CFA Credential is Very Popular in Asia

 As many of my clients and friends know, I am a Chartered Financial Analyst.  This designation was first awarded in 1963, and the purpose of the exam was to elevate the ethics of the investment advisory profession and to show that the CFA has demonstrated mastery over a wide range of subjects with a fair degree of depth.  Subjects generally include Ethics, Quantitative Methods (i.e. statistics), Economics, Financial Statement Analysis (including an understanding of accounting at the Advanced Accounting level), Fixed Income Securities (i.e. bonds, or debt securities) -- analysis and valuation of these securities, Equities (i.e. common stocks) -- analysis and valuation of these securities, Portfolio Management (i.e. managing investments for individuals and institutions) including development if Investment Policy Statements (IPS) and purchasing investments to meet the requirements of the IPS, and Alternative Investments (Real Estate, Mutual Funds, Derivative Products, etc.)

This article discusses the fact that growth in the number of CFA candidates has surged in Asian markets but is rather flat in the US.
 
http://www.fins.com/Finance/Articles/SB130686424931820513/Asian-CFA-Registrations-Surge?Type=0