The Cal State Fullerton Investments and Financial Planning Track is accredited and endorsed by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute as part of the institute’s Affiliation Program. This means that candidates for this prestigious examination can complete relevant coursework at the college to prepare them for the CFA Level I exam, which is offered twice annually in June and December.

This examination covers topics such as ethics and professional standards; investment tools, including quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, and corporate finance; asset classes, including equity investments, fixed income, derivatives and alternative investments; and portfolio management and wealth planning.

Important Announcement Regarding CFA Exam 2021

Those interested in taking the CFA exam and of whom are planning on taking it in California or Nevada are invited to attend a special CFA Program info webinar on Friday 23rd April @ 12:30 - 1:30 PM PST! Rob Langrick, CFA, CIPM and Kristina Fritzhugh will be sharing general information about the program along with the new CFA Exam schedule that includes a new  late August  exam testing window. A new testing location has also opened up in  Diamond Bar!

Those interested can register for the webinar at this  link !

Why consider the CFA designation?

The CFA program is a professional credential offered by the CFA Institute. It is recognized as the global gold standard for investment and financial professionals. The program covers a broad range of topics relating to investment management, stocks, bonds, derivatives, economics, financial analysis and accounting, and statistics. The program also provides generalist knowledge in other areas of finance.

How do I earn the designation and what are the benefits?

In order to earn the designation, you must pass three rigorous examinations on the topics, have four years of qualified professional work experience and two letters of recommendation. The benefits of earning the charter are enormous, as investment management firms, pension plan sponsors, endowments, foundations, investment management consultants and other organizations in the asset management industry tend to look for and hire CFAs and candidates pursuing the CFA. Considering that there are only about 153,000 CFA charterholders worldwide and fewer than 20% of candidates who begin the program actually receive the CFA Charter, earning the charter provides significant distinction in the investment field.

What career paths are available with a CFA designation?

According to the CFA Institute, the most common occupations for CFAs, with the percentage so employed, are as follows: portfolio manager (22%), research analyst (15%), chief level executive (7%), consultant (6%), risk manager (5%), corporate financial analyst (5%), relationship manager (5%) and financial advisor (5%). Common practice types include equities, fixed income, private equity, derivatives and real estate.
Professionals with CFA designation earn, on average, between 19% and 58% more than their non-designated peers, making between $76,000 and $93,000 annually, depending on their practice space, according to AnalystPrep.