Approved IAR CE Courses

This quiz will include a review of the following articles: Factor Investing And Its (Behavioral) Persistence: Facts and Fiction About The Zoo Of Factors and Instant-Issue Term Life Insurance: What Are The Costs Of Low-Hassle Coverage, And When Are They Worth It?

This course focuses on an investment adviser representative's requirements acting in a fiduciary capacity, what that entails and provides examples on how that can be seen in practice. It additionally reviews the various unethical business practices that present themselves to investment adviser representatives and how to mitigate them. This course also presents the rules surrounding communications with the public, emphasizing the ever-growing use of social media, along with the concerns to both advisers and customers in using social media. Students will also be exposed to the risks and red flags with cyber security and the reporting requirements for any private securities transactions and outside business activities.

Each year, various limits affecting income tax preparation and planning change. Some changes commonly occur each year as a result of inflation indexing, while others occur because of new legislation or the sunsetting of existing law. This course will examine recent tax changes that are significant from the perspective of an income tax preparer. Some context will be supplied, as appropriate, to assist readers in understanding the changes.

Retirement Plans, Pensions and Annuities is a course that discusses the federal income tax treatment of, and limitations related to a) qualified employee plan contributions and distributions, and b) commercial annuity contracts. It examines the qualified plan limits and income taxability of: employer and employee contributions (including designated Roth account contributions); plan loans; life insurance contained in the plan; plan distributions, including distributions as periodic payments and non-periodic payments; required minimum distributions; and rollovers. The course also examines the tax treatment of lump-sum distributions and periodic payments received under commercial annuity contracts. A final examination covering the course material is administered.

Investment advisers operate within a framework defined not only by regulatory obligations but by the profound ethical duty to place client interests above their own. At the heart of this responsibility lies the fiduciary standard'an expectation of loyalty, care, honesty, and full disclosure'that governs every interaction, recommendation, and action an adviser takes on behalf of their clients. As markets grow more complex and financial products more diverse, the ethical and fiduciary obligations of advisers have expanded accordingly, demanding a heightened level of diligence, transparency, and professional integrity.This study guide explores the core ethical and fiduciary principles that underpin the investment advisory profession, as well as the real-world application of these principles in various contexts. Each section builds upon the central premise that client-first behavior must guide all aspects of advisory services'from everyday account management to the most nuanced areas of potential conflict.

This self-study course provides investment adviser representatives (IARs) with a comprehensive understanding of the fiduciary duties and obligations that define the advisory profession. Organized around the recognized duties of loyalty, care, good faith and fair dealing, disclosure, confidentiality, scope of authority, and monitoring, the course examines both the legal foundations and practical applications of fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and state regulatory frameworks.Through regulatory guidance, case studies, and practical examples, participants will explore how fiduciary duties shape client relationships, influence advisory recommendations, and guide compliance practices. The course also addresses emerging challenges, including technology, cybersecurity, and ESG investing, to help advisers anticipate and adapt to evolving regulatory and client expectations.By the end of the course, IARs will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to uphold fiduciary standards, mitigate risks, and strengthen client trust through transparency, integrity, and professionalism.

This course provides investment adviser representatives with a fuller understanding of a keycomponent of their obligations to clients, the concept of a fiduciary duty. The course begins with alegal-historical examination of the development of fiduciary duties, such as the obligation not toengage in self-dealing and the corporate opportunity doctrine. The course covers the distinction between the duty of loyalty and duty of care. Fiduciary duties in specific contexts, such as discretionary accounts, trust accounts, retirement plans, and mutual fund management, are alsocovered. The course discusses the difference between the fiduciary standard for investment advisers and the Regulation Best Interest standard for broker-dealers, as well as the implicationsof multiple standards for dually registered firms. Emerging regulatory trends and landmarkcases related to fiduciary duties are discussed.