Investment Adviser Association

What Investment Adviser Association does

The Investment Adviser Association (IAA) is a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1937, headquartered at 818 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 600, in Washington, DC. It is the only organization exclusively representing SEC-registered fiduciary investment adviser firms, serving more than 600 member firms that collectively manage over $57 trillion in assets. The IAA's core mission is advocacy on behalf of the investment advisory industry before Congress, the SEC, the CFTC, the Department of Labor, and FinCEN, complemented by compliance resources, professional education, industry research, and peer community.

The IAA generates revenue primarily through firm membership dues (assessed annually based on each member's Regulatory Assets Under Management as reported on Form ADV), associate member dues (a flat $5,250 per firm annually for custodians, fintech, law firms, and consultants), paid conferences and events (Investment Adviser Compliance Conference, Policy & Leadership Forum, Compliance Workshops, Executive Roundtables), the IACCP certification and Core Compliance Programs co-sponsored with COMPLY (with 1,250+ IACCP designees), the Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets developed with DACFP, and tiered conference sponsorship programs. Distribution is direct membership sales supplemented by the IAA Exchange online community platform. Member firms range from boutique RIAs under $1B AUM to mega-managers such as Fidelity, J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management, T. Rowe Price, and Franklin Templeton, and the organization plays a coordinating role in industry working groups on AI, crypto assets, ESG, marketing rule, DOL/ERISA, and other regulatory topics.

Name

Investment Adviser Association

Legal name

Investment Adviser Association

Website

https://investmentadviser.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Investment Adviser Association (IAA) is a Washington, DC-based not-for-profit trade association founded in 1937 that represents more than 600 SEC-registered fiduciary investment adviser firms managing over $57 trillion in assets, providing advocacy, compliance resources, professional education, and industry research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association and Industry Advocacy Services

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (523150)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Fee-Based Advisory (FSAEAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC), Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

Keywords

• Investment adviser advocacy
• Compliance education services
• Trade association membership
• Regulatory policy advocacy
• Professional certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Firm Membership Dues: Regular IAA annual member dues are based on a firm's Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM) as reported on Form ADV. Dues are assessed and payable at the beginning of each calendar year, with first-year dues prorated by quarter. The firm can designate as many employees as it desires to receive membership benefits.
2. Associate Membership Dues: Associate membership is available to custodians, fintech, law firms, consultants, and other entities aligned with investment adviser interests. Annual dues are $5,250 per firm, prorated monthly for new firms in the first calendar year.
3. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue from paid conferences including the Investment Adviser Compliance Conference, Policy & Leadership Forum, Compliance Workshops, and Executive Roundtables. Both member and non-member pricing applies.
4. IACCP Certification and Training Fees: Revenue from the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) program and Investment Adviser Core Compliance Program, co-sponsored with COMPLY. The IACCP program includes required courses, exam fees, and continuing education.
5. Conference Sponsorship and Exhibition: Sponsors and exhibitors at the Investment Adviser Compliance Conference and other events provide revenue. The IAA offers tiered sponsorship packages (Premier Strategic Partners, Core Strategic Partners) through IAA Access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Investment Adviser Association is a not-for-profit trade association that provides SEC-registered investment adviser firms with regulatory advocacy before Congress and federal agencies, compliance resources and legal guidance, professional certification programs (IACCP, Core Compliance, Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets), industry research (Investment Adviser Industry Snapshot), and member events and conferences. It is funded primarily through firm membership dues scaled by Regulatory Assets Under Management and flat-rate associate membership for service providers.

Product overview

The Investment Adviser Association (IAA) is a not-for-profit professional membership organization offering a comprehensive suite of member services for fiduciary investment advisers. The organization provides publications (IAA Today newsletter, Investment Adviser Industry Snapshot report), professional certifications (IACCP designation, Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets, Investment Adviser Core Compliance Program), an online member community (IAA Exchange), specialized resource centers (Active Managers Council, Compliance Hubs covering AI/Crypto/Privacy/ERISA topics), regulatory tracking tools (Regulatory Tracker, Legislation Tracker), educational events (Compliance Conference, Policy & Leadership Forum, Workshops, Executive Roundtables), and compliance research resources (Resource Library, Investment Management Compliance Testing Survey). The IAA does not offer a technology product; its offerings are member-focused services centered on advocacy, compliance support, education, and industry research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Active Managers Council: The premier industry voice for active investment management, balancing the narrative on active and passive management and providing education about the benefits of active management.

