Approved IAR CE Courses

This course provides a practical, compliance-focused examination of the rules governing gifts, gratuities, and non-cash compensation in the financial services industry. Registered representatives, investment adviser representatives (IARs), CFP® professionals, and other associated persons are subject to detailed regulatory requirements that restrict — and in some cases prohibit — the giving and receiving of gifts, meals, entertainment, and other items of value in connection with their business activities.

Developed in alignment with FINRA Rule 3220 (Influencing or Rewarding Employees of Others), FINRA Rules 2310 and 3110 as they relate to non-cash compensation, NASD Rule 2830, and related FINRA guidance, this course covers the regulatory framework in depth — including applicable limits, recordkeeping obligations, supervisory requirements, and the consumer protection rationale underlying these rules. The course also addresses how these requirements apply in IAR contexts under applicable state investment adviser standards, and maps directly to Domain A (Professional Conduct and Regulation) of CFP Board's 2021 Principal Knowledge Topics.

This course provides investment adviser representatives with a comprehensive overview of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and their role in retirement planning. Learners will explore the history, purpose, and rules governing IRAs, including eligibility, contribution limits, rollovers, transfers, and required minimum distributions. The course also examines the distinctions between Traditional and Roth IRAs, prohibited transactions, and recent legislative changes under the SECURE Acts. Through case studies and practical examples, participants will gain the knowledge to help clients select and manage IRAs effectively in pursuit of their long-term financial goals.

This course examines insider trading, where the misuse of confidential information threatens fairness and trust in financial markets. Students will learn to identify material nonpublic information (MNPI) and understand the roles of tippers and tippees. The course also covers enforcement actions, penalties, and whistleblower protections, with lessons drawn from famous cases. By the end, learners will know how to recognize red flags, follow disclosure rules, and apply best practices to protect both their career and market integrity.

This course addresses one of FINRA's core market integrity priorities: manipulative trading. Highlighted in FINRA's 2026 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report as a persistent area of regulatory concern, manipulative trading encompasses a wide spectrum of prohibited practices — from layering and spoofing to wash trading, prearranged trading, pump-and-dump schemes, and marking the close — all of which undermine the integrity of U.S. securities markets and expose firms and their associated persons to serious regulatory and legal consequences.

Developed in alignment with FINRA's 2026 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (Manipulative Trading topic) and applicable FINRA rules — including Rules 2010, 2020, 5210, 5220, 5230, 5240, 5270, 5290, and 6140 — this course equips investment adviser representatives (IARs), registered representatives, compliance professionals, and supervisory personnel with the knowledge to identify manipulative trading typologies, recognize firm-level surveillance and supervisory deficiencies identified by FINRA, apply effective compliance practices, and fulfill reporting obligations when suspicious trading activity is detected.

This course provides a comprehensive, practical examination of Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) — the SEC's foundational standard of conduct governing broker-dealers and their associated persons when making recommendations to retail customers. Since its compliance date in June 2020, Reg BI has remained a top FINRA examination priority, with persistent deficiencies identified across all four of its core obligations: Care, Disclosure, Conflict of Interest, and Compliance.

Developed in alignment with the SEC's Regulation Best Interest release, FINRA's 2026 Annual Regulatory Oversight Report (Reg BI and Form CRS section), SEC Staff Bulletins on Care Obligations and Conflicts of Interest, and related guidance, this course equips registered representatives, investment adviser representatives (IARs), and compliance professionals with the knowledge to understand what Reg BI requires, how FINRA and the SEC evaluate compliance, and how to apply the standard correctly in daily practice.

This course is distinct from the separately available course Suitability, Reg BI & AI-Based Recommendations, which addresses how AI-generated recommendations interact with these standards. This course focuses on the Reg BI framework comprehensively as a standalone subject, without an AI focus.

This course explores how generative AI is reshaping the securities industry, from client communications and compliance oversight to trading strategies and risk management. Students will learn how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and large language models work, along with the regulatory obligations firms must follow when using AI tools. The course also highlights AI-driven fraud risks such as deepfakes and unregistered trading platforms, while providing safeguards to protect investors and firms. By the end, learners will understand both the opportunities and challenges of AI, and how to balance innovation with compliance and ethical oversight

This course provides a comprehensive, compliance-focused examination of the obligations financial professionals bear when making recommendations to retail customers and advisory clients — and how those obligations are shaped, tested, and complicated by the growing use of artificial intelligence in recommendation workflows. The course integrates FINRA Rule 2111 (Suitability), SEC Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI), and the Investment Advisers Act fiduciary standard, then examines how AI-based recommendation tools interact with each framework.

As AI-assisted tools — ranging from algorithm-driven product screeners to fully automated model portfolios — become more prevalent in financial services, practitioners face heightened ethical obligations: to understand the tools they rely on, to exercise independent judgment, to identify and manage conflicts of interest embedded in AI systems, and to ensure that client interests remain paramount. This course addresses those obligations directly.

The course also includes a dedicated section connecting the Reg BI best interest standard to the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, making it suitable for submission for CFP CE credit in addition to IAR CE and Firm Element CE.

Developed in alignment with FINRA Rule 2111, Reg BI (Exchange Act Rule 15l-1), Form CRS requirements, the SEC's investment adviser fiduciary standard, NASAA's IAR Model Rule competency framework, and the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, this course is designed for financial services professionals at broker-dealers, registered investment advisers (RIAs), and dually registered firms.