Approved IAR CE Courses

For most clients, the years around retirement bring the largest and least reversible financial decisions of their lives: what to do with an employer plan balance, when to claim Social Security, whether to take a pension as a lump sum, and how to turn savings into income that lasts. An IAR cannot advise on those decisions without a working knowledge of the products and rules involved.

This course covers the risks that define retirement income planning, the main sources of retirement income, the distribution rules as amended by the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0, and the common withdrawal strategies. It then covers the rollover decision in detail: the four options for a plan balance, the factors SEC staff expects advisers to consider, the rules that can make a rollover costly for a particular client, and the mechanics of moving money correctly. The final module gives IARs a six-step process for analyzing and documenting a rollover recommendation.

The course is educational and product-neutral. A companion Ethics and Professional Responsibility course, The Rollover Conflict: Ethics in Retirement Income and Rollover Advice, covers the ethical side of the same decisions. The two courses do not repeat each other.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd’s Eye View blog articles written by Dr. Meghaan Lurtz: Navigating Sensitive Topics With Clients: 3 Tools To Get Them To Open Up About Planning Hurdles and When Clients Use AI To Challenge Your Advice: How To Respond To Deepen Engagement.

In the first article, Meghaan explains why financial advisors should not avoid sensitive client conversations and explores research showing that clients often overestimate how uncomfortable these discussions will be. She then introduces three trauma-informed communication techniques to help advisors uncover deeper client values, improve engagement, and develop more meaningful financial plans. In the second article,

In the second article, Meghaan argues that clients who use AI to question or validate their advisor's recommendations are typically demonstrating greater engagement rather than distrust. She then introduces a four-step conversational framework advisors can utilize to transform AI-driven questions into opportunities for deeper trust, collaboration, and better planning outcomes.

"Understanding the fundamentals of financial analysis is an important life skill as well as a requisite to providing sound investment advice to clients. Financial analysis was once considered only the language of Wall Street, but in today’s world of IRA’s and 401-k’s, the general population is learning more and more about financial analysis in order to preserve and enhance the value of their investments.

This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of financial analysis, its importance, and the tools used to understand financial statements.

Finally the course speaks to the warning signs and qualitative factors in financial analysis that need to be considered in evaluating changes to an investment portfolio."

Effective insurance planning starts with understanding the types of policies available, how much protection is needed, and how long it should stay in place. These considerations help ensure a policy is aligned with a client’s financial obligations, priorities, and long-term goals. Join us for an interactive webinar focused on:

- Reviewing policy types, premium structures, and cash value mechanics to understand how different coverage options work

- Evaluating coverage to identify gaps and determine whether current protection supports the client’s needs

- Presenting your analysis effectively so clients can understand their options and move forward with confidence

The Fundamentals of True Wealth Planning course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of a five-phase model for delivering holistic, life-centered financial planning services:EXPLORE: Develop and strengthen client trust by demonstrating the importance of understanding values and priorities.ENGAGE: Facilitate a discovery process that engages clients' hearts and minds while providing insights into their unique frames of reference.ENVISION: Assist clients in developing an inspiring vision of the future that lays the foundation for meaningful life and financial goals.ENLIGHTEN: Present financial plans and advice in a way that meaningfully connects strategies to clients' values, interests, and aspirations.EMPOWER: Utilize proven strategies for keeping clients engaged, motivated, and on the path toward their life and financial goals.This course introduces participants to the research-based and philosophical foundations behind the True Wealth Planning process. It is designed to enhance financial professionals' ability to integrate life-centered approaches into their practice while upholding the fiduciary standard of always putting the client's interests first.

The Fundamentals of True Wealth Planning course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of a five-phase model for delivering holistic, life-centered financial planning services:EXPLORE: Develop and strengthen client trust by demonstrating the importance of understanding values and priorities.ENGAGE: Facilitate a discovery process that engages clients' hearts and minds while providing insights into their unique frames of reference.ENVISION: Assist clients in developing an inspiring vision of the future that lays the foundation for meaningful life and financial goals.ENLIGHTEN: Present financial plans and advice in a way that meaningfully connects strategies to clients' values, interests, and aspirations.EMPOWER: Utilize proven strategies for keeping clients engaged, motivated, and on the path toward their life and financial goals.This course introduces participants to the research-based and philosophical foundations behind the True Wealth Planning process. It is designed to enhance financial professionals' ability to integrate life-centered approaches into their practice while upholding the fiduciary standard of always putting the client's interests first.

For a parent or guardian, funding a child's education is typically one of the most important financial decisions to make. In many cases, the educational needs of a child are generally considered to be college related. However, parents and guardians may also intend to sendtheir children to private schools for grades K - 12, which will increase costs and financialplanning considerations. Overall, it's imperative for investment adviser representatives (IARs)to have a general understanding of the financial options available to individuals who wantprepare to meet the expected expenses associated with their own education or those of others.This course will primarily focus on the most widely used investment product for setting aside funds for higher educational needs'a Section 529 savings plan. Other methods will beexamined, such as prepaid tuition plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESA), andUniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts.