Make the
smart move...
CIM A
CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST
CIMA
SM
C E R T I F I E D I N V E S T M E N T M A N A G E M E N T A N A LY S T
SM
®
Does your financial professional have the skills and
strategies to help you navigate your goals?
[ CIMA
®
­— C e rtif ie d Inves tme nt
Ma nage me nt Analys t SM ]
Selecting an investment management
consultant can be a challenge...
The CIMA professional provides objective investment
advice and guidance to both individuals and institutions.
CIMA professionals apply state-of-the-art investment theory
and integrate a complex body of investment knowledge
systematically and ethically to assist clients in making
prudent investment decisions.
Experience, Education, Examination, Ethics
In today’s complex financial world ...
...you deserve a financial professional who holds the
Certified Investment Management Analyst certification.
Sophisticated investors recognize that the financial world’s increasing complexities call for objectivity,
experience, and expert evaluation.
Since 1988, Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA®) has administered the CIMA
certification to experienced financial consultants who successfully complete the experience,
education, examination, and ethical requirements of the certification program.
When you choose to work with an advisor or consultant who has earned the CIMA certification, you’ve
chosen someone who can help you establish and obtain realistic financial objectives. When you choose a
CIMA certificant, you’re working with someone who has invested in their own education and who is
committed to serving your investment goals.
Invest in your future by working with a professional who has earned the CIMA certification.
The CIMA certification reflects completion
and adherence to the “four E’s”:
experience, education, examination, and ethics.
Every investment consultant who has earned the CIMA certification has at least three years of experience in
the field of investment management consulting or financial services, has passed an extensive background check, and
has completed a demanding educational program from a top-tier business school. Successful completion of a comprehensive examination is the final step in receiving the certification. To maintain their certification, CIMA professionals
must continually adhere to a strict ethical code of professional responsibility and complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years.
What does this rigorous certification mean for you? It means that when you work with a CIMA professional, you’re
working with someone who has committed themselves to attaining advanced investment consulting knowledge, and
who is armed with the skills and strategies to guide you through the most complex issues.
Professionals who have obtained the CIMA certification
are at the forefront of investment trends and strategies.
That’s because investment consultants who have earned the CIMA certification are knowledgeable about the money
management topics most relevant to investors. The CIMA certification curriculum is delivered by practitioners and faculty
from the nation’s top business schools. CIMA certificants must acquire specialized knowledge, including the following:
Investment strategiesRisk and return theories and practices
Asset selection and allocation
Modern portfolio theory
Investment policy statements
Portfolio performance measurement and attribution
Investment manager evaluation Tax efficiency
Fixed income management International financial markets
Alternative investments and derivatives
Behavioral finance
Ethical and legal considerationsEconomic environment
Credentials, Background, Fees, Chemistry
What should investors look for when selecting an advisor?
Appropriate Credentialing—Does your advisor hold rigorous, relevant credentials that require the “four E’s”? All
CIMA professionals have completed a background check and have met an experience requirement, are educated by
the best business schools in the nation, have passed a comprehensive examination, adhere to a professional code of
ethics, and maintain 40 hours of continuing education every two years.
Background—Referral through trusted sources is still one of the best ways to find an advisor for your situation. IMCA’s
Web site can provide you with a list of CIMA professionals in your area. Visit www.InvestmentHelp.org for more
information.
Fees—Individuals should be knowledgeable about what they are paying for and how they are paying. That’s why
each CIMA professional, as required by the IMCA Code of Professional Responsibility, will disclose fully to clients all
services provided and compensation received.
Chemistry—Selecting an advisor is a choice, like selecting a doctor. Each investor should feel at ease and comfortable
with their advisor. Finding an advisor who holds the CIMA certification is the first step in the selection process, and the
decision should also consider interpersonal connection and comfort.
For more information, visit www.IMCA.org.
IMCA Code of Professional Responsibility
Each financial professional shall:
•Serve the financial interests of clients. Each professional shall always place the financial interests of the client first. All
recommendations to clients and decisions on behalf of clients shall be solely in the best interest of the client.
•Disclose fully to clients services provided and compensation received. All financial relationships, direct or indirect,
between consultants and investment managers, plan officials, beneficiaries, sponsors or any other potential conflicts of
interest shall be fully disclosed on a timely basis.
• Provide to clients all material information related to the investment decision-making process as well as other
information they may need to make informed decisions based on realistic expectations. All client inquiries shall be
answered promptly, completely, and truthfully.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information entrusted by the client, to the fullest extent permitted by regulatory and
legal entities in conjunction with the professional’s firm/company policy.
• Comply fully with all statutory and regulatory requirements affecting the delivery of investment consulting services
to clients.
• Maintain competency in investment management consulting and financial services through education and training to
better serve clients and enhance investment management consulting.
• Maintain a high level of professional ethical conduct.
All CIMA professionals must adhere to the IMCA Code of Professional Responsibility.
056-10-NPU ©2010 Investment Management Consultants Association
CERTIFIED INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT ANALYST
SM
CIMA
®
IMCA—Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc.—was established in 1985 to deliver the
premier investment consulting and wealth management credentials and world-class educational offerings.
5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 500 • Greenwood Village, CO 80111
P: 303.770.3377 • F: 303.770.1812
www.IMCA.org
IMCA® is a registered trademark and Investment Management Consultants AssociationSM and Certified Investment Management AnalystSM are service marks of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. and denote the highest quality of standards and education for financial professionals. CIMA®, CIMC®, and CPWA® are registered certification marks of Investment Management
Consultants Association Inc. Certified Private Wealth AdvisorSM is a pending certification mark of Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. Investment Management Consultants Association Inc. does not discriminate in educational opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.