Approved IAR CE Courses

Regulation SP Amendments - Ethics and Privacy is a one-hour, self-paced course designed for Investment Advisory Representatives. You'll explore the evolution of the Regulation S-P and the 'Safeguards Rule,' learn to recognize sensitive customer information, and assess its risk potential. Through real-world scenarios, you'll master a three-step breach response framework - recognize, escalate, notify - and develop client-focused communication strategies. The course then delves into fiduciary principles, such as care, loyalty, and diligence, to guide ethical decision-making, vendor oversight, and conflict mitigation. Finally, you'll implement practical controls, including 72-hour breach alert clauses and audit-ready documentation, ensuring your firm's data privacy measures are as robust and trustworthy as your financial advice.

This course is designed to educate insurance professionals in regard to the latest regulatorychanges governing suitability standards in the Industry. The new regulation includes a "best interest"standard, both at the federal level through the NAIC Suitability in Annuity Transactions ModelRegulation, SEC Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) and FINRA Rule 2111; and at the State level through the first state implementation (NY Regulation 187).

This course examines how Reg BI has increased the transparency of the relationships that retail investors have with broker-dealers and/or investment advisers. The key provisions of Reg BI will be analyzed in detail, which include the Disclosure Obligation, the Care Obligation, the Conflict of Interest Obligation, and the Compliance Obligation. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the types of conflicts that may arise when making financial recommendations and how to mitigate or eliminate them. The use of case studies will enhance understanding in how to handle situations that may arise in adherence with the provisions of Reg BI.

Regulation S-P is the backbone of client data privacy in the investment advisory space. Built on the foundation of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), it requires investment advisers to adopt policies and procedures designed to safeguard customer information and to provide transparency about how that information is collected, used, shared, and protected. The regulation isn't just about compliance - it's a reflection of the fiduciary duty advisers owe their clients and their clients' trust.This course outlines the essential elements of Regulation S-P and related privacy expectations, drawing from real-world enforcement actions, SEC guidance, and best practices. It is tailored for new and experienced advisers who want to confidently understand and apply the law to their day-to-day operations.

This course will provide financial advisors with an in-depth review of restricted stock units (RSUs), including their structure, taxation, and strategic planning considerations. Specifically, the course will cover the stages of grant, vesting, and sale; federal and California tax implications; and special circumstances such as mergers, acquisitions, and IPOs. Advisors will learn how to navigate withholding requirements, source tax rules, and double trigger vesting provisions. The presentation will also highlight diversification strategies, cash flow planning, and cross-year tax coordination. In addition, attendees will gain practical skills for using StockOpter to track, model, and manage RSU holdings, helping them better guide clients in optimizing equity compensation outcomes.