Gary Diffendaffer Joins IMCA Staff
New director of certification will manage growth and advancement of CIMA^® and CPWA^SM designations. Click here for more.

IMCA Completes Inaugural CPWA Class at University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Designation offers new standard for wealth advisory education. Click here for more.

Amid Downturn, Some Financial Firms Bolster Sales Staff
Growth in sales positions expected, even as overall growth is flat. (Note - this InvestmentNews story features IMCA's executive director Dede Pahl discussing the growth of the CIMA designation.) Click here for more.

REIT Dividend Yields Lure Investors
But high returns can mean high risk, market experts warn. Click here for more.

Wealthy Are Dissatisfied With Fund Industry
But 87% trust their adviser as much as they trust their doctor. Click here for more.

IMCA 2008 Spring Professional Development Conference
Conference Dates: May 18–20, 2008
There are still spots available, so register today!
CE Credit: 20 hours, including one ethics hour

This conference, held at The New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA, features keynote speakers William Sharpe, Ph.D.; economist Marci Rossell; Wharton Professor Kathy Pearson, Ph.D.; and an overview of how the upcoming presidential election will affect our industry by strategist Greg Valliere. You also will be able to customize your learning experience with concurrent educational tracks focusing on the tools that you need to succeed in your business: practice management, wealth management, investment consulting, and more. The Marriott has sold out, but there are rooms available at a special rate at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. Click here for program and hotel information or to register.

IMCA 2008 Canadian Consultants Conference
Conference Dates: June 5–6, 2008
Early-bird registration deadline is NEXT MONDAY, May 5, 2008
CE Credit: 12 hours, including one ethics hour

The theme of this conference, held at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is "Leadership and Professionalism—The Continual Pursuit of Advisory Excellence." Keynote speakers include Charlotte Beyer from the Institute for Private Investors; Amanda Lang from Business News Network; and Donald M. Raymond, Ph.D., CFA^®, from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. A number of other speakers will present on topics ranging from performance analysis and ethics, to global investing and economic outlook. Click here for program information or to register.

IMCA 2008 Advanced CIMA Workshop: The Best of Wharton
Conference Dates: July 20–22, 2008
Early-bird registration deadline is June 16, 2008
CE Credit: 11 hours

Back by popular demand, this program features Wharton professors sharing their latest research to help build on the foundation you received when you earned your CIMA designation. Featured professors include Christopher C. Geczy, Ph.D., who will address socially responsible investing and hedge fund replication, and Charles E. Dwyer, Ph.D., discussing building client relationships. Enrollment for this program is reserved for CIMA and CIMC^® designees in good standing. Registration is limited, so click here for program information or to register.

Live Audio Broadcast: Neuroethics, Sudoku, and Monks: What Contemporary Research Has to Say about Being an Ethical Person
Presented: June 19, 2008, 4:15 p.m. EDT
CE Credit: One ethics hour

The cost of unethical behavior mounts. Rogue traders, government officials, corporate leaders, and religious leaders fill the news with scandals that would be instructive if they were not so devastating. Yet the real story is not about the grander versions of unethical behavior. It is the day-to-day, moment-to-moment challenges of being an ethical person that each of us faces in our professional and personal life. Join Steve Lawler for a look at current research into ethical behavior. Click here for more information or to register.

Share Your Thoughts with IMCA to Win Free Membership Renewal
Help us enhance your membership experience by completing the IMCA Membership Benefits Survey. Results of the survey will shape future IMCA benefits and services. In appreciation of your time and effort, we will enter your name in a raffle to receive a complimentary membership renewal. The 2006 membership survey led to the creation of several new benefits like the expansion of the members-only section of the Web site, increased efforts in marketing IMCA designations to the industry and to consumers, and the addition of free electronic versions of Monitor articles to the IMCA online store. The survey should take no more than 10–15 minutes to complete, and the deadline for participation is May 9, 2008.

IMCA Launches Membership Campaign
IMCA’s membership has grown by 44 percent over the past three years. It’s true that there is strength in numbers, so we are capping off our Spring advertising run with a direct membership campaign. Over the next few weeks, more than 50,000 advisors will receive a postcard or e-mail from IMCA, and while we've worked hard to make sure we're not soliciting our current members, there is a chance that the information may find its way to your desk through one of our third-party partners. The campaign focuses on the cutting-edge content and advanced designations offered through IMCA. As a member, you are already privy to the wealth of knowledge provided through our conferences, publications, and designation programs. Check out the Ideas section of IMCA.org to explore the premier content for institutional consulting, wealth management, investment trends, and best practices. And don't hesitate to encourage your colleagues and peers to join IMCA today!

Do You Know Where Your CE Credits Are?
IMCA offers a variety of methods for completing your continuing education (CE) requirements. IMCA events are an excellent source for accumulating CE credits, and you can find myriad IMCA-sponsored opportunities available on IMCA’s Web site. IMCA also provides you with guidelines for gathering non-IMCA-sponsored CE credits. To refresh your memory on all the options available, click here. And don't forget to visit My IMCA to check your CE status!