The CFA Charter is a coveted title that few can claim to possess. Among the ranks of charterholders, you’ll find many highly successful people – investors, public servants, CEOs, CFOs, founders, owners, and presidents of remarkable organizations.
Here are five famous CFA charterholders that you should know.
1. Margaret Franklin
Margaret Franklin, CFA, is CEO of the CFA Institute. Franklin headed International Wealth Management for North America and was president of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Advisory Services in Canada, before becoming CEO of the CFA Institute. She has served as a board member of BNY Mellon Trust Company (Cayman), held multiple senior management positions, and was a partner with KJ Harrison & Partners.
Franklin’s career began in the institutional business, working with pension plans, endowments, foundations, and government agencies at State Street Global Advisors, Mercer, and Barclays Global Investors. She previously served as the CFA Institute Board of Governors chair and is a former president of the CFA Society Toronto Board. She is also a founding member of the CFA Institute Women in Investment Initiative, a past recipient of the Alfred C. Morley Distinguished Service Award, and a member of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation Board.
Franklin attended McMaster University where she earned a Bachelor of Administration in Economics. She is a CFA charterholder as well as a member of the CFA Society Toronto.
2. Howard Marks
Howard Marks is the co-founder and co-chairman of the world’s largest distressed securities investor, Oaktree Capital Management. As of 2020, he was ranked No. 391 on the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans. His net worth is estimated at $2.1 billion.
Marks is famous for the memos he posts on the Oaktree Capital website detailing his takes on the economy and investment strategies. The funds that Marks has managed have generated long-term returns of 19% per year.
Marks earned his CFA Charter in 1975 while working for CityCorp as an equity research analyst.
3. Kevin Freeman
A New York Times bestselling author and world leader on Economic Warfare and Financial Terrorism, Kevin Freeman earned his CFA Charter in 1997. Freeman began his investment career as a research analyst before founding his own investing newsletter.
In the 1990s, he helped create the Templeton Private Client Group, where he managed nearly $2.5 billion. He is also the founder of Cross Consulting and Services, LLC and Freeman Global Investment Counsel.
Freeman often consults for the United States government, from senators and members of Congress to the CIA, FBI, and SEC.
4. Zhang Lei
The founder, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of Hillhouse Capital Management, Ltd., Zhang Lei, is a prolific businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Hillhouse has assets under management of approximately $100 billion and has led several notable initial public offerings in the past year, including Zoom Video Communications Inc.
For his part, Lei is worth nearly $6 billion and is No. 381 on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index of the world’s 500 wealthiest people.
5. Tate Reeves
Tate Reeves is currently serving as the 65th governor of the state of Mississippi. Before he began his term as governor, he was the state’s treasurer (2004-2012) and then lieutenant governor (2012-2020). He was the youngest state treasurer in the country when he was elected at the ripe young age of 29.
Reeves is a member of the CFA Society of Mississippi and the CFA Institute.