CFA Institute is a global non-profit professional membership organization of over 100,000 analysts, portfolio managers and other investment professionals in more than 130 countries. The CFA Institute mission is to advance the interests of the global investment community by establishing and maintaining the highest standards of professional excellence and integrity. Ethics is the cornerstone of the service of CFA Institute to the investment industry.

CFA Institute develops and administers the CFA Program, a globally recognized standard for measuring the competence and integrity of financial analysts and investment managers. The CFA Program curriculum develops and reinforces fundamental knowledge of investment principles. Given annually in over 100 countries, the three levels of examination measure a candidate’s ability to apply these principles at a professional level. In June 2010 over 100,000 candidates worldwide registered to take the CFA examination.

All CFA Institute members, CFA charterholders, and CFA candidates must adopt and adhere to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct (Code and Standards). Because CFA Institute believes that the CFA Institute Code and Standards reflect the highest ethical principles and that members strongly differentiate themselves by their adherence to them, CFA Institute requires its members to reaffirm their compliance annually in writing.