Overview
The CFA Program and CFA charterholders
Having ‘CFA’ (Chartered Financial Analyst) after your name, is recognised globally as one of the highest distinctions in the investment management profession.
CFA charterholders have successfully completed the rigorous CFA Program; a professional qualification requiring approximately 1000 hours of study, and three in-person exams. Administered centrally by CFA Institute, the exams are the same wherever they are taken.
The curriculum includes topics such as: ethics; quantitative methods; economics; financial statements analysis; equity investments; alternative investments; wealth management.
There are over 190,000 CFA charterholders worldwide. Traditional roles for CFA charterholders include: portfolio manager; research, investment or financial analyst; consultant; financial adviser; investment strategist.
CFA Institute
The CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit professional organisation. It originated in 1947 when analyst societies of Boston, Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia joined forces to bring higher standards to the investment profession.
The headquarters are in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. The Americas is the largest region for CFA Institute, with around 60% of members. EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and Asia Pacific are about 20% each.
Although best known for the CFA Program, the CFA Institute also offer a range of learning products related to the investment profession.
Key to CFA Institute’s values and strategy are:
- Ethics and standards
- Advocacy
- Research and Analysis
CFA Society New Zealand
CFA Society New Zealand is one of over 160 CFA Institute societies around the world.
The societies operate autonomously, while supporting CFA Institute’s strategy and mission. Society activities include; advocating locally for higher standards, and providing a wide range of educational, networking, and career development opportunities to members in their region.
CFA Society New Zealand has over 600 members; most of these CFA charterholders. We also have Associate Members and support CFA candidates (students of the CFA Program), with 500+ registered to sit exams in New Zealand at any one time.
We collaborate with other organisations and extend our reach to New Zealand’s wider finance community.
Our mission is to lead New Zealand’s investment profession by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society.