Approved IAR CE Courses

There are many ethical obligations surrounding the industry. It is up to the investment adviser, firm, and their associated persons to use common sense and ethical business judgment to determine whether a practice:
•is dishonest
•is unethical
•would take unfair advantage of a client
This course will examine these ethical obligations. 

This course examines the SEC's and FINRA's approach to how the ethical standards of the financial services industry apply to IARs. The focus will be to provide a brief description of each of the five standards as well as case studies offering examples how issues may arise in an IAR's daily activities.The course will also address different situations that have been the focus of SEC examinations, including the personal trading of access persons, the importance of distinguishing between privatesecurities transactions and outside business activities, and other topics.

In today's digital age, social media has become an indispensable tool for investment advisory professionals seeking to expand their reach, engage with clients, and enhance their brand presence. However, with great power comes great responsibility. Our comprehensive course, Ethical Social Media Marketing, is meticulously designed to equip financial professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of social media marketing ethically and compliantly. Through a structured curriculum that spans regulatory frameworks, ethical principles, and the development of robust social media policies, participants will gain a deep understanding of how to effectively leverage social media platforms while adhering to stringent SEC and FINRA guidelines. From mastering honesty and transparency to safeguarding client confidentiality and managing conflicts of interest, this course provides practical strategies and best practices to ensure that your social media efforts not only drive business growth but also uphold the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.Our course is divided into three comprehensive modules, each featuring interactive content, real-world examples, and engaging quizzes to reinforce learning. Module 1: Regulatory Framework and Compliance delve into the essential SEC and FINRA regulations, ensuring that your marketing practices are fully compliant. Module 2: Ethical Principles in Social Media Marketing, focuses on building trust through honesty, transparency, and respectful communication, while Module 3: Best Practices for Transparent Communication, guides you in creating and implementing effective practices for your firm. By the end of this course, you will be empowered to create ethical, compliant, and impactful social media campaigns that not only attract and retain clients but also enhance your firm's reputation in the competitive financial services industry. Whether you are new to social media marketing or looking to refine your existing strategies, this course provides the essential tools and insights to succeed responsibly in the digital marketplace.

This course focuses on how ethics fit into the moral and regulatory framework ofinvestment adviser representative (IAR) regulations. Specifically, the course discusses insider trading, private securities transactions, personal trading accounts, agency cross transactions, and the ethical standards inherent in each. The trading practices alsoinclude recent SEC guidance and best practices as well as case studies that illustrate each.

This course examines how investment adviser representatives can ethically and responsibly use technology such as portfolio management tools and client communication platforms. It emphasizes the importance of fiduciary duty, cybersecurity awareness, and transparency when relying on digital systems in client advisory work.

Financial professionals are undoubtedly familiar with the financial planning issues that older clients face: the need to maximize Social Security benefits, develop an income stream to last throughout retirement, ensure that health care costs are covered, and ultimately develop an estate plan to transfer assets to heirs in a tax-efficient manner. To ethically serve the wave of aging baby boomers, financial professionals must be prepared to address the important issue of diminished capacity. Those who understand the signs of cognitive decline and develop protocols and strategies for working with such impairment can help ensure that clients are protected during a vulnerable stage in their lives.

The purpose of this course is best described in the learning objectives. The instructor breaks downthe meaning of ethics and the associated requirements of the investment adviser representative.He explains what it means to be a fiduciary and the requirements associated with that. The coursedescribes the SEC's IA Code of Ethics and the NASAA Model Rule 102(a)(4)-1.

Ethics & Fiduciary Duty is designed to strengthen investment adviser representatives' understanding of ethical responsibilities and fiduciary obligations in today's regulatory environment. The course is divided into three chapters: Advanced Ethical Decision Making, which explores complex scenarios and frameworks for principled choices, Ethical Business Practice & the SEC Marketing Rule, which examines compliance with promotional standards while maintaining investor trust, and Investment Advisor Integrity, which reinforces the role of honesty, fairness, and professionalism in client relationships. Together, these modules equip participants with practical strategies to navigate ethical dilemmas, uphold fiduciary standards, and foster long-term confidence in the advisory profession.

The course will explain some basic terms and concepts related to artificial intelligence (AI). The course will also review how investment advisers may use AI and will examine the regulatory implications of using AI. Finally, some of the public statements made by regulators regarding AI will be analyzed and hypothetical examples of regulatory violations by advisers using AI will be provided.