CFA Society of Los Angeles, Inc. (CFALA), and CFA® Institute are pleased to announce the availability of scholarships for candidates taking the Decmeber 2010 CFA examination.

 The Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Program, to which the scholarships are an adjunct, is highly respected in both the investment and financial communities. Since the first CFA designation was awarded in 1963, more than 79,000 investment professionals have earned a CFA charter. A CFA background, CFA Charterholders develop a balanced approach to investment and are prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving profession. Holders of the CFA Charter also adhere to a strict code of professional and ethical standards. As a result, a growing number of firms around the world are favoring CFA Charterholders when hiring and promoting security analysts, portfolio managers, and other investment professionals. Individual clients as well recognize the CFA designation as a sign of integrity and professional excellence when selecting investment advisors and managers.

 What does a scholarship cover?

CFA Exam Scholarships may include all or part of: enrollment in the USC/CFALA CFA Review Program, and fees for the CFA Exam registration.  The program enrollment fee is expected to be paid for by the canidadate and is rebated to the scholarship recipient after verification that the candidate has passed the exam. Scholarship recipients who have registered for the CFA exam online or already paid enrollment fees for the CFA exam will be refunded the appropriate fee from CFA Institute.

 Who is eligible?

Scholarship applicants must meet the same qualifications for registration as CFA candidates: they must have a bachelor’s degree, sign a Statement of Professional Conduct and Candidate Responsibility, and be prepared to take exams in English. Student applicants must have or anticipate receiving a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent by December 31st of the exam year and attend a college or university within 200 miles of Los Angeles, CA.  Scholarships cannot be awarded to immediate family members of CFALA officers, directors and committee chairs or to CFALA employees or their immediate families. Also, CFA candidates who received a scholarship last year but failed the level applied for are ineligible to apply for a scholarship this year.

 How do you apply?

To apply for a CFALA/CFA Institute Scholarship, candidates must submit a package of materials containing the following:

• Completed Application Form
• Two letters of recommendation (including one from a professor for full-time students, one from a supervisor for employed applicants)
• Employer statement of non-reimbursement of exam/review program fees (if applicable)
• Transcript of grades
• Proof of financial need (copy of tax return or statement of financial need)
• Completed Volunteer Form
• Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

How will scholarship candidates be evaluated?

Scholarship applicants will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• CFA Institute qualifications for registration as a CFA candidate (See Who is eligible? above.)
• Career objectives consistent with the goals of an investment professional.
• Prior experience demonstrating ability as and/or interest in becoming an investment professional
• Financial need  

 No additional information regarding the selection criteria or the selection process is or will be made
available from any member or employee of CFALA. Any applicant who in any way attempts to influence
any member of the Scholarship Committee on his or her own behalf will be immediately disqualified.

The Scholarship Committee of CFA Society of Los Angeles will select the scholarship recipients, and its
decisions are final. Because the selection process involves the evaluation of information that differs from
applicant to applicant, some subjectivity may enter the process. Every application, however, will be 
thoroughly evaluated based upon what has been submitted, and the Committee will make every attempt
to ensure that the fairest possible selection process is employed. No one shall be denied a scholarship 
on account of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs,
veteran status or handicap.

Click here to download scholarship application.