Turn complexity into clarity
The value of objective, evidence-based research for the profession.
In an industry undergoing rapid and structural change, investment professionals need ongoing access to objective insights to understand developments and their implications in practice. The research agenda at CFA Institute seeks to meet that need for professionals throughout their careers.
The core role of the investment industry is to allocate capital efficiently in ways that support economic growth. This requires professionals to anticipate change, manage associated risks, and identify emerging opportunities. As a result, professional judgment must be grounded in evidence – an expectation that lies at the heart of the CFA® designation and the organization’s mission.
Research is foundational – it informs our views, our guidance, and our positions. It is central to our role in providing objective insight and perspective for the profession.
Naqvi says that despite spikes of instability over the past few decades, including the global financial crisis, we’re in the midst of a much more fundamental structural shift. “It’s as if the tectonic plates beneath the industry are shifting fundamentally,” she says.
Across areas such as artificial intelligence, the expanding role of private capital, and evolving ethical considerations, CFA Institute produces research that is both technically rigorous and directly applicable to investment practice—helping professionals understand change and respond effectively.
Lifelong learning and the role of research for CFA charterholders
CFA Institute recognizes that charterholders’ success hinges on a commitment to lifelong learning and an ongoing quest for knowledge. Rhodri Preece, CFA, Senior Head of Research, explains: “Research plays a vital role in keeping professionals aware of industry trends and developments, sharing the latest thinking on industry practices, and pushing the frontier of our knowledge base.”
For 80 years, the Financial Analyst Journal has advanced investment practice through rigorous, peer-reviewed research.
The journal addresses the most topical issues across the investment management sphere to provide the evidence base for best practices across the industry. Additionally, the CFA Institute Research Foundation, with a 60-year heritage, publishes in-depth research, including books and deep-dive briefs, from leading subject-matter experts.
The CFA Institute Research and Policy Center (RPC): A hub for thought leadership
The CFA Institute Research and Policy Center (RPC) is home to these industry publications, as well as further CFA Institute thought leadership. The RPC brings together an ecosystem of educational content, comprising carefully-curated research from investment luminaries and topical insights developed by an internal team of researchers.
The RPC is organized around the key themes of capital markets, technology, the future of the industry, and sustainability. The RPC transforms research insights into practical guidance for investment practitioners that strengthen markets, advance ethics, and improve investor outcomes.
It convenes leading researchers and practitioners to foster informed, evidence-based dialogue on issues at the frontier of our collective knowledge. It's part of our quest for broader knowledge and to nurture that dialogue in a constructive, evidence-based way to deal with these changes.
How research should guide the profession
Given the pace and scale of change, teams at CFA Institute spend significant time identifying, exploring and explaining emerging themes, risks, and scenarios that are likely to shape investment decision-making.
“We use evidence-based analysis, foresight, and scenario planning to understand the forces reshaping the industry and to help equip the profession to navigate disruption,” Naqvi says.
In periods of rapid change, simply reflecting existing conditions risks reinforcing practices that are no longer fit for purpose,” Naqvi says. “Maintaining relevance and trust requires evolution – grounded in evidence and guided by principle.”
Charterholders also benefit from the global society network, which provides forums for dialogue, debate, and shared learning across regions and markets,” Naqvi says.
It is equally important that CFA Institute listens closely to its stakeholders, ensuring their priorities inform the development of new research.Being the best professional you can be requires you to continually update your knowledge and stay current with industry developments. It's a critical component of being a competent and ethical practitioner.
How we support the finance industry
Learning
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Who we are
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