A 32-year-old industry trade group for financial advisors and investment consultants is transforming under a new name.

The Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA) is rebranding as the Investments and Wealth Institute, IMCA board chairman Scott Thayer confirmed on Tuesday. The change is part of the organization's broader "GEARS" (Grow, Educate, Add value, Relevance, and Standards) efforts. They're also partnering further with a business school and acquiring another designation.

InvestmentNews also covered the changes.

Sean Walters, CEO of the Institute, states that the rebrand refocuses the group on its "primary objective, which is to develop and certify ethical, competent professionals to provide clients with comprehensive strategies and advice on how to navigate their investments, and how to grow, preserve and transfer wealth."

The Institute is acquiring the Retirement Management Advisor (RMA) designation from the Retirement Income Industry Association (RIIA), and the Institute will continue to offer the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) and Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) designation programs. The group also plans to launch two new websites, investmentsandwealth.org and investmenthelp.org, next month.

Meanwhile, next year the Institute will expand its partnership with the Yale School of Management to launch an online CPWA certification program. The University of Chicago Booth School of Business has offered the traditional, in-person CPWA certification program since 2008 and will continue to do so.

As the broader organization rebrands, IMCA's New York chapter will become the Investments and Wealth Society of New York, and IMCA Australia will become the CIMA Society of Australia. 

Edited by: Neil Anderson, Managing Editor


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