CIMA (Certified Investment Management Analyst)
The institutional-quality wealth management credential; deeply embedded at major US wirehouses. Stronger portfolio-construction emphasis than CFP.
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Visit Official Site →Founded
1988
HQ
Greenwood Village, CO, USA
Target Audience
Wealth managers and investment consultants serving high-net-worth clients; portfolio construction, manager selection, due diligence.
Key Features
- Two-step exam: Qualification Exam (online proctored, 50 MCQ, 2 hours) + Certification Exam (in-person/online, 100 MCQ, 4 hours)
- Mandatory in-person/online executive education (Wharton, Yale SOM, U-Chicago Booth, or Investments & Wealth Institute) between exams
- Curriculum covers fundamentals, investments, portfolio theory, asset allocation, risk management, ethics
- 3 years of professional experience required
- 40 hours of CE every 2 years (including 2 hours ethics)
- ~9,500+ CIMA professionals; deeply embedded at wirehouses (Morgan Stanley, Merrill, UBS, Wells Fargo)
How to Get This Certification
Prerequisites
3 years of professional experience in financial services, clean disciplinary record. Education program at approved university required between the two exams.
Why Get Certified — ROI
Salary Impact
CIMA professionals report a $25,000–$60,000 premium versus non-CIMA peers serving HNW clients (Investments & Wealth Institute 2024 Member Compensation Study). Median US CIMA total compensation: $200,000+ in HNW practices.
Career Benefits
- What makes this stand out
- The institutional-quality wealth management credential; deeply embedded at major US wirehouses. Stronger portfolio-construction emphasis than CFP.
- Industry recognition
- Investments & Wealth Institute proprietary; ANSI/ISO 17024 accredited (one of few accredited financial advisor credentials).
Job Market Recognition
ANSI/ISO 17024Who Should Get This Certification
Ideal for:
- Wealth managers and investment consultants serving high-net-worth clients
- portfolio construction
- manager selection
- due diligence.
Consider alternatives if:
- Most expensive US wealth credential — $7K-$11K all-in is 2-3x a CFP path
- Limited brand awareness outside wirehouse channels and HNW practices
How to Maintain This Certification
- Renewal cycle:
- 2 years
Pricing
Pricing varies.
Weaknesses
- Most expensive US wealth credential — $7K-$11K all-in is 2-3x a CFP path
- Limited brand awareness outside wirehouse channels and HNW practices
- Heavy wirehouse skew — independent RIAs less likely to pursue
- Executive education programs are time-intensive (1-2 weeks residential/online)
Markets Served
US
Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links.
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