as Continuing Education (CE) credits for attending. Take advantage of these great opportunities to learn, discuss, and network with your peers.

Find out more about CFA Institute calendar »

Financial Analysts Journal

As the flagship publication of CFA Institute, the Financial Analysts Journal is the leading practitioner journal in the investment management community. Since 1945, it has advanced the knowledge and understanding of the practice of investment management through the publication of rigorous, peer-reviewed, practitioner-relevant research from leading academics and practitioners.

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Find out more about Editorial Team »

Future of Finance

Future of Finance develops CFA Institute thought leadership to help shape a more trustworthy, forward-thinking investment profession that better serves society. Our focus is on opportunities for change, and our goal is to motivate and empower the world of finance to become an environment where investor interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow.

In addition to leveraging our global network of members, the Future of Finance works with a distinguished advisory council and a content council of industry leaders who provide input for projects and share our ideas throughout the investment community.

Check out the list of publications by CFA Institute Future of Finance. More »

Women in Investment Management Initiative

This initiative aims to improve investor outcomes by encouraging gender diversity in the investment management profession.

Why Gender Diversity

Women are a minority in investment management across global markets, making them the "universal diversifier"
CFA Institute believes an initial focus on gender diversity will yield lessons applicable to other dimensions of diversity

Goals of the Initiative

Increase the number of women who join the profession and earn the CFA® charter
Retain women in the profession and influence culture from within
Create demand for diversity as an industry imperative

Read the survey report on gender diversity »

CFA Institute Research Foundation

Providing independent, high-quality research that helps investment management professionals effectively fulfill their duties with prudence, loyalty and care.

The mission is to fund, publish, and distribute comprehensive, high quality, independent research relevant to the global investment community.

CFA Institute invites you to suggest a research topic, submit a proposal, or request author guidelines.

Check out the full list of Research Foundation publication »