The financial services industry is changing rapidly. Helping members embrace these changes is part of IMCA’s 2017 strategic initiatives and we wanted to share how the association is working to transform knowledge into value for you and your clients.

IMCA’s strategic plan was developed by your Board with you in mind – not only to help facilitate greater success for you and your clients, but also to help propel the industry by increasing public trust and improving outcomes for investors.

The plan positions IMCA for the future and at its center are objectives–based on GEARS: Grow, Educate, Add Value, Relevance, and Standards–designed to accelerate our role as the premier provider of advanced education for investment and wealth practitioners.

Here’s what this means to you:

• Grow. With more than 11,500 members and certificants in 38 countries, IMCA is growing. We are an organization of and for advanced practitioners. The objective for growth is simple: The more professionals we certify, the more the public benefits by a higher level of professionalism, ethics and competency. You can help: ask a peer to join IMCA and direct them to joinimca.org.
• Educate. The board is committed to strengthen IMCA’s position as the industry’s leading provider of education and credentials that address contemporary investment and wealth management challenges. As your learning needs and preferences evolve, you can expect us to provide new ways to deliver education. You should sign up today to attend the Advanced Investment Strategist deep dive at Wharton as part of our Masters Series, or the Private Wealth Advisor Conference in Chicago. If you prefer online learning, sign up for our new Fiduciary Best Practices course, or check out our catalog of online courses. Expect to see a new advanced certificate program to be announced in late 2017.
• Add Value. Succeeding as an advisor today means demonstrating value. Because we understand the challenges you face day-to-day, we will continue to develop and deliver practical tools and strategies you can use to put your hard-earned knowledge to work in the real world. Make sure you are maximizing your membership benefits like the complimentary Barron’s subscription, and . Late this year IMCA will unveil a new web site with a suite of new, online members-only benefits.
• Relevance. The expectation for advanced knowledge and professionalism in the industry is rising. Client expectations are following suit. How do you keep pace with change and maintain your relevance? Earlier this year we announced the Investments & Wealth Competency Matrix, a framework designed to ensure that IMCA’s advanced education remains on the forefront of an evolving profession. We’ll update the global body of knowledge regularly, so that through your membership, you are always one click away from “transforming knowledge into value.” Watch closely for your invitation during the next month to participate in “The Future of Investment Advice Study: 2017 CIMA Job Analysis.” As a result of this study, CIMA certification will be updated to address the most relevant knowledge and skill trends in the global investment advisory and consulting profession. If you’d like to participate in this study, send an email to info@imca.org.

Standards. More than 30 years ago IMCA was created to develop and encourage the practice of high standards of professional conduct, and to promote and protect the interests of the profession and the public it serves. Our commitment to high standards has only grown. IMCA’s certifications represent international best practices for personnel certification. If you serve high- net-worth clients and you haven’t looked into CPWA certification yet, your clients may be missing out. If you haven’t pursued CIMA certification yet, and are afraid of the time commitment, check out the new Kaplan Education Exam Prep course for CIMA candidates.

IMCA has developed a reputation for delivering ivy-league, quality education with real-world solutions for practitioners. Our board of 13 directors, our 140+ volunteers, and 38 professional staff are committed to our mission to deliver premier investment and wealth management credentials, and world class education. You can help us out. Any time you read an interesting IMCA article or blog post, attend a conference or participate in an online education program you like, share it with your friends and add the hashtags #ValueKnowledge and #IMCA17.

The rest of 2017 will be a whirlwind of change for IMCA. Keep an eye out for important announcements in the coming months as the GEARS plan continues to accelerate.

Thank you for your continued commitment to IMCA and the investment and wealth management profession.