Finance Department offers CFA exam scholarships

When Curtis Meyerpeter learned the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business Finance Department had partnered with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute to provide 23 scholarships to take the CFA exam at a reduced cost, he was among the first students to apply for the financial assistance.

Today, the Mizzou senior, who is double majoring in finance and economics, is studying to become a CFA Charterholder. If all goes as planned, Meyerpeter hopes to complete the CFA exam and eventually land a job in data science or financial analysis. 

“I really enjoy statistics and hope to find a career where I can dive into data and find out exactly what everything means,” he said. 

Meyerpeter is among the latest students to receive a scholarship through the partnership between Trulaske and the CFA Institute. The CFA exam is a rigorous test, considered a gold standard in the financial industry. Its three levels evaluate candidates on a vast range of financial and investment skills. A passing score on all levels signifies a deep understanding of the subject matter and is crucial to attaining the prestigious CFA Charter. 

“With candidates typically investing over 300 hours of study, these scholarships can remove a financial burden, enabling dedicated Trulaske students to fully focus on their path to this esteemed career milestone,” said John Stansfield, associate teaching professor and director of the CFA Partner Program.

Meyerpeter, who grew up in O’Fallon, Missouri, has been a lifelong Tiger fan and never considered applying anywhere but MU – the fact that Mizzou has a highly ranked business college was a bonus. 

“It was the obvious choice for me,” he said.

The Trulaske College of Business, which has participated in the CFA Institute’s University Affiliation Program (UAP) since 2007, was able to secure such a high number of scholarships because of the college’s robust ethics course offerings and significant number of full- and part-time CFA Charterholders on faculty. 

The UAP recognizes academic institutions that embed at least 70% of the CFA® Program Candidate Body of Knowledge™ (CBOK) into their curricula and provide students with access to the CFA curricula for the ethics of investment management. Starting the in 1990s, the Trulaske Finance Department has taken careful consideration of the CBOK into its curriculum. Today, students in their junior year are allowed to sit for the Level 1 CFA exam and seniors who have passed Level 1 can register for Level 2.

“The CFA Body of Knowledge is updated continuously and reflects the skills that employers value in the industry,” Stansfield said. “This has allowed us to provide a curriculum that incorporates the best practices in the industry.”

The CFA designation is globally recognized and signifies more than 60 years of delivering the highest standards of excellence, ethics and education in the investment profession. Earning the CFA designation requires passing three exams (Levels 1, 2, and 3) and accruing three years of qualifying work experience in the investment industry.

There are currently six CFA Charterholders working for Trulaske College of Business, including Stansfield; Matteo Binfarè, assistant professor in the Finance Department; David Fischer, director of risk management and insurance and assistant teaching professor in the Finance Department; Tim M. Howald, an adjunct professor in Finance Department; Chris Prestigiacomo, associate teaching professor; Sudip Datta, chair of Finance Department, Missouri Bankers Chair and professor of finance; and Vishal Sharma, a doctoral student in finance. 

Student interested in applying for a scholarship can visit the CFA Institute.