Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Definition
Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) is a designation offered by the CAIA Association to investment professionals who complete two examinations in succession.
The "alternative investment" industry is characterized as dealing with asset classes and investments other than standard equity or fixed income. Alternative investments can include hedge funds, private equity, managed futures and other derivatives, and foreign exchange investments.
The CAIA curriculum is designed to provide finance professionals with a broad base of knowledge in traditional and modern alternative investment vehicles, including real estate, private equity and commodities, as well as hedge funds and managed futures.
The CAIA program is divided into two distinct levels. Level I focuses on the fundamentals of both the traditional and alternative investment markets, while Level II concentrates on advanced topics in alternatives. Both incorporate issues of ethics and professional conduct – essential components of the CAIA program.