Approved IAR CE Courses

This course comprehensively examines social media ethics and compliance for state-registered investment adviser representatives. The course begins by exploring the transformation of client communication in the digital age and the strategic value of social media in modern advisory practices. Following the introduction, the course examines the regulatory framework governing social media use, including the Marketing Rule's application to state-registered advisers and the pivotal Netflix case study illustrating Regulation Fair Disclosure requirements. The course then delves into compliance obligations, covering recordkeeping requirements, Write Once, Read Many (WORM) protocols, and managing third-party content. Practical implementation strategies include platform selection, content development, and risk management procedures. The course examines data privacy and security requirements, particularly Regulation S-P. Special attention is given to the emerging role of financial influencers ("finfluencers") and the regulatory challenges they present. Detailed case studies demonstrate successful implementation strategies and enforcement actions.

Does thinking about tax notices remind anyone else of the Jaws theme song? As with the iconic movie, it is just a matter of time before your clients receive a dreaded IRS letter. These 'love letters' from the IRS often send clients into a panic, unsure of how to respond and worried over receiving notices that often suggest they have done something wrong or owe money (and truly, who could blame them!). In several instances, these matters are rather simple, albeit time-consuming, to address, but often clients find themselves without counsel for what to do if they receive these letters. In this webinar, Steven Jarvis, CPA, explains how financial advisors can assist clients who have received letters from the IRS without crossing boundaries into tax representation or the provision of tax advice. Throughout the session, Steven walks advisors through common IRS notices, such as letters of discrepancy and differences of estimated tax payments, and provides examples of actions advisors can take to assist clients in moving toward a response.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd's Eye View blog articles: Ethical Considerations When Advising Couples During The Good Times And The Bad and How Can RIAs Effectively Manage Compliance Risk and Client Dignity When Addressing Diminished Capacity and Financial Exploitation?In the first article, Shelitha Smodic, CFP', explores the ethical complexities financial advisors face when working with couples, particularly during marital conflict or divorce. It emphasizes the importance of fiduciary duty, informed consent, documentation, and clearly defined engagement terms to protect both clients and the advisor-client relationship.In the second article, Richard Chen, founder of Brightstar Law Group, explains how advisors can ethically and compliantly respond to clients experiencing diminished cognitive capacity or financial exploitation. It outlines the legal, regulatory, and practical challenges involved, and provides a framework for prevention, intervention, and post-intervention care that respects client autonomy while safeguarding their financial wellbeing.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd Eye View blog articles: Quantifying (More Accurately) The Real Impact Of A Financial Advisor's Costs On Their Clients' Nest Eggs and Enhancing Client Conversations About Charitable Giving: Sample Questions, Scripts, and Tools for Better Engagement. In the first article, Derek Tharp, PhD, CFP, CLU, RICP, evaluates criticisms of advisory fees and their impacts on clients by personal finance author Ramit Sethi. Derek highlights the mathematical and practical concerns of Ramit Sethi's methodology for assessing the cost of financial advisors and the value they provide. He then explains the value that advisors can bring to clients. In the second article, Kathleen Rehl, PhD, CFP, CEFT Emeritus, explains the benefits of incorporating charitable planning into a financial planning practice, providing a practical guide that addresses concerns about engaging in charitable giving conversations with sample scripts and ideas for how to create client value in this area.

This course prepares Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) to meet regulatory expectations for business continuity planning (BCP). Learners will explore key BCP components - data protection, communication protocols, office relocation, succession, and third-party risk management - with a focus on practical application and fiduciary responsibility. The course emphasizes real-world scenarios, compliance best practices, and the adviser's role in supporting plan execution. By course end, learners will be equipped to contribute to firm-wide continuity strategies that protect clients and ensure regulatory readiness.

As clients live longer and wealth remains invested well into retirement, financial advisors increasingly face complex situations involving diminished capacity, family conflict, and potential elder financial exploitation. In this session, securities attorney Michelle Atlas-Quinn will provide a practical legal framework for navigating these sensitive situations while protecting both clients and advisory firms. The program will explore how regulators evaluate advisor responsibilities when working with aging clients, how legal capacity differs from observable warning signs of cognitive decline, and why advisors must document concerns carefully without attempting to diagnose medical conditions. Michelle will also discuss account titling considerations, jurisdictional issues, the limits of custodian involvement, and the litigation risks advisors face after a client’s death. The session will further review the federal regulatory framework, including SEC Rule 2165 and Regulation S-P, along with practical risk-mitigation strategies advisors can implement to recognize red flags, escalate concerns appropriately, and respond to suspected exploitation while maintaining compliance and client confidentiality.

This course examines how artificial intelligence is becoming part of financial services, creating new efficiencies but also new potential risks for investment adviser representatives. It explains how AI fits within the existing regulatory framework, including fiduciary duties, the Marketing Rule, the Books and Records Rule, and Regulation S-P - framed through the lens of ethical responsibilities. Through examples, enforcement cases, and professional guidance, you will see that while technology may evolve, your ethical duties do not: the standards of care, honest and transparent disclosure, and protection of client data remain constant and must guide your judgment in practice.

This continuing education course explores the critical intersection of artificial intelligence technology and regulatory compliance in the investment advisory industry. Participants will gain practical knowledge to ensure their firm's AI usage complies with SEC regulations, FINRA rules, and state securities laws. The course covers essential topics including privacy requirements, oversight obligations, fiduciary duties in AI-assisted decision making, and the evolving regulatory framework governing AI use in financial services. Through examination of recent enforcement actions, SEC risk alerts, and practical implementation strategies, participants will learn how to balance innovation with regulatory compliance and client protection.