Products and services

• IAA Today Weekly online and email newsletter providing timely news, analysis, commentary, and regulatory developments for fiduciary investment advisers.
• Investment Adviser Industry Snapshot Annual joint report with Comply tracking the US investment adviser industry, providing statistics on adviser count, clients, assets under management, and employment.
• Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) Industry-recognized compliance certification co-sponsored with COMPLY, requiring 17 required courses, 3 elective courses, ethics commitment and assessment, a certifying examination, and 2 years of work experience. More than 1,250 compliance professionals hold the designation.
• Investment Adviser Core Compliance Program Foundational compliance training program delivering core professional competence for professionals new to the industry or seeking to solidify their knowledge of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, co-sponsored with COMPLY.
• Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets 13-hour, 11-module online professional designation program developed in partnership with the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP), covering blockchain, digital assets, portfolio construction, regulation, compliance and risk, and operations.
• IAA Exchange Online community platform enabling members to engage with peers, access exclusive content, participate in online communities, and share best practices.
• Active Managers Council Premier industry voice for active investment management that balances the narrative on active and passive management, provides research, commentary, and educational content, and engages with policymakers.
• Resource Library Online repository of legal, regulatory, and compliance materials including SEC examination guidance, CFTC and derivatives regulation information, reporting requirements, and cybersecurity resources.
• Regulatory Tracker Tracking tool monitoring fast-moving regulatory changes, highlighting IAA advocacy efforts, breaking news, SEC and agency actions, litigation developments, and executive orders.
• IAA Events & Education Portfolio of in-person and virtual events including the annual Compliance Conference, Policy & Leadership Forum (combining Adviser Advocacy Day and Leadership Forum), Compliance Workshops, and Executive Roundtables.
• Investment Management Compliance Testing Survey Annual online survey conducted jointly with ACA Compliance Group and Yuter Compliance Consulting, identifying compliance testing practices and strategies used by investment adviser firms.

Quantifiable outcome

• The IAA has influenced the regulatory landscape for investment advisers for 85+ years, including playing a major role in the enactment of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ComplycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The IAA and Comply jointly publish the annual Investment Adviser Industry Snapshot, a flagship industry report covering adviser counts, AUM, client numbers, employment, and other key metrics. Comply provides compliance technology and the IAA provides industry data for the report.
• Charles SchwabcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025The IAA and Charles Schwab announced a strategic relationship in October 2025. Schwab serves as a Core Strategic Partner at the Investment Adviser Compliance Conference and provides custodial and related services to many IAA member firms.
• ACA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2021The IAA and ACA Group announced a strategic partnership in September 2021. ACA Group provides compliance technology and consulting services. ACA serves as a Premier Strategic Partner at IAA conferences and collaborates on compliance surveys and resources.
• DACFP (Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IAA partners with DACFP to offer the Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets to IAA members at a $100 discount. The 13-hour, 11-module program covers blockchain, digital assets, portfolio construction, regulation, compliance, and client communication. IAA members also receive continuing education credits (CFP, CFA, CIMA, CPWA, RMA).
• COMPLYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IAA co-sponsors the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCP) and Investment Adviser Core Compliance Programs with COMPLY. More than 1,250 compliance professionals hold the IACCP designation. Programs include required courses, ethics assessments, and certifying examinations.
• IAA Compliance Conference Sponsors and ExhibitorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier Strategic Partners include ACA Group, Schwab, Norm.ai, Advent. Core Strategic Partners include Berkshire Global, Egnyte, Fairview Invest, Red Oak Compliance, Salus GRC, Wolf & Co. Sponsors receive exhibition and branding opportunities at IAA conferences.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SIFMA (Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association): SIFMA is the leading trade association for the U.S. securities industry, representing broker-dealers, banks, and asset managers. It is directly comparable to the IAA as a financial services advocacy organization that provides regulatory engagement, research, and conferences to its member firms.
• Investment Company Institute (ICI): ICI is the leading association representing regulated investment companies (mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds, and UITs). It is directly comparable to the IAA as the trade body that advocates for a major segment of the asset management industry before Congress and the SEC.
• Money Management Institute (MMI): MMI serves the financial advisory industry, including investment advisory and wealth management firms. It is directly comparable to the IAA as a membership organization that supports investment advisory firms with advocacy, education, and benchmarking programs.
• Financial Services Institute (FSI): FSI is the advocacy organization for independent financial advisors and broker-dealer firms. It is directly comparable to the IAA in representing a defined segment of the advisory industry and engaging regulators and Congress on compliance, supervision, and fiduciary issues.

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is the global professional association for investment professionals, awarding the CFA charter and CIPM designation. It is broadly comparable to the IAA in operating as a credentialing, advocacy, and standards body for the investment management profession.
• American Bankers Association (ABA): ABA is the largest U.S. trade association for the banking industry, with advocacy, compliance, and education programs. It is broadly comparable to the IAA in structure and mission, though it represents banks rather than SEC-registered investment advisers.

Emerging players

• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA): NAPFA is a U.S. trade association of fee-only financial advisors, overlapping with the IAA's fee-based advisor constituency. It is comparable to the IAA as a membership organization for fiduciary advisors but with a narrower fee-only focus and smaller scale.
• Managed Funds Association (MFA): MFA represents the hedge fund and alternative investment industry globally, including many SEC-registered investment advisers. It is comparable to the IAA as a trade body that engages on overlapping regulatory issues (Form PF, AML, SEC examinations) affecting a subset of IAA members.
• CFP Board: The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards sets and enforces certification standards for CFP professionals, many of whom work within IAA member firms. It is comparable to the IAA in operating a professional designation and standards framework in the personal financial planning space.
• National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP): NSCP is a membership organization dedicated to the compliance profession in the financial services industry. It is comparable to the IAA in serving a compliance-oriented constituency of investment advisers, though its scope is broader (broker-dealers, banks, insurers) and it focuses more narrowly on the compliance function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/IAA_Today
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/InvestmentAdviserOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investment-adviser-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Investment Adviser Association