Thanks for taking the time to learn more about the Investments & Wealth Institute®, formerly IMCA. We hope the following FAQs will help you understand more about the Institute and your membership. Should you have additional questions after reading the FAQs, please email info@i-w.org or call us at (303) 770-3377.
Q: Why is IMCA changing its name?
A: The name, Investments & Wealth Institute reflects who we are and what we do — and makes it easier for your clients to understand who we are, and what we do. The Investments & Wealth Institute is a professional association, advanced education provider, and certification board for financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth managers who continuously strive for excellence and hold themselves to the highest ethical standards. The new name better reflects our well-earned reputation as the nation’s leading provider of advanced investments and wealth education.
Q: Why is the name change occurring now?
A: Unlike organizations that make changes during a period of crisis, or declining reputation, the Board of Directors decided to proactively make changes from a position of strength. Our ultimate goal is to raise the knowledge bar for the entire financial services industry, improve confidence and trust for investors, and maintain the highest ethical standards. We are directly impacted by how others view and understand our organization, and what we aim to accomplish on their behalf. Our new name “Investments & Wealth Institute” more clearly defines the organization now and for the future.
Q: Has the ownership of the organization changed, has it been acquired?
A: No, the organization’s structure has not changed and we have not been acquired. Our current 13-member board of directors, including four officers, will continue to govern the organization.
Q: What was the process to change the name?
A: In late 2015, IMCA’s Board of Directors asked the staff to explore rebranding the organization, including the possibility of a name change. In early 2016, we engaged a leading branding firm to help us develop a strategy for strengthening our brand and to explore potential names. A third-party research firm was engaged to conduct substantial quantitative and qualitative research among members and nonmembers. The data was used to help us make thoughtful, informed decisions. Along the way, input was provided from a number of members and volunteers including Board members, committees, councils, conference attendees, nonmembers and industry partners. We listened intently to all of these voices. The outcome of these efforts, along with trademark and intellectual property searches, resulted in a select group of potential names. In conjunction with this work, the staff developed a comprehensive, multi-year plan, which was approved by the Board in December 2016. In early 2017, final concepts were tested, and logos were developed. On April 30, 2017 the Board unanimously voted to change the name of the organization to the Investments & Wealth Institute. Additional work commenced to build out brand guidelines, a brand launch plan, and a communications plan.
Q: What does the new Investments & Wealth Institute logo/mark mean?
A: The workings of a hive are the perfect metaphor for the kind of collaborative values fitting for the Investments & Wealth Institute. The beehive has served as the model for an ideal networking community, while honey and wax have been linked to many positive metaphors such as sweetness, productivity and wealth. The life of the healthy hive represents research, innovation, diligence, structure and collaboration. It’s about a community of like-minded professionals working together, where everyone has clear purpose and works together to achieve the goal of the whole, thus being efficient with resources and sharing the surplus.
Q: Will the Institute change who can be members of the organization?
A: No. We remain the leading professional association, advanced education provider, and standards body for financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth managers who embrace excellence and ethics.
Q: Is the Investments & Wealth Institute still supporting investment management consultants?
A: Yes! We have developed an Investments & Wealth Competency Matrix that clearly defines our professional development offerings and how they map to the CIMA Body of Knowledge (Investment Advice) and the CPWA Body of Knowledge (Wealth Advice). We remain committed as the leading professional association, advanced education provider, and standards body for financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth managers who embrace excellence and ethics.
Q: What does this mean for my MyIMCA account and how do I access my account?
A: Your login credentials will not change and you can access your account by clicking the Login icon in the upper right corner of the home page.
Q: Are there any changes to the CIMA and CPWA designations?
A: For active CIMA and CPWA holders, it will be business as usual, except for being under the umbrella of the new organization. Your certification renewal requirements and Code of Professional Responsibility remain unchanged. However, there will be new logos for CIMA and CPWA that are consistent with the overall branding guidelines. New usage guides to the marks are available and can be downloaded.
Q: What does this brand change mean for affiliated organizations?
A: Affiliates of the organization will also be changing their branding and names. IMCA Australia will now become the CIMA Society of Australia, an affiliate of Investments & Wealth Institute. IMCA New York will now become the Investments & Wealth Society of New York, an affiliate of Investments & Wealth Institute. Our members in Canada will continue to have a Canadian Advisory Council, but have decided not to create an affiliate Society structure and would prefer to be part of the larger entity The Investments & Wealth Institute.
Q: What is the Investments & Wealth Institute doing for individual investors?
A: The Institute has a website www.InvestmentHelp.org which has information for investors, including a search capability to find CIMA’s and CPWA’s. The Institute will also have online content and new client brochures which may be shared with investors so they better understand the role of the Investments & Wealth Institute and the value of seeking advice from CIMA and CPWA certificants.
Q: What should I expect as a RIIA member or RMA®?
A: See our RIIA and RMA FAQs for detailed information about the Institute's acquisition of the RMA designation and related educational content.
Q: Are membership dues increasing?
A: No, membership dues are not increasing with this announcement.
Q: Why should I renew my membership with the Investments & Wealth Institute?
A: Whether you are interested in our industry-leading events and conferences, pursuing advanced certifications, or fine-tuning your skills in one of our specialized professional development programs, the Investments & Wealth Institute provides you, as a member, with:
- Best-in-class certifications
- Premier quality education
- Exceptional live events
- Specialized online learning
- Insightful publications
- Library of online resources
- Elite community of peers
Q: Are there other changes coming?
A: Yes, you can look forward to many continuous improvements as we work to better serve our members and certificants, including:
- www.investmentsandwealth.org
- New education products
- CIMA Job Task Analysis, which will update the CIMA core topics
- Changes to the CIMA initial certification process
Q: Are you launching a new website?
A: You may continue to access our website at www.imca.org and the old URL will be redirected to the new website www.investmentsandwealth.org The new URL www.investmentsandwealth.org is currently active.
Q: When can I start using the new logo?
A: The new brand name was announced in Chicago at the Private Wealth Advisor Conference on Oct. 16, 2017 (4 p.m. CT), so it is being used now transitionally with the tag “formerly IMCA.” For permission to use the new logo, please contact Jill Spence jspence@i-w.org.
Q: Is there a new acronym for the name? How should I abbreviate Investments & Wealth Institute?
A: Our industry already has too many acronyms and we would like to avoid having our new name become an acronym. In written and verbal communications we will refer to ourselves as the Investments & Wealth Institute. As a short form, once the full name has already been stated, we may refer to ourselves as “the Institute.”
Q: How can I contact the Investments & Wealth Institute and the staff?
Our address and phone numbers will remain the same, however, staff email addresses have changed.
To contact the Institute’s office:
Investments & Wealth Institute
5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 500
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
+1 303-770-3377 (phone)
+1 303-770-1812 (general fax)
General Inquiries: TheInstitute@investmentsandwealth.org
Technical/Website Inquiries: itadmin@investmentsandwealth.org
To reach a staff member via email, use their first initial and last name followed by @i-w.org or investmentsandwealth.org. For example: John Doe would be jdoe@i-w.org or jdoe@investmentsandwealth.org will also work.
Q: Where can I find more information?
A: Explore this website for more information or call +1 303-770-3377.