Approved IAR CE Courses

This course introduces the world of digital assets and the regulatory framework shaping their use in the securities industry. Students will learn what qualifies as a digital asset, how the SEC and FINRA oversee digital asset activities, and why traditional rules still apply to these evolving technologies. The course also highlights the rise of crypto-related scams and the protective measures regulators are taking to safeguard investors. Finally, learners will explore how digital assets are stored, along with best practices for keeping them secure.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd Eye View blog articles: Using Digital Estate Planning Platforms To Complement Attorney And Advisor Roles and Seeking Best Execution: Understanding The SEC's Expectations For Advisors To Deliver Best Outcomes For Clients. In the first article, David Haughton provides an overview of digital estate planning platforms, including their beneficial applications for clients and limitations. David then discusses the concept of the unauthorized practice of law and how advisors can mitigate ethical and legal concerns associated with digital estate planning platforms. In the second article, Chris Stanley explains the fiduciary duty of investment advisors in relation to the best execution of client securities transactions. In this article, SEC expectations, guidance from the 2018 Risk Alert, and directed brokerage arrangements are discussed.

We live in a digital world. Our entire life is becoming stored online in the cloud, but very few people understand or plan for what this means from an asset transfer, management, and ownership standpoint. What happens to your emails, passwords, photos, and websites when you pass away? Honestly, it really depends on your level of planning. Most states now require you to do affirmative planning in order to pass on these assets to your heirs or to allow others to access the information. Failure to do such planning could leave your assets tied up forever in the cloud, unavailable to business partners or loved ones, causing tremendous hardship and financial damages. So learn the rules around digital asset ownership, transfer, and how to set up a digital asset estate under the new law RUFADAA.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd Eye's View blog articles: 6 Discovery Meeting Questions To Find Clients' (Real) 'Why' And Set Goals That (Actually) Resonate and Helping Clients Understand When They Have Enough Retirement Savings To 'Coast FIRE' (And Keep Working Without Necessarily Contributing More). In the first article, Meghaan Lurtz, Ph.D., FBS, explores why early financial planning conversations often fall flat when advisors rush into structured goal-setting without first addressing a client's emotional state. She emphasizes the importance of timing and vision-building, showing how meaningful, motivating goals are best developed after initial stressors are acknowledged and trust is established. In this article, Adam Deusen, CFP' describes an alternative to the traditional early retirement movement: Coast FIRE, illustrating how to identify interested clients and practically how to address the financial and psychological risks associated with Coast FIRE.

This course provides an overview of diversification as an aspect of investment strategy. Thepurpose and benefits of diversification are outlined, as are specific types of diversification, such asdiversification across asset classes or sectors of the economy. The role of correlation in properlydiversifying is covered, including how the usefulness of diversification changes at different levelsof correlation. The course discusses the limitations of diversification, including overdiversificationand the inability of diversification to eliminate systematic risk. Common diversification myths areidentified and challenged. The course covers practical considerations such as strategic vs. tacticalasset allocation, the core-satellite method, and rebalancing.

There are financial and ethical issues that planners need to understand when working with clients in the midst of divorce. We'll look at financial and tax concerns, addressing these without practicing law, ethics in working with an existing client couple who goes through divorce, and what planners can do to help without violating those ethics. We'll also touch briefly on the practice management issues and ethical issues of incorporating divorce consulting into a practice.

Divorce becomes significantly more complex when stock options, restricted stock/RSUs, and company shares are involved. This webinar explains the key financial, tax, valuation, and settlement issues that arise when equity compensation and company stock are part of the marital estate.

Learn how to help clients navigate the challenges of dividing equity awards, valuing company stock, negotiating settlements, and protecting assets through prenuptial agreements. Advisors who understand these issues can provide valuable guidance during one of the most difficult financial and personal transitions in a client's life.

Presented by a leading divorce attorney/mediator and an experienced financial advisor, this webinar delivers practical strategies, actionable insights, and a detailed real-world case study covering the full timeline: from prenup planning through divorce settlements, alimony, child support, and post-divorce financial decisions. A live Q&A session follows the presentation.

This one-hour course is designed for individuals who are involved in conducting, assisting and/orreviewing an investment adviser firm's annual compliance review. Although this course will delveinto the recent amendment to SEC Rule 206(4)-7, which mandates written documentation ofannual compliance reviews, it will also review the applicable requirements for state and federallyregistered investment advisers while offering insights and best practices for conductingcomprehensive reviews to ensure regulatory compliance and mitigate risks effectively.

Conflicts happen every day in relationships; from family to business to political and religious. In most cases, they are resolved amicably with no one party always carrying the brunt of the consequences. Now, consider the fact that "conflicts" are slightly different than "conflicts of interest" and you begin to grasp the scope of this course. A conflict of interest (putting the rep's or the firm's interest before the customer's), either by design or by failure to see it as such, is one area in which the financial services industry cannot abide; especially when it causes negative outcomes to the customer. This course will examine and define examples of conflicts of interest, how to avoid them, and conflicts case studies to help firms stay ahead of FINRA's findings.