by scooping top marks in this year's Chartered Financial Analyst exams. In the highest qualification, the Level 3 exam, there was a 63 percent pass rate compared to the global average of 59 percent. In Level 2, 70 percent passed while the world figure was 54 percent. Out of 75 people sitting Level 1, 65 percent Bermudians passed compared to 64 percent worldwide. This year 150 candidates from Bermuda wrote one of the three levels of the CFA examinations.

Many of these either work in financial analysis or in related industries and will join the Bermuda Society of Financial Analysts (BSFA). Eva Korpella, president of the BSFA said: " We are very pleased with the results, where the Bermuda pass rate exceeds the pass rate worldwide. "The exams are very hard and to pass this well takes a lot of work. It is particularly heartening to find these kind of results on the 10th anniversary of our society.'' The association was started ten years ago today by seven financial analysts who wanted to have a forum for networking and exchanging ideas on their sector. By 1992 the society had 33, and since then figures have tripled. The society also boasts at least half of its membership is Bermudian, and hopes to expand even more this year. This year it is celebrating its 10th anniversary by holding its annual information evening for prospective CFA candidates at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. And Thomas Bowman, CFA president and chief executive officer of the Association for Investment Management and Research (AMIR) will be speaking on the way forward for financial analysts in the next millennium. The BSFA is the local society for international financial analyst body AMIR, and AMIR offers the education programme which leads to the CFA examinations. "We hope the society will continue to grow at the same rate within the next few years,'' said Ms Korpella. "But as with most industries, there is a limit to the number of financial analysts any one place can support.'' At the conference the organisers of the society hope not only to recruit more candidates to sit the CFA exams, but also fresh blood for their board and spread the posts such as treasurer, president etc. through a larger section of the body. "It is a demanding profession so individuals often have limited spare time, and any extra time they have is divided between professional and family lives,'' said Ms Korpella. "But being on the board is rewarding. On a purely mercenary standpoint is very good for networking -- but it is also great fun.'' ends BUSINESS BUC