Investments & Wealth Institute: 40 Years of Leadership and Legacy

In 2025, the Investments & Wealth Institute celebrates a remarkable milestone: four decades of excellence as a premier professional membership association, education provider, and credentialing body for financial service professionals and advisors serving high-net-worth clients.

Founded in 1985 by a group of visionary investment consultants*, our history is marked by a portfolio of milestones and accomplishments that reflect our deepest commitments and values: keeping our members and certified professionals ahead of the curve with world-class educational resources and programs, while broadening public trust and understanding of the investment consulting and wealth management professions.

From the beginning, the Institute has understood the ongoing, day-to-day challenges that wealth managers, financial advisors, RIA teams and ensemble practices, and enterprise-level decision makers in the financial advice industry face in differentiating themselves in the marketplace of high-net-worth individuals and families — especially those who are truly committed to excellence and ethics in managing their business. The challenge of demonstrating value to sophisticated, educated clients who have access to countless advisory options is not easy.

It is our job to mitigate these challenges, and for the last four decades, we have offered financial professionals the advanced knowledge, skills, and credentials needed to differentiate themselves successfully and build trust-based client relationships. Today, our membership exceeds 21,000 professionals. Every year, we reach over 30,000 financial services practitioners with conferences, certifications, and award-winning educational resources — in over 40 countries!

Here are some historical highlights of our work. Find out more by visiting our 40th Anniversary celebration page.

Foundations in Professionalism

The story begins in Denver, Colorado, with the establishment of the Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), the precursor to the Investments & Wealth Institute. Founded to promote professionalism in investment consulting, IMCA’s early years were marked by the creation of a Code of Professional Responsibility and the launch of The Monitor, a publication that continues to guide advisors today​​.

The next pivotal moment came in 1988 with the introduction of the Certified Investment Management Analyst® (CIMA®) certification, which was originally developed in partnership with The Wharton School. This program quickly ascended to serve as the benchmark credential for expertise in investment management. In 2011, the CIMA certification became the first financial services credential in the United States accredited by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board). Re-accredited twice since, it remains a global benchmark of excellence, equipping investment professionals with the advanced knowledge and skills required to thrive in today's complex financial landscape.

Recognizing the shifting needs of our members’ high-net-worth clients, the Institute launched the Certified Private Wealth Advisor® (CPWA®) certification in 2007. This designation redefined wealth management by addressing the complexities of serving affluent clients with a holistic, multidisciplinary approach — designed specifically for seasoned advisors and wealth managers who work with, or who want to work with, high-net-worth clients. The CPWA certification program was accredited by ANAB in 2022, affirming that the CPWA certification consistently distinguishes those who meet a global standard of competency and skills in private wealth management from those who do not.

In 2017, the organization embraced a new identity as the Investments & Wealth Institute, reflecting its expanded mission to provide advanced education and professional certifications for financial advisors. The following year, it further solidified its leadership by acquiring the Retirement Management Advisor® (RMA®) certification, a critical resource for retirement income planning in the face of unprecedented demographic trends.

Continuing the Journey: Diversity, Inclusion, and Award-Winning Education

The establishment of the Investments & Wealth Foundation in 2022 signaled a bold commitment to fostering diversity in the financial services profession. Through scholarships and specially focused initiatives the Foundation has opened doors for underrepresented groups, ensuring a more inclusive and sustainable future for the industry​​. These programs help address systemic challenges faced by minorities, women, veterans, first-generation professionals, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people from low-income backgrounds in the financial advice industry. By offering financial support, they enable talented individuals from these underrepresented communities to pursue advanced designations like the CIMA, CPWA, and RMA certifications.

In November 2023, the Investments & Wealth Institute launched the Investments & Wealth Academy, a transformative platform designed to enhance the Institute’s multi-modal educational offerings. Created to support both seasoned advisors and NextGen professionals, the Academy was built with the goal of providing resources that enable financial professionals to thrive in a rapidly evolving industry. Its versatility, depth, and adherence to universal design best practices set it apart as a leader in financial education, offering a comprehensive array of educational tools, including certificate programs, short courses, on-demand webinars, and microcourses. The Academy’s user-centric design and ability to accommodate diverse expertise levels make it truly one of a kind.

Pleasingly, on September 5, 2024, Investments & Wealth Academy, was recognized with a prestigious WealthManagement.com Industry Award — commonly known as the "Wealthies" — in the Industry Association category. This recognition celebrated the successful launch and rollout of the Academy, solidifying its impact on the financial advisory profession.

A Future Focused on Impact

Today, the Institute engages over 30,000 financial professionals annually through our certifications, educational programs, and premier conferences. Investments & Wealth Experience — our flagship annual conference — and Investments & Wealth Strategy Forum connects elite financial advisors, investment consultants, and wealth management teams with top industry and academic experts in order to expand their knowledge and networks, gain continuing education (CE) credits, and enable them to better serve sophisticated, affluent clients. 

As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, we remain committed to empowering financial advisors to deliver client-first solutions with integrity and expertise. We always aim to advance the financial services profession and enrich the lives of those we serve. Our vision is to:

• Improve the professionalism of our members through world-class educational and certification programs.

• Develop and encourage the highest standards of professional, ethical conduct.

• Promote and protect the interests of the financial advice and wealth management professions and the public they serve. 

• Broaden public trust and understanding of the investment consulting and wealth management professions.

Please join us in celebrating 40 years of progress, and together, let’s shape the future of financial advice.

*The names of the founders were listed in the March 1986 issue of The Monitor (Vol. 1, No. 1) as: Daniel H. Bott, Gerald F. Bott, John Brock, Thomas H. Clark, Glenn C. Hirt, Edward H. Murphy, James P. Owen, Harold F. Rossen, and Richard Schillfarth.

Evelyn Brust was listed as the founding Executive Director.