Approved IAR CE Courses

Producers must not only understand and explain their products but also ensure clients know how the products work and meet their needs. This course focuses on avoiding penalties and fees on annuity withdrawals. It emphasizes advising clients on proper annuity use to maximize benefits and avoid negative consequences.

Familiarity with the Bank Secrecy Act will help you to stop money laundering - a major international crime that supports a host of other illegal activities such as drug trafficking, terrorism and arms dealing. This course will describe why, as an employee of a bank, financial institution or firm, it is essential to know your clients and their banking habits, and to recognize when they deviate from their normal routines.

This one hour course is intended for investment adviser representatives of SEC or state-registeredinvestment adviser firms. This course will introduce students to the CCO role as described in SEC Rule 206-4(7). By the end of the course, students should have acquired an understanding of thewhat the CCO's responsibilities are, who qualifies to serve as a CCO, and what is expected of theCCO during a regulatory exam.

The course will review the basics of option investments. It will review terminology related to buyingand selling options, in addition to the rights and obligations associated with basic option positions.The course will then introduce intrinsic and time value of an option's premium. Option contract terms,the adjustment of those terms, and the role of the Options Clearing Corporation will also be examined.In the last part of the course, students will learn how to calculate profits and losses on long calls, short calls, long puts, and short puts.

Options are notorious for being one of the most challenging products for students who are studying for securities-related qualification exams and for registered representatives and investment adviser representatives who do not regularly use them in their practice. This course is designed to help you gain a basic understanding of options, how they work, and when they can be suitably applied.

In this 120-minute session, leading experts in the field of behavioral finance and human-centric advising'including Hal Hershfield, Heather and Doug Boneparth, Meghaan Lurtz, and Ross Marino'share actionable insights on how financial advisors can provide more meaningful, personalized client experiences. The session focuses on deepening client relationships by moving beyond traditional financial metrics and integrating behavioral science into the advisory process. Hal Hershfield introduces the concept of the "future self" and explains how advisors can help clients make long-term financial decisions by fostering empathy for their future selves. Heather and Doug Boneparth explore the dynamics of money in relationships, providing tools for guiding couples in overcoming financial conflicts and aligning their financial goals. Ross Marino brings a practitioner's perspective, emphasizing the importance of building a human-first practice where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. Meghaan Lurtz wraps up by offering techniques for asking better questions, especially during challenging client interactions, ensuring that clients feel supported during life transitions and financial crises.

One of the most valuable jobs a financial planner has is that of a decision-partner. Financial decisions are often hard, financial decisions are often large, and the financial landscape is always changing. The gift of a financial decision-partner is invaluable. This unique webinar will look at advisors as decisions partners in a variety of ways including: psychology's impact on decisions with Morgan Housel, homeownership decisions with Kyla Scanlon, technology's role in the advisor-client relationship with Jason Periera, supporting first-time financial decision-makers with Valerie Rivera, portfolio decisions with Cem Karsan, and then the Shaping Wealth team explores the latest ideas on financial planners as decision-partners. Money and how consumers feel about it matters. This webinar provides insights into the various ways advisors can more effectively talk to their clients and use investor psychology to support them in pivotal times.

Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) under IRC Section 1202 offers significant tax advantages to founders, investors, and advisors who understand how to navigate its requirements. Enhanced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), these benefits can translate into meaningful tax savings, but only if specific qualifications are met. In this session, expert Lisa Fetherngill will explore the requirements to qualify for QSBS treatment, highlight potential pitfalls and nuances, and review both tax and non-tax advantages of QSBS status. Attendees will also discover advanced planning opportunities, including strategies to combine QSBS treatment with gifting and other techniques to maximize benefits for clients.

Financial professionals often cite 'fit' as the most important factor in maintaining long-term client relationships, but few take the time to formally assess investor personality. This course addresses that gap using the well-established NEO Five-Factor Model, a framework used by psychologists, HR professionals, and educators to predict behavior. Advisors who understand investor personality can guide clients with greater empathy, tailor communication more effectively, and reduce emotional decision-making triggers that lead to suboptimal outcomes.Unlike courses that touch lightly on risk tolerance or investor profiling, this class delivers a structured, scientifically grounded approach to personality assessment. It's designed for CFPs, CPAs, IARs, CIMAs, and other CE-seeking professionals who want to incorporate behavioral insights directly into planning workflows. You'll learn to recognize how key personality traits'such as conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness'manifest in investor behavior and what those traits mean for long-term portfolio guidance.