 The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) is a post-graduate professional qualification offered internationally by the American-based CFA Institute.The program covers a considerably wide range of topics relating to advanced investment management and security analysis - thus economics, financial reporting and analysis, corporate finance, alternative investments and portfolio management - and provides a generalist knowledge of other areas of finance.Candidates must complete three examinations in succession, and thereafter adhere to a code of ethics, and pay an ongoing certification fee to retain rights to use the financial designation.