Approved IAR CE Courses

For most financial advisors, compliance is simply something you 'have to do' to satisfy regulators while providing financial advice. But in practice, regulations are put in place to protect consumers, and understanding the principles that underlie those regulations can make it easier to adhere to the requirements. In this session, Chief Financial Planning Nerd Michael Kitces is joined by compliance experts Terria Heng, Max Schatzow, and Leila Shaver to discuss what RIAs need to keep in mind as they seek to create a positive culture of compliance, develop and operate within their compliance policies and procedures, and what to watch out for to minimize the risk of audit deficiencies when compliance reviews inevitably come.

This course, Key Variables in Retirement Portfolio Analysis, provides financial professionals with a deep understanding of the factors that impact retirement portfolio sustainability and income adequacy. Participants will explore critical concepts such as asset allocation, withdrawal strategies, inflation considerations, portfolio costs, and the role of required minimum distributions (RMDs) in retirement planning. Through data-driven analysis, the course examines how different withdrawal methods'fixed-dollar, percentage-based, and RMDs'affect portfolio longevity, as well as the importance of adjusting historical returns for realistic future projections. Additionally, attendees learn how equity exposure helps combat inflation and why cost sensitivity plays a crucial role in long-term financial success. By the end of the course, professionals are equipped with the practical knowledge needed to implement low-expense retirement income strategies and optimize portfolio management for clients while meeting requirements as fiduciaries.

When the SEC takes action, it sends a clear message to the industry. Each enforcement case provides a real-world lesson in what effective compliance looks like and what happens when it falls short. This course walks you through case studies where firms failed to meet expectations, from undisclosed revenue-sharing arrangements to inadequate wrap fee monitoring. You will explore what went wrong, how it violated SEC rules, and what should have been done differently. The course also provides a practical explanation of key SEC rules, including fiduciary duty, Form ADV requirements, and the Marketing Rule, along with tools to help you recognize red flags and avoid common compliance mistakes. By learning from real enforcement outcomes, you will be better prepared to protect clients, support your firm, and strengthen your professional judgment.

After the release of the Final Regulations, post-death IRA distribution rules have become more complex, creating more opportunities for IRA beneficiaries to inadvertently be subject to a large tax bill. Planning for the use of a trust as an IRA beneficiary creates a whole new set of planning considerations to balance the benefit of control with the additional cost and complexity of trusts. In this webinar, Jeff Levine reviews the impact of the Final Regulations on IRA beneficiaries and then explains the advantages and disadvantages of using a trust as an IRA beneficiary. He further explains the lifecycle of IRA trusts, detailing how they are established, funded, and administered based on whether they are a conduit or discretionary trust. The presentation concludes with the top 5 mistakes to avoid when creating IRA trusts.

Explore the strategic use of trusts to achieve estate planning goals while balancing flexibility, protection, and tax efficiency. This course covers the key differences between revocable and irrevocable trusts, highlighting their unique benefits and trade-offs. Dive into specialized trust structures such as dynasty trusts for multigenerational wealth preservation, QTIP trusts for blended families, and asset protection trusts for shielding assets from creditors. Gain insights into tax-saving strategies with bypass and charitable trusts, and learn how to integrate life insurance into estate planning using ILITs and survivorship life insurance to provide liquidity and optimize second-to-die strategies.

Join retirement researcher Wade Pfau, a leading expert in retirement income planning, and financial advisor Jason Sanger for a fascinating look at how life insurance can play a vital role in securing a client's retirement security. As you know, many advocate for a 'buy term and invest the difference' strategy, emphasizing lower-cost temporary life insurance to maximize investable assets. However, investments alone may not effectively manage key post-retirement financial risks such as longevity risk, market volatility, and spending shocks.In this webinar, Wade and Jason explore the role of whole life insurance as an alternative within a lifetime financial plan potentially enhance lifetime spending and legacy goals compared to traditional 'buy term and invest the difference' strategies. Using a case study of a hypothetical couple, they will examine two strategic uses of whole life insurance: (1) As a buffer asset to coordinate with investment portfolio distributions and (2) as a death benefit tool to justify incorporating a single-life income annuity.