About Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)

Why Should You Trust a CFA Charterholder?

The globally recognized CFA designation symbolizes the knowledge, professionalism, and integrity you should expect from a financial advisor. In addition to being globally recognized for mastering a rigorous curriculum, CFA charterholders are perhaps best known for being held to the highest ethical standards.

Every CFA charterholder, CFA Institute member, and CFA candidate signs an annual statement agreeing to adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

The Code and Standards requires them to:

• Place their clients' interests ahead of their own
• Maintain independence and objectivity
• Act with integrity
• Maintain and improve their professional competence

Ethics are a fundamental part of the CFA Program curriculum. Each of the three CFA Program exam levels reinforces the focus on ethics by testing a candidate's understanding of how to apply ethical principles and standards of conduct in the rigors of current professional practice. Integrity is the cornerstone of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and it requires the charterholder to act with competence, diligence, and respect.