CFA Society New York

What CFA Society New York does

CFA Society New York is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1937 by Benjamin Graham and a group of security analysts. It operates as the largest of 142+ member societies affiliated with CFA Institute globally, serving approximately 10,000-12,000 CFA charterholders, CFA candidates, and investment professionals in the New York metro area. The society delivers its value through a diversified portfolio of programs including 200+ annual events (conferences, seminars, volunteer interest group meetings, networking receptions), the Asset Owner Series launched in 2015 reaching 1,500+ institutional investors annually, the Compound Insights Podcast with 190+ episodes, the Video Hub content archive, a mentorship program, and the CFA Institute Research Challenge involving 35+ universities. Its core technology stack is a web-based content management and event registration platform supporting member-only content, video streaming, podcast distribution, and hybrid event capabilities, anchored by a 202-attendee Executive Conference Center at 1540 Broadway in Times Square.

The society generates revenue through five primary streams: tiered annual membership dues ($25-549 across Student, Associate, Candidate, Industry, and Professional tiers, with Professional including dual enrollment in CFA Institute), event registration fees with member-exclusive pricing, corporate sponsorship through the Key Alliance Program (Silver and Bronze tiers featuring firms including MarketAxess, SS&C ALPS, Lord Abbett, MSCI, Nasdaq, State Street, FactSet, Invesco, and Deepsky AI), Executive Conference Center rental to outside organizations, and affiliate referral revenue from educational partnerships with Kaplan Schweser, Wall Street Prep, Financial Modeling Institute, ARPM, Cognitir, CAIA Association, and CMT Association. Pricing follows an annual subscription cadence for memberships (July 1 - June 30) with pay-as-you-go event registration. The society targets primary customer segments including investment professionals (portfolio managers, research analysts, risk managers), finance students, CFA candidates, institutional investors/asset owners, and early-career professionals seeking leadership development. Its go-to-market combines community-led engagement, event-driven acquisition and retention, and sales-led enrollment through the CFA Institute membership system.

Name

CFA Society New York

Legal name

CFA Society New York

Website

https://cfany.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CFA Society New York is the largest of 142+ CFA Institute member societies, serving 10,000-12,000 investment professionals in the New York metro area through 200+ annual events, certifications, mentorship, and the Asset Owner Series. The 1937-founded nonprofit generates revenue from tiered membership dues, events, sponsorships, and venue rental.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Investment Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB), Training, Workshops & Certification Events (MPAGAGAJ), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Investment professional membership
• Professional networking events
• CFA charterholder community
• Financial education programs
• Career development services

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across multiple tiers including Professional Membership ($549/year), Industry Membership ($250/year), Associate Membership ($100/year), Student Membership ($25/year), and Candidate Membership ($100/year). Professional Membership includes dual enrollment in CFA Institute and CFA Society New York.
2. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from paid events including conferences, seminars, and special programming. Pricing varies by event type with member discounts (e.g., $25 Members/$50 Nonmembers for standard events, $75 Members/$150 Nonmembers for major conferences).
3. Event Sponsorships: Key Alliance Program featuring Silver and Bronze tier sponsorships. Silver Partners include Deepsky AI, MarketAxess Holdings Inc., SS&C ALPS Advisors. Bronze Partners include ETF Global. Partners receive marketing exposure, thought leadership opportunities, and access to member events.
4. Event Space Rental: Executive Conference Center rental revenue from outside organizations using the society's Times Square facility. Includes full-day and half-day rental options with catering and A/V services.
5. Exam Prep and Course Revenue: Revenue through educational partnerships including Kaplan Schweser CFA exam prep materials (15% discount to members) and Wall Street Prep financial modeling courses (20% member discount).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CFA Society New York is a nonprofit professional membership organization that provides investment professionals with tiered membership subscriptions, networking events, educational programming, and career development services. Core offerings include five membership tiers (Professional, Industry, Associate, Candidate, Student), 200+ annual events such as conferences and the Asset Owner Series, the Compound Insights podcast, an on-demand Video Hub, a formal Mentorship Program, and an Executive Conference Center available for event space rental.

