Approved IAR CE Courses

The purpose of this course is to educate financial professionals on the principles and benefits of building diversified, multi-asset portfolios for long-term success. The course emphasizes the importance of spreading risk across uncorrelated asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities, to manage volatility and enhance returns. Key topics include the 7Twelve portfolio model, the impact of portfolio costs, the necessity of rebalancing, and the role of low-correlation assets in stabilizing portfolios. Attendees also learn how to align portfolio strategies with client goals and set realistic expectations by using appropriate benchmarks. The course provides actionable insights to help advisors construct portfolios that balance risk and return effectively over time.

ETFs have become commonplace in client portfolios as the ETF market has continued to grow at a rapid pace. However, despite the efficiency of the ETF market, this system has also become more fragile, leading to tons of news headlines speculating about the future of ETFs and various investing trends. David Nadig takes advisors through a deep dive into how the ETF market has developed, areas that advisors should actually be concerned about and continue to monitor, and trends that will impact the future of ETF investing. This webinar also features a review of tools and metrics that advisors can use to conduct ETF due diligence, along with a specific list of tools with their pros and cons, including a walkthrough of some commonly used and affordable options.

In today's complex financial landscape, ethical communication is more important than ever for investment advisers. "Mastering Ethical Communication" is a comprehensive course designed to equip financial professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to build trust, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver client-centered advice. This self-study course covers essential topics, including key regulatory frameworks, principles of ethical communication, and practical strategies for clear and transparent client engagement.Throughout the course, you will explore the laws and regulations that govern the financial advisory industry, such as SEC regulations, FINRA rules, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. You will also delve into core ethical principles, including honesty, transparency, and confidentiality, all of which are essential for maintaining client trust and upholding your fiduciary duty. Additionally, you will learn how to effectively communicate complex financial information by using plain language, avoiding misleading statements, properly disclosing risks, and ensuring that your advice is suitable for each client's unique needs and circumstances.By the end of the course, you will be equipped with practical strategies to enhance your communication skills, maintain compliance with ethical standards, and foster stronger, trust-based relationships with your clients. This course is ideal for both new and experienced investment advisers who are committed to ethical excellence and continuous professional development.

Navigating the complexities of long-term care and Medicaid eligibility can be overwhelming for clients facing a sudden care need without prior planning. This session, led by renowned elder law expert Dale Krause, J.D., LL.M., provides a comprehensive overview of crisis Medicaid planning, with a focus on Medicaid Compliant Annuities (MCAs). Participants will gain practical tools to protect client assets, accelerate Medicaid eligibility, and implement crisis strategies for both married and single individuals. The session features real-life case studies and a detailed walkthrough of Gift/MCA plans.

This one-hour course is designed for individuals who are involved in preparing, maintaining and/or testing an investment adviser's privacy policy and information security policies and procedures. This course will delve into the recent amendments to SEC Regulation S-P including the specific requirements of the incident response plan, the mandatory customer notification obligation, due diligence of service providers and exception to the annual delivery of the privacy notice.

The college funding landscape is evolving rapidly, with sweeping changes to the FAFSA, institutional methodologies such as the CSS Profile, and federal student loan programs. Financial advisors must understand these shifts in order to properly guide both high- and middle-income families through effective planning strategies.This session provides a practical roadmap for interpreting new FAFSA rules under the FAFSA Simplification Act and the OBBBA, analyzing the unique nuances of the CSS Profile, and navigating federal loan reforms affecting undergraduate, graduate, and parent borrowers. Advisors will also learn how to leverage timing strategies, 529 coordination, and strategic loan structuring to align college costs with long-term financial goals.Participants will leave with a toolkit of resources'including loan comparison matrices, affordability worksheets, and award letter negotiation templates'to help clients make smarter, ROI-based decisions about higher education financing.

The program provides a deep dive into the key provisions of the SEC's Investment Advisers Act Marketing Rule. This two-hour educational course is designed to help investment advisers, compliance professionals, and financial industry practitioners understand the complexities of the rule and ensure compliance with its requirements. The program will cover critical topics such as the definition of an advertisement, prohibited statements, testimonials and endorsements, performance advertising, third-party ratings, and recordkeeping requirements. Participants will also gain insights into real-world exam questions and best practices for compliance.

Every year, high school students endure the arduous process of applying to colleges, hoping to receive the illustrious acceptance letter. As parents walk through the ups and downs of this process with their students, another challenge may loom in the background: how to pay for college once their children get in. With the cost of college continuing to rise, the issue of how to pay for college has become increasingly concerning, especially for affluent families that are often ineligible for need-based aid. In this webinar, Joe Messinger, CFP', discusses how financial planners can help facilitate better conversations between parents and their students about paying for college, touching on topics such as school selection, important applications and formulas, and methods for lowering the cost of college. He further delves into specific strategies to maximize clients' resources to pay for college through a combination of tuition discounts, tax optimization opportunities, lending strategies, and scholarships.

HSAs are a common employee benefit for many clients. However, this form of savings account has several rules regarding contributions and distributions that can easily be overlooked by clients, leaving them open to potential tax penalties and missed opportunities to maximize the benefits of this unique savings vehicle. In this webinar, Ben Henry-Moreland, Senior Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, walks participants through a detailed explanation of the planning considerations of HSA ownership starting from contribution eligibility to distribution rules to transferring assets in an HSA at death. In this session, he also explains how to strategically utilize an HSA to plan for current medical needs, take advantage of tax-free growth, and coordinate benefits with spouses and adult children.

Financial services professionals often face challenges when seniors show cognitive difficulties but remain legally competent, or when family members question a senior’s decisions. This course helps professionals recognize obstacles to ethical decision-making, such as rationalizations, critical thinking errors, and mental traps, and emphasizes emotional intelligence. It also provides tools for assessing ethical decisions, including the Six Pillars of Character and an eight-step decision-making model.