Kaplan, Inc. Acquires Study Seminar for Financial Analysts, Solidifying Its Position in Canadian Market
- CFA® Charter Increases in Popularity, Gives Career Edge -
- Schweser Also Introduces Online CFA® Prep -
New York, March 5, 2001 -- Kaplan, Inc., a premier provider of educational and professional services for individuals, schools and businesses, announces that Kaplan (Canada) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaplan, Inc., has acquired The Study Seminar for Financial Analysts (SSFA), a Windsor, Ontario-based provider of preparatory seminars for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) examination. SSFA joins Kaplan's Schweser Study Program division of the Kaplan Professional unit, which offers professionals and businesses an array of educational and career management tools, from online courses and programs to onsite training and classroom instruction, for pre-licensing and continuing education, compliance and tracking. SSFA will be known as The Study Seminar for Financial Analysts, A Kaplan Professional Company.
The CFA® charter, first awarded in 1963 to 268 candidates, is a globally recognized standard for professionals in the financial services industry, and indicates that a financial professional has undergone a rigorous curriculum of investment topics and is committed to the highest standards and ethics. According to the Association for Investment Management and Research (AIMR®), which administers the exams, the 6-hour exam is given on the first Saturday in June each year at exam sites in more than 70 nations. 70,764 candidates from 137 countries and territories registered for the 2000 exam, a 26% increase over 1999 enrollments. AIMR® also reports that 9,500 candidates from Canada registered in 2000, up 19% over 1999.
With 34 years of experience, SSFA is one of the oldest continuous providers of CFA® prep in the world, serving students from Canadian provinces, US states and countries outside North America. The SSFA program has an annual seminar with daytime and evening meetings for the three levels of the CFA® exam, and is held at the University of Windsor, Ontario, where candidates stay in a dorm room and take meals on campus. This year, each SSFA participant will receive a set of Schweser Study Notes and the Schweser Notes will be utilized in the majority of sessions of the seminar. Dr. Edward Rosenbaum, who has been the director of SSFA since its inception, will continue to oversee the weeklong seminar this spring.
The Schweser Study Program, acquired by Kaplan, Inc. in 1999, serviced approximately 470 students in Canada last year at its 3-day courses in Toronto and Vancouver. This year, the Schweser Study Program will also be held in Ottawa.
"Today's financial professionals view the CFA® charter as a powerful catalyst for career advancement and a significant credential for working in the investments industry," said Andy Temte, President and CEO of The Schweser Study Program. "We are delighted to reach more students and grow our business in the Canadian market, which, according to the AIMR®, comprises nearly 14% of the total CFA candidate population worldwide. "
"SSFA is an outstanding addition to The Kaplan Professional companies, and further extends our ability to reach professionals seeking career advancement," said Jonathan Grayer, CEO and President of Kaplan, Inc. "The SSFA seminar, like all of our programs, are taught by top-notch instructors with the most comprehensive array of learning tools so that busy people can access education and achieve career goals in a way that fits into their particular lifestyles."
The Schweser Study Program (www.schweser.com) is the largest worldwide provider of training tools for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) examination, offering a comprehensive product line of study notes, audiotapes, videotapes, flashcards and live seminars that are developed and taught by a top-notch faculty. Schweser's new online training program for the 2001 CFA® examination launched in January 2001. The online program consists of audio/video tutorials, graphical learning tools and accompanying PowerPoint® presentations, diagnostic exams and weekly quizzes, online progress exams with immediate results and performance feedback, and Java applets that solve sample test problems using mathematical equations. To provide CFA® candidates in the Boston area with a complete, structured educational program, Schweser and The American Institute of Advanced Finance (AIAF) offer semester-long preparation programs for all three levels of the CFA® exam in Boston.
Kaplan Professional (www.kaplanprofessional.com) provides highly interactive online and classroom-based licensing and continuing education training, certification, and professional development courses for securities, insurance, financial services, legal, and real estate professionals and corporations. Kaplan Professional includes major names in professional education: Dearborn Financial, Dearborn Trade Publishing, Dearborn Real Estate Education, Kaplan Professional Real Estate Schools, Schweser Study Program, Self Test Software, and Perfect Access Speer. Offering an array of educational tools, from hundreds of online courses and programs to onsite training and classroom instruction, these companies serve professionals and businesses who must stay up to date with technology, maintain licenses and certifications, comply with regulatory mandates, and track and report such compliance. Kaplan Professional is a unit of Kaplan, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965
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