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CFA Institute Investment Foundations

GAIN AN OVERVIEW OF THE ESSENTIALS OF FINANCE

Being able to find and communicate solutions for complex investment issues starts with understanding the essentials. You can gain tangible knowledge of the investment industry with the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Certificate. 

The certificate gives you a comprehensive overview of investment industry structure, concepts, and ethical considerations, helping to advance your career in finance. Covering the fundamentals of the same topic areas as Level I of the CFA Program, you’ll gain an essential understanding of financial markets, professional roles, and client needs. 

Is CFA Institute Investment Foundations right for you?

The program is designed for:  

  • Students seeking to understand the fundamentals of the investment industry. 
  • Professionalsoutside the investment industry who want to improve their financial fluency. 
  • Professionals already working in support roles within the investment industry, such as client service, compliance, human resources, IT, sales and marketing and legal, who want to develop their knowledge. 

There is no education or experience requirement; however, you should feel comfortable with the English language. The multiple choice, computer-based exam can be taken at your convenience at available test centers around the world.

What will you learn?

 The curriculum is based on an advanced body of knowledge that is continuously reviewed and updated by more than 1,000 active investment practitioners around the world to ensure that it reflects the most relevant trends and the core competencies most needed by today’s top investment employers. 

The self-study program requires approximately 100 hours of study time and covers the fundamentals of the investment industry across five courses: 

  • Course 1: Industry Overview and Structure 
  • Course 2: Type and Functioning of Markets 
  • Course 3: Investment Instruments 
  • Course 4: Investment Inputs and Tools 
  • Course 5: Serving Client Needs 

How can it benefit you?

Bring Clarity to Complexity 
Develop a deeper understanding of the investment industry with a global education program that gives you a strong foundation for working in a complex and dynamic profession.

 

Share a Common Understanding 
Raise your professional competence by understanding industry functions, relationships, and your role and responsibilities in the big picture. 

Improve Your Performance 
Improve your performance by gaining a common global standard of the industry and sharing a common body of knowledge, whether you work in New York, 
London, Mumbai or Hong Kong. 

Stand Out From Your Peers 
Gain a fundamental framework and knowledge of the investment industry so you stand out from the crowd in a competitive industry. 

Build Your Confidence 
Feel more confident working and communicating with global colleagues and clients by understanding the industry and how your role impacts the rest of the business.