2009-07-02 17:50:04 -

The CFA Society of Los Angeles (CFALA) and the USC Marshall School of Business said today that they will again provide free courses over the Internet for active-duty U.S. military personnel stationed abroad who wish to earn their Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.

“More than 20 soldiers and sailors stationed all over the globe enrolled in the inaugural online program for the military last year, indicating a high level of interest,” said incoming CFALA President Ken Yee, noting that the enrollees included several stationed in Iraq. The free online program is also available to members of coalition forces serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

“We are proud to help these dedicated people who are simultaneously serving their country and preparing for a civilian career

in the investment industry. Our program with the Marshall School is now in its 25 th year and we think that offering the free online courses again is a great way to celebrate that milestone. We want active duty personnel to know that the program is available to them.”


Among those who took advantage of the ground-breaking online program is Ensign Billy Griffin, a 22-year-old Naval Academy graduate now stationed aboard USS Peleliu in San Diego, CA.

"I thought the offer was extraordinarily generous," Griffin said. "I'm really interested in finance, and my goal is to finish all the CFA exams by time my five-year service commitment is finished. I'm not sure if I'll stay in the Navy beyond that, but if I choose to get out, the CFA program will undoubtedly help facilitate an easier transition into the financial world. At some point I'd like to start my own fund company."

Another enrollee in the current program, 42-year-old Army Lieutenant Colonel Mike Kolb, accessed the courses by computer from Kaiserslautern, Germany, where he is Chief of Plans and Operations for the Human Resources Sustainment Center.

“I wanted to take advantage of the CFA program to keep my financial skills current,” said Kolb, who has already had a career in finance and now sees a college campus in his future.

“After graduating from the University of Southern California, I served three years Active Duty in the Army as a Field Artillery officer in Germany. I later earned an MBA from Boston University and started a boutique private equity firm, Phoenix Services, which I ran until I was recalled to active duty in 2004 to serve in the global war on terrorism.

I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. I have no current plans to leave the Army; when I do I will likely gravitate to a position in academia.”


Whatever courses their post-service careers take, a CFA designation will be a distinct asset for Griffin and Kolb, noted Larry Harris, Director of the Center for Investment Studies at Marshall.

“The CFA designation, which is recognized internationally, requires a rigorous course of study,” Harris said. “Our program has helped hundreds of candidates preparing for the CFA examinations to learn from USC faculty members and from CFALA members who hold top positions in the investment community. We are very pleased to be sharing our resources and expertise with U.S. servicemen and servicewomen.”


Further information on the CFALA Review Program, a brochure describing the streaming media program, and an Active Duty Service Members’ Application are available at www.cfala.org : or cfareview@cfala.org : mailto:cfareview@cfala.org . The next review program will begin in August.

About CFA Society of Los Angeles


Established in 1931, the CFA Society of Los Angeles is a network of more than 1,900 investment management professionals in the greater Los Angeles area. CFA Society of Los Angeles is one of 134 societies of the global CFA Institute. The mission of the Society is to provide access to information, expertise and personal interaction to further members' professional development and to promote the value of the profession and the CFA designation.

About USC Marshall School of Business


Based in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, at the crossroads of the Pacific Rim, the USC Marshall School is the best place to learn the art and science of business. The school's programs serve nearly 5,000 undergraduate, graduate, professional and executive-education students, who attend classes in facilities at the main Los Angeles campus, as well as satellite facilities in Irvine and San Diego. USC Marshall also operates a Global MBA program in conjunction with Jiao Tong University in Shanghai, China.


CFA Review Program Co-directorsLarry Harris, (213) 740-6496 LHarris@marshall.usc.edu : mailto:LHarris@marshall.usc.edu orBill
Krantz, (213) 341-1164 x701 cfareview@cfala.org : mailto:cfareview@cfala.org