New Charterholder Notification Form - Proper Use of CFA Designation?

CFA Level III
#1

On the CFA Institute’s website, the first sentence of the boilerplate letter CFAI uses for informing the peers/colleagues of new charterholders reads:

“We are excited to inform you that [Your Name] is now a Chartered Financial Analyst®.”

The letter is signed by Paul Smith, President and CEO of CFAI.

Can someone please explain to me how this is considered proper usage of the designation?

#2

I hope they loosen the rules up on that stuff. The market calls CFA charterholders just “CFAs” - and you look like a douche if you correct people

#3

I agree the most correct form would be to say some is a CFA Charterholder… but I think I calling someone a “Chartered Financial Analyst” is less worse that saying… “you are a CFA”…

#4

At my firm its nonstop where we are referred to as CFAs. Sometimes we are called the CFA Team. We are constantly correcting managers but I think they think its funny, more being done just to get a rise out of us.

#5

According Volume 1, Reading 2, Exhibit 4 of the Level 3 materials it is improper because the designation must always be used as adjectives, never as nouns.

Link to source: http://imgur.com/a/9mdp9

#6

From the email template:

“We are excited to inform you that [Your Name] is now a Chartered Financial Analyst®.”

From the Trademark Usage Guide:

Improper

  • John Smith is a CFA.
  • John Smith is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
  • John Smith and Amy Jones are CFAs.

??? :open_mouth:???

#7

CFAI COE

Do not ever use at nouns. Use as adjectives.

#8

it could be that there is an exemption if it’s the actual CFAI referring to people as Charterholders

else

someone shoukd submit an official violation complaint on the President lol

#9

Maybe Chartered Financial Analyst® with the “R” will make it a noun and not adjectives.

#10

What’s the link to that boilerplate letter?

#11

I believe it’s a custom link for each of us based on our email address. It takes us to a form where we have fields to input a recipient’s name and their email address, then hit a submit button. I’ll generate one to your info email box Bill.

#12

I haven’t found anybody who added ® after CFA beside the name.

#13

I sent an e-mail to CFA Institute.

I’ll let y’all know the reply.

#14

Thank you. I’m curious to know.

#15

Bump. Any update?

#16

I’ll let you know when I get a reply.

Patience, grasshopper.

#17

^ thumbs up

#18

I received the generic letter in the mail this week. The offending sentence from the email blast differs from the language in the physical copy. The latter reads:

“It is my pleasure to advise you that [Your Name], CFA has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) credential and is a member of the CFA Institute.”

Order has been restored. Rest easy.

#19

Calm down guys, the letter actually said:

“We are excited to inform you that [Your Name] is now a Chartered Financial Analyst® charterholder”

#20

Well I guess when you make the rules you have an exception…

But in my experience I never hear anyone with their CFA ever use it incorrectly. The only time I hear it incorrectly are from people who don’t have their CFA but are familiar with the designation.