Product overview

CFA Society New York operates as a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs, networking platforms, and career development services for finance professionals. The core offering centers on CFA Society New York Membership, which provides access to over 10,000 finance professionals, exclusive events, and member benefits. This membership platform is augmented by multiple professional certification pathways including CFA exam preparation through Kaplan Schweser (15% member discount), Certificate in ESG Investing, CAIA, CMT designations, and the Advanced Financial Modeler accreditation from Financial Modeling Institute (20% discount). The organization delivers educational content through multiple channels: the Compound Insights Podcast (available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify), the Video Hub archive, and professional development courses including Wall Street Prep financial modeling training and ARPM quantitative finance programs. The society facilitates professional networking via 15 Volunteer Interest Groups (covering Alternative Investments, Data Science, Institutional Asset Management, Sustainable Investing, Value Investing, and more), the Mentorship Program matching experienced professionals with candidates, and the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge competition. Major event programs include the Asset Owner Series (launched 2015) hosting over 1,500 asset owners annually, the Annual High Yield Bond Conference, and the Ben Graham Conference. Additional services include the Executive Conference Center (available for rental, accommodating up to 202 attendees), Career Center job board, Student Membership Program ($25/year), Graham Center scholarship programs, and the Heloise Ham Scholarship Fund. The society hosts over 200 events, forums, and roundtables annually, positioning itself as the largest CFA Society globally since its founding in 1937.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asset Owner Series: Premium forum providing direct access to institutional investors shaping global capital markets, launched in 2015
• Compound Insights Podcast
• CFA Institute Research Challenge

