CFA Institute is an international, not-for-profit organization with a mission to lead the investment profession globally by setting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence. 

HISTORY OF THE CFA PROGRAM
Now entering its fifth decade, the CFA designation was first proposed by Benjamin Graham, a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts (NYSSA), in 1942. The profession itself continued to evolve for more than a decade before the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts (ICFA) was founded to provide a certification of competence in financial analysis in 1959.  Founding members of this predecessor to CFA Institute include the world’s oldest corporate financial manager societies, the Investment Analysts Society of Chicago (founded 1925) and NYSSA (founded 1937). In the subsequent decades since, the CFA Program has administered more than 795,000 examinations in 186 test centers around the globe, resulting in more than 69,000 charterholders worldwide who have proven they have the knowledge and skills to reach the top of their profession.

CFA INSTITUTE NETWORK
More than 83,000 members in 129 countries
69,000 CFA charterholders
134 member societies in 55 countries

EXTENDED BENEFITS
The initiatives in which CFA Institute is involved are representative of the organization’s core values: professional excellence, integrity, strength of community and cooperation, and volunteer service.  CFA Institute and society membership enhance the value of the CFA charter by providing a resource for continuing education, a global network of investment professionals, and an array of career enhancing Programs.                                             

STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Because ethics is central to the CFA Institute service to the global investment community, CFA Institute members answer to a higher standard. The CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct are the cornerstone of the CFA Institute Professional Conduct Program, which promotes integrity within the investment community worldwide.

ADVOCACY
The CFA Centre for Financial Market Integrity monitors legislative and regulatory activities, particularly as they affect global investment markets and investment practices. On behalf of its membership, the CFA Centre provides public testimony and formal written comments to regulatory authorities and other organizations whose actions have the potential to affect the investment industry and CFA Institute members. 

Taken from The CFA Program, Earning Your Place in the Investment World CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute Learn more at www.cfainstitute.org