In a milestone rarely seen in global finance, 20-year-old Lakshman Meyyappan, born and raised in Dubai, has earned the coveted Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter, placing him among the youngest CFA charter holders worldwide.
The CFA charter, widely regarded as the “gold standard” for investment professionals, is typically pursued by finance graduates and industry veterans well into their careers. Fewer than 200,000 professionals globally hold the designation, and achieving it at just 20 years old is almost unheard of.
Lakshman’s path to this milestone has been anything but conventional. A former student of JSS Private School in Dubai, he first discovered his interest in finance during the pandemic when his mother, herself an ACCA, introduced him to accounting concepts. That spark evolved into an extraordinary pursuit of some of the most demanding qualifications in the finance industry.
At 16, while most of his peers were preparing for school exams, he became an ACCA Affiliate – a qualification that often takes years to complete. He later pursued both ACCA and CFA through PwC Academy, successfully completing all three levels of the CFA Program within four years while simultaneously fulfilling the rigorous 4,000-hour work experience requirement.
His experience as a Research Analyst at Century Financial in Dubai provided the platform to apply his learning directly to global markets. Speaking about his journey, Lakshman said, “The moment you start loving what you do, success comes to you. For me, it was about enjoying the process of learning, building strong fundamentals, and challenging myself at every stage. Completing both ACCA and CFA so early was never about racing others; it was about proving to myself what’s possible.”
Arun Leslie, Chief Market Analyst at Century Financial, praised Lakshman’s contribution to the firm, saying: “Lakshmanan is a great asset for our team with strong quantitative, especially statistical skills. His ability to think outside the box helps the research team generate ideas with high Alpha. He consistently brings strong technical expertise and an analytical mindset to the table, ensuring that decisions are based on a sound investment rationale. We are proud of his achievements and so happy to have him as a part of our team.”
Looking ahead, Lakshman plans to deepen his expertise in global markets and sustainable investing. “Learning never stops,” he added. “This is just the beginning of a lifelong journey in finance.”
Lakshman’s achievement reflects Dubai’s role as a magnet for ambitious young talent. As the city strengthens its position as a global financial hub, Lakshman’s success exemplifies how Dubai fosters an environment that enables exceptional individuals to thrive, contribute, and inspire others.
Lakshman also holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from Oxford Brookes University and is currently pursuing an MSc in Finance at the American University of Sharjah.
