Approved IAR CE Courses

A Deeper Look into Indexed Annuities is a 6.0-credit, advanced-level, text-only self-study course in the Products and Practice content area. The course provides an in-depth examination of fixed indexed annuities, including crediting methods, contract guarantees, risks and limitations, liquidity considerations, regulatory requirements, federal taxation, retirement-income planning, and indexed annuity performance analysis.

Participants examine annuity suitability and best-interest considerations, product comparisons, insurer risk, surrender provisions, replacement transactions, disclosures, proprietary indexes, and the role of indexed annuities in comprehensive financial planning. The course emphasizes evaluating annuity recommendations using client-specific objectives, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, applicable regulatory standards, and actual contract terms.

Required course reading consists of Chapters 4 through 11, pages 36–186, of the Morton-Barber Learning Center instructional textbook. Participants must complete the assigned reading and pass the required assessment to earn course credit.

Over the last few years, there have been increased tax and regulatory complications that clients must navigate in order to make their legacy and estate-planning strategies fulfill their desired intent.

This month, we review 2 blog articles. The first article, A Proposed Salesperson's Exemption To The DoL's Retirement Security Rule?, the XY Planning Network Public Comment letter submitted to the Department of Labor regarding its proposed Retirement Security Rule, is shared with Nerd's Eye View readers. The ethical concerns of consumers not understanding if they are working with an advisor or a salesperson are discussed along with the regulatory history separating advice and sales. In FinCEN's New 2024 Requirement For State-Registered RIAs (And Other Small Businesses) To Report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI), new reporting requirements proposed by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are summarized, covering exemption businesses, reporting deadlines, necessary information, and penalties for non-compliance.

An overview of my 30+ years of research into maximizing withdrawals from retirement accounts, so that the money lasts. Discussion of the Eight Elements, the importance of inflation and stock market valuations, computing withdrawal rates for current market condition, dealing with plans deviations during retirement.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd's Eye View blog articles: Artificial Intelligence Compliance Considerations for Investment Advisers and The Third Anniversary of the Investment Adviser Marketing Rule: Compliance Tips and Key Takeaways from Three Years of SEC Enforcement. In the first article, Chris Stanley provides a comprehensive roadmap for integrating AI tools in ways that uphold an adviser's fiduciary obligations, while addressing current regulations governing data privacy, disclosure, recordkeeping, and client communications.In the second article, Isaac Mamaysky examines the real-world enforcement patterns and compliance challenges that have emerged since the rule took effect in 2022. Since the SEC's Marketing Rule went into effect in 2022, several enforcement trends have become clear. Through a review of SEC enforcement actions, this article highlights common pitfalls, including improper use of hypothetical performance, noncompliant testimonials and endorsements, and misleading third-party ratings.

This course examines the differences between brokerage accounts and advisory accounts, including their fee structures, services, and management styles. Because of the many differences in accounts, emphasis will be placed on the importance of providing investors with full and fair disclosure regarding any potential conflicts of interest. The course will also examine the provision of Reg BI and describe the ethical principles related to account recommendations, including prioritizing the best interests of clients over the incentives of financial firms and their associated persons.

This course presentation outlines the fundamentals and applications of structured notes in investment portfolios. It will be discussing types of income and downside protection strategies. The purpose is to educate financial advisors and investors on leveraging structured notes to diversify portfolios, generate income, and mitigate risks.

This course will examine investment funds, but more specifically, the focus is on actively managed exchange-traded funds (ETFs). In addition to learning about the strucuture of ETFs and investment objectives of actively managed ETFs, details will be provided as to how actively managed ETFs developed over history. The course's final sectione will review the specific parts of U.S. securities laws that apply to actively managed ETFs.

Understand the unique needs of retired individuals, the resources available to meet those needs, and planning techniques available to clients at various stages of life. This course considers life insurance, annuities, health insurance, and long-term care, and covers critical market conduct issues.