Approved IAR CE Courses

This course will examine the basics of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. To provide a rounded course, both the arguments made by ESG advocates and the arguments made by ESG critics will be included. The course will also analyze the SEC reporting requirements that apply to companies and how certain ESG-related disclosures can be found in Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K. The final section will describe the SEC's attempts to standardize ESG disclosures and the opposition to the proposed regulation.

This course introduces Environmental, Social, and Governance "ESG" factors as a topic area forthe financial services industry. While the term ESG has been used by investors and lenders asthey do their analysis before making investment decisions, it has taken on a broader meaning. Tomany, the term ESG now represents the ways in which businesses and those who invest in them are thinking about the longer-term sustainability of their firms, industries, and capitalism itself. Thiscourse explores these themes, provides learners with a basic understanding of core ESG concepts,and discusses ongoing debates in the field.

This session provides attendees with a practical introduction to employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) as shareholder liquidity, diversification, and succession planning tools. We'll explore how leveraged ESOPs function, where they fit relative to traditional transition alternatives, and the tax, valuation, and cash‑flow implications for all stakeholders. In addition, a real‑world case study will highlight the applicability of these unique business transition strategies and the design considerations behind them. Advisors will gain a working understanding of ESOP mechanics, common structures (including partial ESOPs), and the circumstances under which an ESOP may align with a client’s long‑term planning, legacy, and risk‑management objectives.

This course provides investment adviser representatives with a practical and comprehensive understanding of Form ADV requirements under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Learners will explore key components of Parts 1, 2A, 2B, and Form CRS, examine recent regulatory developments, and apply lessons from real-world disclosure failures. The course emphasizes best practices in communication, documentation, and client transparency. Through case studies and application scenarios, participants will develop the skills needed to recognize red flags, support timely updates, and contribute to a culture of compliance.

It is entirely possible that you or a loved one will need to enter an assisted living facility, nursing home, or some similar type of housing. This type of care is extremely expensive, and requires informed planning to ensure that you can handle the financial burden. In the Essentials of Long-Term Care course, we cover how to plan for long-term care, the housing options available, how to pay for it, and several associated legal issues.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd’s Eye View blog articles: How To Engage Next Generation Heirs During And After The Estate Planning Process, and Long-Term Care and Estate Planning for Childfree Clients. In the first article, David Haughton, VP of Estate Planning at Carson Group, examines how advicers can use existing planning milestones—such as education funding, charitable giving, smaller investment accounts, and future fiduciary roles—to build familiarity with heirs before a wealth transfer occurs. He explains why apparent familiarity with a client’s family is not the same as a direct advice and educational relationship, and shows how family conversations can be framed as preparation rather than just broad financial disclosure. In the second article, Dr. Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP®, explains why traditional estate and long-term care assumptions can fail Childfree clients, particularly when no obvious family member is available to act as agent, executor, trustee, or caregiver. He examines decision paralysis challenges of Childfree clients, conflicts created when a future beneficiary also controls care spending, limitations of conventional HEMS language, and the need to prioritize lifetime care through carefully drafted trusts, professional fiduciaries, and coordinated long-term care planning. Together, the articles help advicers adapt estate planning conversations to the client’s actual family structure, responsibilities, and care goals.

There is a widespread misconception that 'estate planning' is of importance only to the wealthy. This is due, in part, to the emphasis of the financial service industry on planning for estate taxes, which only concern larger estate owners. The truth of the matter is, every person, young or old, who has a family or owns property, needs an estate plan. A good estate plan will allow a person to reach desired economic, legal, and personal objectives. Estate Planning is an educational tool to help financial advisors through the maze of programs, rules and regulations that affect many if not all their clients, their spouses, and dependents.

There is a widespread misconception that 'estate planning' is of importance only to the wealthy. This is due, in part, to the emphasis of the financial service industry on planning for estate taxes, which only concern larger estate owners. The truth of the matter is, every person, young or old, who has a family or owns property, needs an estate plan. A good estate plan will allow a person to reach desired economic, legal, and personal objectives. Estate Planning is an educational tool to help financial advisors through the maze of programs, rules and regulations that affect many if not all their clients, their spouses, and dependents. This course is also designed for financial and insurance professionals to deepen their understanding of ethical practices in the insurance industry.