Ask any investment firm what they look for when hiring investment professionals and they're likely to include competence and integrity in their top list. The CFAR charter is a symbol of both competence and integrity. These qualities are difficult to measure, but when investment professionals have voluntarily subjected themselves to the profession's most rigorous examination process, and succeeded, that obviously sends an important message to employers. From the Economist: "... there is only one CFA... explosive growth has made it, in effect, global currency... The gold standard..." Regulators from around the world also have a high regard for the CFA Program. A survey conducted amongst CFA Institute members on their compensation level found that having a CFA charter is playing an increasingly important role in impacting the compensation of investment professionals in Hong Kong. In 2001, CFA charter holders earned 16 percent more than non-charter holders. This jumped to 23 percent in 2003. In 2005, CFA charter holders out earned their counterparts without a CFA charter by 48 percent.

CFA Institute Asia Pacific Office conducts a CFA Program University Presentation Day every year to introduce to students the globally recognized CFA Program, and the benefits of the CFA charter qualification including its international mobility and career opportunity enhancement. This year's event took place on 28 October 2006 and it attracted over 200 local students. Among them are final year undergraduates as well as full time post graduate students.

This year, the event featured exhibits from CFA Institute and its local society the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts, Goldman Sachs, Wiley & Sons, and A-Performers.com, plus presentations from the following speakers: