Global Academy of Finance
and Management® (GAFM®)

International Board for Standards & Accreditation

Established in 1996 • Headquartered in Colorado Springs, USA
Operating globally through the IBS International Board of Standards®
Formerly known as the American Academy of Financial Management® (AAFM®)

Setting global competency standards for professional certifications in finance, wealth, risk, governance, and management.

800+ accredited universities, business schools & law schools Graduate-level, degree-aligned certification pathways
150+
countries
300,000+
certified professionals
10,000+
fellows, charter-holders
& senior members
50,000+
CWM® charter-holders

Our Recognition Across the Globe

To help you advance your career, select the best online finance courses.

Recognition Logo 1
Recognition Logo 2
Recognition Logo 3
Recognition Logo 4
Recognition Logo 5
Recognition Logo 6
Recognition Logo 7
Recognition Logo 8
Recognition Logo 1
Recognition Logo 2
Recognition Logo 3
Recognition Logo 4
Recognition Logo 5
Recognition Logo 6
Recognition Logo 7
Recognition Logo 8

GAFM® Standards Mandate

GAFM® exists to define, govern, and safeguard professional standards for advanced roles where decisions carry financial, fiduciary, and governance consequences.

As a Graduate Professional Certification Board and Standards Council, GAFM®:

  • defines role-based competency frameworks
  • establishes eligibility, examination, and assessment criteria
  • enforces ethics and professional conduct
  • mandates continuing professional education (CPE)
  • preserves international comparability of credentials

All GAFM® certifications are standards-driven, assessment-based, and board-governed.

GAFM Standards

How GAFM® Standards Are Governed?

Four Pillars of Standards Governance

🔒

Competency Frameworks

Clear definition of knowledge, judgment, and responsibility for each professional role

🎓

Eligibility & Assessment

Accredited education, documented experience, and structured examinations

⚖️

Ethics & Professional Conduct

Mandatory codes of conduct, oversight mechanisms, and disciplinary processes

🔁

Continuing Professional Maintenance

Ongoing education, review, and professional good standing requirements

These pillars apply uniformly across all GAFM® certifications worldwide.

Flagship Global Certifications

line

CWM® (Chartered Wealth Manager®)

Achieve one of the highest distinctions in the wealth management profe...

AFA® (Accrediated Financial Analyst®)

Build a High-Growth Finance Career with a Professional Certification i...

Ch.E® (Chartered Economist Certification®)

Turn economic knowledge into career advantage with industry-ready anal...

CTEP® (Chartered Trust & Estate Planner (CTEP®) Certification)

Become a certified expert in inheritance, wills, and succession planni...

CPM® (Chartered Portfolio Manager®)

Accelerate your career with advanced, job-ready portfolio management e...

CREP® (Chartered Real Estate Professional Certification®)

Turn property knowledge into professional authority—master real esta...

CFGP (Chartered Financial Goal Planner)

Become an expert in goal based financial planning and develop a reward...

CFOM® (Chartered Family Office Manager )

Join an exclusive network of finance professionals and learn how to ma...

SIF (Specialised Investment Fund)

Get concept clarity, smart exam preparation, and end to end support to...

V-A (Mutual Fund Distributors Training – NISM Series V-A)

Get practical guidance, exam-focused training, and complete support to...

Each designation operates under distinct competency standards, ethics codes, and CPD requirements.

U.S. Government & Federal Workforce Alignment

GAFM® standards and certifications align with recognised U.S. federal education and workforce quality frameworks, strengthening their global credibility.

U.S. Government Alignment

Alignment with U.S. Federal Frameworks

  • U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) Several GAFM® certification frameworks align with U.S. occupational and skills-based workforce standards, supporting skills-driven professional recognition.
  • U.S. Department of Education (USDE) GAFM® graduate-level certification criteria align with U.S. education quality benchmarks, including degree-based eligibility and assessment rigor.
  • Federal Skills-Based Hiring Frameworks GAFM® standards reflect modern U.S. emphasis on skills, competency, and role-based qualifications, consistent with executive-level workforce reforms.
  • ISO/IEC 17024 Principles Alignment with international norms for impartiality, transparency, and fairness in personnel certification.
These references reflect standards alignment, not statutory licensing or regulation.

Global Alliances & Professional Associations

GAFM® standards operate within a broad ecosystem of:

University accreditation frameworks (AACSB / ACBSP aligned models)
International quality and standards organisations
Government-linked education and workforce authorities
Professional credentialing and competency bodies

This ecosystem ensures GAFM® certifications remain academically credible, professionally relevant, and internationally portable.

GAFM® & AAFM® India – Governance Structure

GAFM® Global

  • Defines and governs all professional standards
  • Oversees certification frameworks and ethics
  • Maintains global comparability and integrity

AAFM® India

  • Official India-based representative and implementation partner
  • Administers GAFM® programs and examinations in India
  • Supports professionals, institutions, and authorised training partners
  • Implements global standards without modification

Who GAFM® Standards Are For?

💼

Experienced finance and wealth professionals

📊

Accountants, analysts, economists, and consultants

🏛️

Trust, estate, and succession planning specialists

👔

Employers evaluating senior-level competence

🎓

Institutions seeking defensible global benchmarks

Professionals
Handshake

Engage with GAFM® via AAFM® India

Verify Certification Status
Explore Global Certifications & Designations
Partner as University or Training Provider
Download Standards & Certification Overview

Global CEO Message

A Message from the Founder of AAFM® and The International & Global Board of Standards

Building the World's Future Leaders in Finance

We are the first organization in the world to recognize and promote accredited program and exam standards worldwide. Professional credential and executive development programs are undergoing a revolution globally. We’re learning through new methods of standards, accreditation, & pedagogy and development styles, that we can promote greater learning principles and new strategic thinking to professionals much more efficiently than traditional methods.

While some certificates of training, the Certification Process of the Academy was established largely by graduate professionals and experts from the real world by integrating top professional development criteria, graduate and governance standards.

We offer several specialized designations rather than create a broad, all-encompassing financial designation such as those for financial analysis or financial planning. The AAFM has taken a research-based approach to our charter and certification structures and created specialist designations for a wide range of careers in the banking, management, risk, and finance sector.

Each designation is targeted at a specific skill-set required to perform a role in the finance domain with world-class expertise. As such, AAFM approved certification degree paths, executive programs and enrolment requirements ensures that each professional maintains the highest standard of demonstrated capability in their area of proficiency. Key advancements for Board have been made in the last 10 years.

We have expanded our operations globally with new offices in the EU, Middle-East, China, Latin America, India, West Indies, Africa and throughout Asia. Our Founding Parent Entity, The AAFM Board of Standards USA was originally chartered and is based in the Americas, and AAFM listings or recognition is with top educational and certification authorities such as: the US Department of Education, US Department of Labor, Capital Markets Authorities, Ministries of Finance, United Nations Civil Society, and other international governmental and NGO agencies.

Graduate applications for our core qualifications are possible through more than 800 of the world's leading government recognized business schools as a result of our mutual articulation agreements with AACSB International and ACBSP accreditation agencies.

Member growth is accelerating with AAFM Members and Fellows in over 150 countries. Our fastest growing regions are Latin America, China, the Middle-East, South Asia, Africa, and India, with several hundred members joining each month through our providers in California, New York, Cairo, Beijing, Singapore, India, Hong Kong, UK, Africa, Mexico, and elsewhere.

Corporate players like Reuters, UBS, HSBC, Kaplan, BISYS, The TJSL Law School, half of the top 10 banks in the world, ACBSP, AACSB, Chinese Government, and others have been of great assistance in establishing a strong reputation as a key player in the international sector.

The 2003 opening of our offices in Singapore was one of the steps we have taken to support this exciting demand in the EU, India, Asia, the Middle East region and beyond. I welcome you to learn about our unmatched standards and accredited programs recognized by the AAFM Certifying Board.

With each year, the value of certification and master designations grows. However, the best way for our network to expand is through word of mouth. Make sure you use your designation and mark at every opportunity. Be proud of your certification from the Council, it makes you one of the next-generation of global leaders.

Together we are truly Building the World's Future Leaders in Finance.


CEO

Prof. Dr. George Mentz JD, MBA, CILS, MFP®, CWM®

AAFM® International Board of Standards Chair, General Counsel & CEO of Jurisprudence – International Law – Attorney & Notary Public

AAFM® India Corporate Partners

Partner Logo 1
Partner Logo 2
Partner Logo 3
Partner Logo 4
Partner Logo 5
Partner Logo 6
Partner Logo 7
Partner Logo 8
Partner Logo 9
Partner Logo 10
Partner Logo 11
Partner Logo 12
Partner Logo 13
Partner Logo 14
Partner Logo 15
Partner Logo 16
Partner Logo 17
Partner Logo 18
Partner Logo 19
Partner Logo 20
Partner Logo 21
Partner Logo 22
Partner Logo 23
Partner Logo 24
Partner Logo 25
Partner Logo 26
Partner Logo 1
Partner Logo 2
Partner Logo 3
Partner Logo 4
Partner Logo 5
Partner Logo 6
Partner Logo 7
Partner Logo 8
Partner Logo 9
Partner Logo 10
Partner Logo 11
Partner Logo 12
Partner Logo 13
Partner Logo 14
Partner Logo 15
Partner Logo 16
Partner Logo 17
Partner Logo 18
Partner Logo 19
Partner Logo 20
Partner Logo 21
Partner Logo 22
Partner Logo 23
Partner Logo 24
Partner Logo 25
Partner Logo 26
×

Enquire Now