Your passport to professional success

Achieving your CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst®) charter can place you among the elite in the investment management profession. It's the most respected and valued credential in the global finance community – and your passport to advancement within the investment management profession.

Career Development

Virtually every major financial services firm, consultancy, bank, brokerage, and insurance company worldwide employs CFA charterholders. The CFA charter provides a strong foundation for a wide range of career paths in the investment profession.

The most frequently held positions among charterholders are analysts and portfolio managers, though many serve as senior managers, strategists, and advisors. A great many also sit in the executive suite. The firms that hire them know that the charter signifies not only subject area competence, but also a dedication to knowledge, professional expertise, and high ethical standards.

Charterholders tell the story

The most recent CFA Institute survey of more than 13,000 charterholders showed:

• Worldwide, the total pay gap between those with a charter and those without it is substantial, regardless of experience.
• Median 2007 U.S. compensation was $195,000, and for those with 10+ years of experience, that figure rose to $264,000.
• Depending on occupation, CFA Institute members in the United States reported median compensation ranging from $158,000 to $456,000 per year.
• Overall, compensation was highest in the United States and the United Kingdom, but varied by position, years of experience, and country.*

*To learn more about the CFA survey results, visit www.cfainstitute.org

Professional networking opportunities

As a CFA candidate, you can join CFA Institute and local investment societies. These memberships offer a multitude of ongoing educational, professional development, and networking opportunities, as well as members-only access to CFA Institute's and local societies' job sites.