Products and services

• CFA Society New York Membership Multi-tier annual membership program providing individual investment professionals access to networking events, educational content, mentorship, job board, and member discounts. Tiers: Professional ($549/year, includes CFA Institute membership), Industry ($250/year), Associate ($100/year, new in 2026), Candidate ($100/year), and Student ($25/year).
• Asset Owner Series Premium event program and global platform providing institutional investors and asset owners (pension funds, endowments, foundations, family offices) direct engagement with the broader investment community through conferences, roundtables, and virtual/in-person events. Launched in 2015.
• Mentorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 10,000+ members in New York metro area financial hub
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Kaplan SchwesercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing CFA Program exam prep materials and courses. CFA Society New York members receive 15% discount on study packages, classes, and review workshops. Partnership includes Kaplan Schweser CFA Program Prep, in-person classes in New York locations, and online weekly classes.
• Financial Modeling Institute (FMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Advanced Financial Modeler (AFM) accreditation to CFA Society New York members at exclusive 20% discount. FMI developed the Financial Modeling Practical Skills Module in partnership with CFA Institute. Program validates financial modeling skills including 3-statement modeling and decision-making tool creation.
• Wall Street PrepcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFinancial modeling and valuation training provider. CFA Society New York members save 20% on courses using code CFAMEMBER. Offers self-study programs, boot camps (including AI workflow training), and corporate training. 3-day financial & valuation modeling courses hosted by CFANY.
• Advanced Risk and Portfolio Management (ARPM)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation firm for modern quantitative finance offering the Quant Bootcamp led by Dr. Attilio Meucci. 6-day training at NYU covering machine learning in financial engineering, risk management, and portfolio construction. Members receive 20% discount.
• CognitirsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTech skills training provider for business and finance professionals offering courses including Intro to Python for Business and Finance and Intro to Data Science for Business and Finance (Advanced Python). Classes hosted at CFA Society New York venue.
• CFA InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization providing CFA charter program, standards, and global society network. CFA Society New York is one of 142+ societies. Partnership includes CFA Program administration, continuing education standards, and Global Passport Program for member access to events worldwide.
• Deepsky AIsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Key Alliance Partner. Deepsky AI provides visibility across the sector through the Key Alliance Program. Partners receive marketing suite including social media awareness, website presence, white papers, webinars, and brand recognition.
• MarketAxess Holdings Inc.secondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Key Alliance Partner. MarketAxess participates in the Key Alliance Program providing marketing exposure and thought leadership opportunities. Access to 11,000+ members and engagement with key decision makers.
• SS&C ALPS AdvisorssecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Key Alliance Partner. SS&C ALPS Advisors receives marketing exposure and brand recognition through the Key Alliance Program. Participation in thought leadership and engagement with investment professionals.
• ETF GlobalsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze Key Alliance Partner. ETF Global participates in the Key Alliance Program for brand visibility and thought leadership opportunities among CFA Society New York's investment professional community.
• Lord AbbettsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner firm. Lord Abbett receives marketing exposure through the program. Additionally, Mila Skulkina, CFA, Senior Managing Director at Lord Abbett serves as Board Chair of CFA Society New York.
• MSCIsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner. MSCI participates in the Key Alliance Program for brand recognition and thought leadership engagement with investment professionals.
• NasdaqsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner. Nasdaq receives marketing exposure through the program and participates in thought leadership activities with CFA Society New York members.
• State StreetsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner. State Street participates in the Key Alliance Program for brand recognition and thought leadership opportunities with 11,000+ members.
• FactSetsecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner. FactSet receives marketing exposure through the Key Alliance Program for engagement with investment management community.
• Fordham University Gabelli CentersecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerKey Alliance Partner and university participant in CFA Institute Research Challenge. Fordham University students participate in the annual research competition with mentorship from industry professionals.
• CAIA AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation with stackable credential program for CFA charterholders. Members receive 15% discount on CAIA study packages. CFA charterholders can waive Level I exam and begin preparing for Level II.
• CMT AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with CMT Association for Chartered Market Technician designation. CMT marks highest education in technical analysis discipline. CFA charterholders may be eligible for CMT Level I waiver.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: Parent global organization administering the CFA Program and charter, with 142+ affiliated societies worldwide. CFA Society New York is one society within CFA Institute's network, and the parent sets chartering standards, continuing education requirements, and provides global programming that complements local society offerings.
• Financial Planning Association: National membership organization for financial planners and advisors. Shares the professional association business model (membership dues, conferences, credentialing) but focuses on financial planning rather than investment management, positioning it as adjacent rather than directly competing.

Direct peers

• CAIA Association: Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association offers the CAIA designation as an alternative investment credential. It is a strategic partner of CFA Society New York (15% member discount, stackable credential for CFA charterholders) and competes for the same professional development budget from investment professionals.
• CFA Society Boston: Another large U.S. CFA society serving investment professionals in the Boston financial hub. Operates with similar membership, events, and professional development model as CFA Society New York, with regional differentiation in geographic market focus.
• CMT Association: Chartered Market Technician Association administers the CMT designation for technical analysis. Partner of CFA Society New York with stackable credential pathway, and similarly targets investment professionals seeking continuing education and networking in a specialized investment discipline.
• CFA Society Chicago: Midwest CFA society serving Chicago-based investment professionals with comparable programming, events, and member services. Another directly comparable society within the CFA Institute global network serving a major U.S. financial center.
• NYSSA (New York Society of Security Analysts - legacy): CFANY's former name before rebranding. Historically operated as NYSSA with similar investment professional membership mission; the current CFA Society New York is the direct successor entity that joined the CFA Institute global network.

Emerging players

• 100 Women in Finance: Global nonprofit network for women in the finance industry offering networking events, education, and peer circles. Targets overlapping audience of finance professionals with similar membership/event model and serves as an alternative community for the same professional demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfa-society-new-york
• Xx.com/CFANewYork
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFASocietyNY

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CFA Society New York