Canadian Investment Manager

The Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®), previously Canadian Investment Manager, designation is a professional certification conferred by Canadian Securities Institute, a Canadian financial education company that provides courses, programs, certifications and designations for financial industry professionals.

About the Designation

The CIM is a financial advice designation that delivers the appropriate knowledge requirements for designation holders to work with clients in a discretionary investment management capacity. It builds skills required to serve clients and it offers the credentials required to be licensed as a discretionary portfolio manager^[1] in Canada. It provides program participants with the knowledge base to recommend and implement advanced investment strategies and evaluate portfolio performance for their clients.

Regulatory Endorsements

The CIM designation is endorsed by both the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) to apply as a registered representative approved to carry out discretionary portfolio management (not including Futures),^[2] and by the Canadian Securities Administrator (CSA) to apply for registration as a Portfolio Manager – Advising Representative and as a Portfolio Manager – Associate Advising Representative.

Education Requirements

Program participants must complete education, examination, and at least 2 years of work experience requirements to receive authorization to use the designation.

To earn the CIM designation, students take one of two approaches:

1. Canadian Securities Course
2. Investment Management Techniques
3. Portfolio Management Techniques

Achievement: CIM Designation

OR

1. Canadian Securities Course
2. Wealth Management Essentials
3. WME-Investment Management Supplement OR Advanced Investment Strategies
4. Portfolio Management Techniques

Achievement: CIM Designation

The topics covered through these courses include:

Canadian Securities Course

• Basic securities licensing requirements for Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC)
• Provincial regulatory and Mutual Fund Dealers Association (MFDA) licensing requirements for:
  • Mutual fund sales
  • Managed future funds/commodity pools
  • Exempt securities
  • Labour-sponsored investment funds

Investment Management Techniques

• Retail asset management
• Selecting individual securities to evaluating performance
• Explaining returns to clients

Portfolio Management Techniques

• Preparation for Investment Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and CSA registration as a portfolio manager
• Advanced portfolio management techniques suitable for high-net-worth clients and institutional investors
• Regulatory, compliance, sales and operational requirements needed for creating and maintaining a portfolio management firm

Wealth Management Essentials

• Give comprehensive, integrated investment advice to clients
• Wealth management: financial planning and investment management

WME – Investment Management Supplement

• In-depth investment management expertise
• Specialized analysis and portfolio management

Advanced Investment Strategies

• Wealth management for affluent clients

Industry Roles

Financial industry professionals who hold the CIM designation and are registered with provincial securities commissions are also eligible for registration as:

• Portfolio Manager
• Advising Representative
• Associate Advising Representative

Other relevant job titles held by CIM designation holders include:

• Investment Advisor
• Discretionary Portfolio Manager
• Money Manager
• Asset Manager

References