Approved IAR CE Courses

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.

This course examines the process that investment adviser representatives should follow when assisting clients in creating a plan to provide income during retirement. This course focuses on the the steps in the planning process, starting with the client's income goals, determining what will beavailable, as well as how much needs to be derived from the saving of additional funds to meet thegoal. The course will also cover the basic characteristics of the most popular retirement vehicles, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k) plans.

This course will provide insight into the different types of retirement plans and their characteristics. Some of the key points will be the method by which the funds are contributed (i.e., whether they'repre-tax or after-tax) and the importance of taking advantage of the benefit of tax-deferred growth.Readers will also learn about how important it is to factor in the impact of inflation on the planning process. Using numerical examples, readers will gain an understanding of the importance of the different steps in retirement planning - defining objectives, assessing resources, determiningneeded savings, saving and investing, and reviewing and re-evaluating.

Over time, IRAs have become extremely important for many Americans saving for retirement. This Review thecourse will review the history of retirement accounts in the U.S., starting with the Social Security Actand defined-benefit plans, and finishing with the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974 (ERISA). The rules for fiduciaries and custodians that were established in ERISA will be examined, followed by an explanation of fiduciary and suitablity rules for invesment advisers and broker-dealers. The course will conclude with a review the tax rules for inherited IRAs.

Treasury securities provide investors with both safety and liquidity. This course will examine the essential characteristics of the different types of U.S. government securities, the process by whichthey're offered to investors, and some of the specific risks associated with them. Readers will alsoexamine the impact of changing interest rates and how to analyze yield curves. For a fullerunderstanding of whether a recommendation of Treasury securities is appropriate, details on the taxtreatment of these securities is included.

This course takes an in-depth look at variable annuities, the contractual agreement between the owner and the insurance company, and the fundamental characteristics inherent in these contracts.Readers will learn about both accumulation period and annuity period, including the process of purchasing and valuing the contract during accumulation and the different methods of receivingpayments (either through withdrawals or annuitization). The tax treatment of payments and the ability to utilize a 1035 exchange will be examined. The course concludes with a review of the factors that should be considered when comparing different insurance companies offering annuities.