About Us Main

Guide for CFA Charterholders

 

While you are a CFA charterholder member, as defined in the CFA Institute Bylaws, you have the right to use the following marks:

 

  • CFA®
  • Chartered Financial Analyst®

 

These marks are commonly referred to as the “CFA Marks.” They are recognized symbols of professionalism and integrity that distinguish charterholders from other investment professionals around the world. It is important to use these marks, and use them properly. Otherwise, CFA Institute and CFA charterholders may lose their exclusive rights to these marks, and others who have not earned the charter could use them. To assist you, CFA Institute has developed this guide. Please consult and follow this guide when preparing business cards, letterhead, promotional literature, signage, and all other forms of printed, electronic, and written communications.

 

The CFA Marks provide a recognized symbol of professionalism and integrity for investment professionals worldwide. Use of the CFA Marks signifies that you have earned the prestigious CFA charter. As you are aware, the CFA Marks can only be used by charterholders who are dues paying members of CFA Institute not subject to certain Professional Conduct violations and whose rights to use the CFA designation have not been suspended or revoked. The uses of the CFA Marks are governed by the Code of Ethics and standard II(A) of the Standards of Professional Conduct and applicable laws.

 

CFA Institute monitors and protects its valuable marks worldwide. As a CFA charterholder it is important that you use the CFA Marks properly and keep a watchful eye out for improper use or infringement on the CFA Institute marks, especially the CFA Marks.

 

The examples set forth here are intended to illustrate proper usage of the CFA Marks. This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it an exhaustive discussion of your obligations, so if questions do arise please review this CFA Trademark Usage Guide (PDF) or contact staff in the Office of General Counsel at CFA Institute by fax at +1(434) 951-5560 or by e-mail at trademark@cfainstitute.org. You should also contact OGC staff if you become aware of improper usage or infringement on any of the CFA Institute marks.

 

Trademark Usage Guide

cfalogo

 

Certification Mark

 

Purpose

  • The Certification Mark is used by charterholders as a distinctive visual symbol of the CFA designation that can be easily recognized by employers, colleagues, and clients. In essence, charterholders use this mark as a seal of quality and integrity

 

Download print version (600dpi, jpg)

Use

  • The certification mark may not be altered or modified in any way
  • The certification mark should be clearly printed in black ink on light colored backgrounds or may be reversed to white on dark colored backgrounds
  • To ensure that the certification mark appears properly, all reproduction of the certification mark must be made from camera-ready artwork provided by CFA Institute. Please contact us.
  • The certification mark can be used to identify a group of individuals; however, each individual listed must be a current charterholder
  • The notice does not have to appear on letterhead or business cards.
  • The certification mark must not be used as part of a company name
  • The certification mark should be placed in close proximity to the charterholder’s name. However, the certification mark should have enough clear space that it is not connected or a part of the charterholder’s personalization or degree. The certification mark shall not be confused with a company logo or placed in such close proximity to a company name or logo so as to give the reader the idea that the certification mark certifies the company

 

The CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® Marks

 

Purpose
The trademarks CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are intended for use whenever the certification mark cannot be used.

 

Use
The CFA®  and Chartered Financial Analyst® marks should be used in the text of magazine and newspaper articles, interviews, books, advertising, and in textual or verbal contexts where use of the certification mark is impossible or impractical. When these marks are used in these contexts or applications, charterholders should carefully advise reporters, authors, editors, publishers, and others as to the guidelines for proper usage.

 

The CFA®  mark must not be used generically and should only be used as an adjective. The mark becomes generic when it is used as a common name for a category of products or services. References to all facial tissues as Kleenexes, all photocopies as Xeroxes, and all financial analysts as “CFAs” are improper and are considered generic. If the use become generic, CFA® charterholders lose their exclusive use of these valuable marks. If you are using the marks correctly, you should be able to omit the CFA from a sentence and still have the sentence make sense. For example, “John Smith is a CFA charterholder.”

 

Proper

  • John Smith is a CFA charterholder
  • Amy Jones, CFA, is a portfolio manager
  • John Smith is a holder of the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst designation

 

Improper

  • John Smith is a CFA
  • John Smith and Amy Jones are CFAs

 

The first and most prominent use of the CFA®  or Chartered Financial Analyst® marks in text material should include the registered trademark symbol (®). It is not necessary to use the ® symbol when the marks directly refer to a specific individual.

 

Proper

  • John Smith is a CFA charterholder
  • Three analysts at the firm hold the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation

 

Always specify in a tag line at the end of an article and at the bottom of an advertisement or promotional literature that the marks are the property of CFA Institute.

 

Proper

  • CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute

 

The CFA® mark must appear in all capital letters. With respect to Chartered Financial Analyst®, at a minimum, the first letter of each word must be capitalized.

 

Proper

  • John Smith, CFA
  • John Smith, Chartered Financial Analyst

 

Improper

  • Amy Jones, cfa
  • John Smith, chartered financial analyst

 

The form of the marks must never be altered to create a new word, phrase or design. The marks may never be used in the plural or possessive forms.

 

The CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® marks must not be used as part of, or incorporated in, the name of a company or imply that the company is entitled to use the marks. Additionally, the marks may not be used in a charterholder’s e-mail address or in a personal or company domain name.

 

Proper

  • Amy Jones, Chartered Financial Analyst

 

Improper

  • Amy Jones, Inc., Chartered Financial Analyst
  • johnsmithcfa.com