Approved IAR CE Courses

Financial planners are often working to adapt estate plans to consider client concerns over legislative changes. However, proposed legislative changes may or may not come to pass, leaving financial planners with the option of changing client estate plans with limited information or potentially leaving clients exposed to the consequences of future tax law. Neither of these outcomes is ideal. This leaves the question of how to properly create estate plans that meet client needs and are flexible enough to remain effective in uncertain times. In this webinar, David Haughton, JD, CPWA', explains how to create flexible estate plans with trusts that go beyond the traditional AB trust structure. He also details how a 'kitchen sink' power of attorney, IRA beneficiary designations, and donor-advised funds can be utilized for flexible wealth transfers.

SEC examinations can be one of the most stressful regulatory events for registered investment advisers, but firms that understand the process and maintain strong compliance practices can significantly reduce risk. In this session, securities attorney Michelle Atlas-Quinn will explain how SEC exams work, what regulators are looking for, and how advisors can prepare their firms before an examination request arrives. The program will review common compliance deficiencies identified during examinations, including issues related to marketing, disclosures, fiduciary obligations, custody, and safeguarding client information. Michelle will also discuss the SEC’s 2026 examination priorities, including cybersecurity, Regulation S-P requirements, identity theft protections, emerging financial technologies such as AI and automated investment tools, and anti-money laundering expectations. Advisors will leave with practical strategies for strengthening compliance programs, organizing documentation, and navigating the examination process from the initial request letter through the resolution of deficiency findings.

This course is designed to equip investment advisors with the knowledge and tools necessary to align their marketing practices with the SEC's modernized IA Marketing Rule while fostering a strong commitment to ethics. Participants will explore the regulatory framework governing marketing communications, focusing on the rule's provisions for transparency, fairness, and accountability in advertising. The course delves into ethical considerations that underpin compliant marketing, such as balancing business goals with fiduciary responsibilities, mitigating conflicts of interest, and ensuring truthful representations of performance data. Advisers will learn to navigate complex challenges in marketing, including the use of testimonials, hypothetical performance, and AI-driven financial tools. The course also provide actionable strategies for developing robust compliance programs, leveraging technology to streamline processes, and responding effectively to SEC inquiries. Emphasis is placed on cultivating a culture of compliance and ethical leadership, empowering advisers to act with integrity while maintaining competitive marketing practices.

This course thoroughly prepares investment advisors to ethically and responsibly address the specialized needs of senior clients, emphasizing the profound importance of adhering to ethical standards and professional responsibilities in financial advising. The curriculum delves into critical areas such as fiduciary duties, legal requirements, ethical decision-making, retirement planning, and estate management, all tailored to the unique challenges faced by seniors, especially those with diminished cognitive capacities. By focusing on the ethical implications of financial advice and the necessity of maintaining the highest levels of professional integrity, the course equips advisors with the skills to navigate complex scenarios with compassion and compliance. Case studies and practical exercises reinforce the commitment to ethical practices and professional conduct, ensuring that advisors build trustful and compliant relationships with their senior clients. This training is essential for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of financial advice, promoting both ethical integrity and professional excellence in the field of senior financial advising.

Those who provide investment advice to others, Investment Advisers, are subject to regulation by both federal and state regulators. This regulation is complex and comes with serious consequences if violations are committed. After defining the term Investment Adviser, this course covers the registration requirements for Investment Advisers and explains the relationship between the business practices of investment advisers and the Form ADV which is utilized in the registration process. Then the course outlines the business practices that investment advisers are required to employ in order to comply with The Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Those practices include: fulfilling their fiduciary duty; establishing compliance programs; recordkeeping requirements; disclosure requirements; creating a code of ethics; maintaining books and records; preparing client contracts; and advertising their services. The course also discusses the special requirements for investment advisers who recommend broker-dealers to their clients, vote proxies of their clients, pay others to solicit new clients and/or have custody or possession of clients’ funds or securities.