Approved IAR CE Courses

This course provides an overview of financial statements, how to access them, and theirsignificance to IARs. Concepts and terminology are presented to help IARs understand thethree main types of financial statements'balance sheets, income statements, and cash flowstatements'and how they interrelate. The course covers methods of accessing a company'sfinancial statements, including the use of EDGAR to search SEC filings. Coverage of the balancesheet includes a discussion of different classes of assets and liabilities, the need for theequation assets - liabilities = owners' equity to balance, and the role of retained earnings intracking a company's performance over time. Coverage of the income statement includes thedistinction between revenues, gross income, operating income, and net income, as well as howvarious expenses are categorized, such as COGS, depreciation, PP&E, and taxes. Coverage ofthe cash flow statement includes the distinction between cash-basis accounting and accrual-basisaccounting, how cash flows are categorized, and the distinction between sources of cash and uses of cash.

This course provides an in-depth exploration of comprehensive financial planning strategies, including investment management, asset allocation, retirement planning, and estate preservation. Participants will gain practical knowledge of the six-step financial planning process, client relationship management, and the ethical and regulatory frameworks shaping the financial industry, including the Department of Labor (DOL) Fiduciary Rule. Designed for professionals seeking to enhance their expertise, the course emphasizes compliance, transparency, and actionable solutions to meet diverse client needs in a dynamic economic landscape.

This course provides investment professionals with a comprehensive overview of fixed and variable annuities, highlighting their unique features, benefits, and risks. Learners will explore key contract provisions such as interest crediting methods, surrender charges, payout options, and riders, as well as the regulatory framework governing these products. By comparing the safety and predictability of fixed annuities with the market-driven potential of variable annuities, participants will gain the knowledge to evaluate suitability and guide clients toward informed retirement planning decisions.

This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the fiduciary duty standards under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 as they apply to the sale of fixed indexed annuities. Participants will learn to identify and assess conflicts of interest when an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) is dually licensed as an insurance agent, analyze the SEC's arguments and jury findings in the SEC v. Cutter case, and recognize regulatory limitations on switching between fiduciary and non-fiduciary roles. The course also covers best practices for mitigating legal and regulatory risks, drafting compliant client disclosures, and establishing firm-wide procedures for supervising IARs selling insurance products.

This course, designed for CFP and CPA financial planners, delves into the intersection of counseling psychology and financial advising, providing unique insights into investor behavior during bull markets. It focuses on psychological phenomena such as FOMO (fear of missing out), recency bias, and the wealth effect, examining how these influence decision-making and offering strategies to guide clients toward emotionally and financially healthy choices. By integrating behavioral finance principles with actionable counseling techniques, the course equips financial professionals to better understand and support clients in aligning emotional and financial needs amid a roaring bull market.

Form ADV is a critical regulatory filing required by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Investment Advisory firms. It serves as a comprehensive disclosure document that provides essential information about the firm's operations, services, and fees to clients, prospects and regulatory authorities. Understand the common pitfalls and challenges associated with the regulatory filings, allowing you to proactively address potential issues, mitigate regulatory risks, and minimize the likelihood of enforcement actions. Learn best practices for organizing, collecting, and updating the required information efficiently.

Affluent families often assume college planning doesn't apply to them'yet the realities of admissions selectivity, institutional aid practices, and multi-year financial commitments require a distinctly tailored strategy. This course equips investment advisor representatives and financial planners with the knowledge, frameworks, and tools to guide high-income clients through a structured, ROI-driven approach to college planning.Participants will be introduced to the MAGIC Method and the College Cash, Credit, and Collateral system, frameworks that align academic, financial, and emotional factors into an integrated wealth strategy. Advisors will leave with practical tools to coach families through a 3'4 year planning runway, dispel persistent myths, and design customized funding models that preserve overall wealth goals while maximizing educational outcomes.