What is CFA charter

What is the CFA Charter? How to Get It?

If you are looking for a passport to a competitive career in the fast-evolving world of investment and global Finance, you should know about the CFA charter. 

The chartered financial analyst designation or CFA charter is a globally recognized, graduate Level investment credential awarded by CFA Institute earning it demonstrates mastery of a broad range of investment skills that will open doors for you anywhere. To gain the CFA charter you need to complete the three challenging levels of the CFA program.

From the various countless finance degrees Around the World, the chartered financial analyst qualification has become the gold standard.

How to Earn the CFA Charter (Stepwise Process)

  • Become a CFA program candidate
  • Enrolment
  • The Level one exam (June or December)
  • Level two exam (June )
  • Level three exam (June)
  • Four years of relevant work experience (accumulated before, during, or after exam)
  • Professional conduct statement
  • Join CFA Institute and apply for society membership
  • Member dues
  • CFAA Institute member in good standing
  • Earn CFA charter

The Benefits of the CFA Charter

Global Recognition

With a 5 decade history of maintaining a rigorous focus on globally relevant investment knowledge, the CFA charter is the most widely known and respected investment credential in the world. When you gain the CFA charter, you will have global credibility.

Career Advantage

Employers recognize the CFA charter as the definitive standard by which to measure the competence, integrity, and dedication of serious investment professionals. That’s the reason they are increasingly making it a prerequisite for many positions.

Community

When you earn the CFA charter you join more than 90 thousand respected investment professionals working in over 130 countries. Access to their collective expertise networks and resources in an invaluable asset.

Convenience

The CFA program is wholly and solely a self-study program, which means you can pursue the course along with your work and you can fit it into your personal and professional life no matter where you live.

Practical Skills

The CFA program curriculum has a wide focus on the practical knowledge and current skills necessary in the global investment management profession. Since the very start of your studies, you will be gaining knowledge that is immediately useful on the job.

The CFA charter well definitely help you stand out all the other candidates when you will talk with the employers.

If you want to have international recognition and mobility within the financial world then you really should consider doing the CFA program.

Career Advantage of Completing a CFA Program

What kind of jobs does the CFA program prepare you for?

The CFA program occupies you with the comprehensive practical knowledge you need for a wide variety of career choices in the investment profession Many charter holders find that earning the charter provides them with a passport for working within numerous investment specialties and markets around the globe. It also better helps them to change specialities as their careers evolve. This current modern situation the charter is becoming a prerequisite if you want to get into the finance industry.

Charter Holders hold the following types of position in more than 130 countries around the world

Charter Holder Sectors

  • Equities 38%  
  • Fixed-income 18% 
  • Derivatives 4%
  • Private equity 4% 
  • Hedge funds 3%
  • Real estate 3% 
  • Other 12% 

Charter Holder Occupations

  • Portfolio managers 22% 
  • Research analysts 14% 
  • Chief executives 7% 
  • Consultants 5% 
  • Risk managers 5% 
  • Relationship managers, Sales and 4% marketing 4% 
  • Financial advisors 4%
  • Corporate financial analysts 4%
  • Investment banking analysts 4% 
  • Other 30%

Who Earns the CFA Charter? 

Candidates seeking to earn the charter come from a wide range of backgrounds around the world. This includes students planning to enter the investment profession, investment professionals who wish to increase their skills and marketability and those making a career change into the investment profession from other disciplines.

One of the huge benefits is that it’s a global designation, if you want to move to Paris or Hong Kong or New York, people know what the CFA charter is…

CFA Charter-Holder Geographic Profile

  • North America 65% 
  • Europe 16% 
  • Asia-Pacific 15%
  • Africa Middle East 2% 
  • Latin America and the Caribbean 1%

The charter is a highly valuable acclamation for any individual in the field of finance. However, gaining a charter is long process that requires the promise of hard work and dedication. 

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