CFA Institute

CFA Institute is a global, not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to serving investment professionals worldwide. Its core mission is to lead the investment profession globally by promoting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence for the ultimate benefit of society. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, the institute plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the investment industry.

The institute offers a comprehensive suite of learning programs and credentials, most notably the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, which is widely recognized as a gold standard in investment management. Other key offerings include the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM) and various specialized certificates such as Sustainable Investing, Private Markets and Alternative Investments, and Climate Risk, Valuation, and Investing. Beyond certifications, CFA Institute provides continuing education through conferences, seminars, webcasts, and publications, aiming to equip investment professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary for a complex and evolving industry.

Margaret Franklin, CFA, has served as the President and CEO of CFA Institute since September 2019, marking her as the first woman to hold this leadership position. The institute continually adapts its programs to industry needs, with recent enhancements to the CFA Program including practical skills modules in financial modeling, analyst skills, Python programming, data science, and artificial intelligence. CFA Institute also actively engages in discussions surrounding the impact of technological advancements, such as AI, on entry-level finance roles and the broader investment profession. In a notable event, a former Chief Marketing Officer was indicted in July 2025 on charges of embezzling nearly $5 million from the organization.