Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA)

First awarded in 1963, the CFA charter has become known as the designation of professional excellence within the global investment community. Around the world, employers and investors recognize the CFA designation as the definitive standard for measuring competence and integrity in the fields of portfolio management and investment analysis.

The CFA Program is comprised of three levels, each culminating in an examination. You must pass each level sequentially, and fulfill other requirements of the program, before earning the right to use the CFA designation. In general, each level of the program requires 250 hours of preparation, although time will vary from candidate to candidate based on familiarity with the material. The Level I examination has a multiple-choice format. Both the Level II and Level III examinations are 50 percent essay and 50 percent item set (multiple-choice questions based on a common vignette).

Global acceptance of the CFA charter has led to tremendous growth in the program over the past decade. More than 100,000 investment professionals from more than 150 nations enrolled for the June 2002 examination.

STUDENT CFA® SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
AIMR®, the sponsor and administrator of the CFA® Program, is pleased to offer the 2004 Student Scholarship Program for college students who are sponsored by a full-time university professor who is a CFA charterholder. Students may not apply directly for this program, but must be selected and sponsored by a qualified professor. This program is a partnership with professors to introduce outstanding students to the investment profession and an opportunity to provide mentoring during the study process. Students interested in a career in investment management and analysis make stronger job candidates when they have completed their Level I examination.

What are the criteria for a qualified student?

A student is defined as a full-time 4th year student or part-time graduate student at the time of registration and holding a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent no later than 31 December of the 2004 exam year. A CFA professor can sponsor only five students. Priority will be given to students who have participated in the Students Investment Funds (SIF) class (FIN 129). Graduate students can participate in SIF via MBA290 (Independent Study).

What does the scholarship cost?
AIMR waives the registration fee and discounts the normal enrollment fee. Students pay only US$150.00 (a saving of at least $375). This is a non-refundable fee.

What does the scholarship cover?
• Student scholarships are available for new candidates at Level I only.
• Books and study materials are NOT included in the US$150.00 cost.
• Scholarships apply to the June 2004 CFA exam only.