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.
In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd’s Eye View blog articles: The 3 Tiers Of Documents That Advisory Firms Retain To Stay Compliant, and Compliance Issues When Clients Won’t Take Your Advice. In the first article, Shelitha Smodic presents a three-tier framework for advisory firm documentation, progressing from required regulatory records to documentation of client interactions and, ultimately, the advicer’s rationale behind recommendations, and explains how intentional documentation practices can support regulatory compliance, strengthen fiduciary decision-making, preserve evidence of advice, and improve business continuity across an advisory firm. In the second article, Shelitha Smodic examines the ethical and compliance obligations financial advicers face when clients direct them to take actions that conflict with the advicer’s professional judgment, including the interplay between the duties of care, loyalty, and following lawful client instructions, and explains how advicers can clarify and document client directions while separately evaluating whether repeated disagreements warrant changing the scope of or terminating the client relationship. Together, the articles help advicers build documentation practices that support sound fiduciary decision-making, from initial client conversations through the moments when a client pushes back on their advice.
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.
This live 90-minute course teaches investment adviser representatives (IARs) how to perform due diligence and evaluate private investment opportunities (e.g., real estate syndications, private equity funds, etc.) within a fiduciary framework. Attendees will learn to critically assess the quality of deal sponsors, identify red flags in offering documents, analyze financial projections and deal structures, and determine client suitability for illiquid alternative investments. The content supports an investment adviser's fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and applicable state securities laws, including the duties of care and loyalty, and is designed as an intermediate-level program, assuming participants have a baseline understanding of investment concepts and some client experience in portfolio planning. This course is submitted for IAR continuing education credit under the NASAA Model Rule on Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education and emphasizes educational content (not product promotion) in compliance with IAR CE program requirements.
This course is intended for investment adviser representatives and investment adviser firmcompliance staff members wanting to gain an understanding and implement a due diligence reviewprocess for service providers utilized by the firm to perform certain advisory functions. In October2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed Rule 206(4)-11, which wouldrequire SEC registered investment advisers to conduct both documented due diligence before hiring,and continued oversight of, third parties when outsourcing certain functions necessary to theadviser's provision of investment advice. The speaker will explain how the proposed Rule mayimpact investment adviser firms. The speaker will also discuss with attendees some of the bestpractices all investment adviser firms should currently have in place when performing due diligenceof service providers and the expectations of regulators. Equal attention will be given to the duediligence review process itself and what investment advisers should look for with each serviceprovider, including red flags, when performing such a review.
This course is designed to help investment adviser representatives, supervisory principals, compliance professionals, and firm executives understand the duty of care of an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as relates to providing investment advice and recommendations. The speaker will review the components of the duty of care and specific examples of what constitutes failure to exercise duty of care.