What Does a Certified Financial Analyst Do? High Level Job Description


A certified financial analyst is an investment professional who helps clients decide how to best invest their money. 

To become certified, a certified financial analyst must achieve the CFA designation offered by the CFA institute. 

By achieving this designation, a certified financial analyst proves that he or she has completed a program of education that focuses on investment knowledge.

The certified financial analyst course ensures that people who become certified have a solid foundation in investing principles. 



CFA Course Requirement

The CFA course to become a certified financial analyst includes three parts. 

The first part covers basic understanding of investment tools and strategies.

CFA Course Requirement

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The second part looks at applying those tools and valuation of assets. 

The third takes all of the concepts and shows the certified financial analyst how to apply their knowledge in the real world. 

This includes wealth planning and helping clients manage their portfolios. 


Code of Ethics

When you deal with a certified financial analyst, you also know that you’re dealing with a person who is held to a certain code of ethics because of their certification.

The CFA Institute has a Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct handbook that they expect all members to adhere to at all times.

This is designed to help restore trust in both the profession and the credential. 



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