Approved IAR CE Courses

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.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECM) and their role in retirement planning. Participants will learn how reverse mortgages work, their key features, and how they can be used as strategic financial planning tools. The course covers the historical development of HECM loans, eligibility criteria, and critical distinctions, such as maintaining home ownership and eliminating monthly mortgage payments.By the end of the course, participants will understand how to incorporate reverse mortgages into holistic financial strategies, positioning them not as loans of last resort, but as essential components of comprehensive retirement planning.

In the early days, reverse mortgages were generally treated as a last resort option after other resources were depleted, or as a way to obtain quick access to a large lump-sum of assets. This is not the appropriate way to think about reverse mortgages in a retirement income plan, especially in light of recent research. The reverse mortgage option should be viewed as a method for responsible retirees to create liquidity for an otherwise illiquid asset, which in turn can create new options that potentially support a more efficient retirement income strategy (more spending and/or a greater legacy). After providing an overview of retirement income planning, which sets the context for understanding the potential role of reverse mortgages, this presentation explains the basics for how reverse mortgages work. I then provide an overview of potential uses for a reverse mortgage in a retirement income plan.

In this session, advisors will gain critical insights into the evolving regulatory landscape impacting investment advisers. Compliance expert, Max Schatzow, will explore FinCEN's final rule expanding the definition of 'financial institution' under the Bank Secrecy Act, along with new AML/CFT reporting requirements. Attendees will learn about recent amendments to Regulation S-P, which mandate written incident response programs and enhanced oversight of service providers. The session also covers current SEC examination priorities, equipping advisors with practical strategies to maintain compliance in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

In this continuing education session, learners will read articles highlighting how financial advisors can effectively communicate with clients during times of market volatility and economic uncertainty. The first article explores the concept of risk tolerance, examining how it can differ between partners in a couple and how to engage both partners effectively. The second article delves into the uncertainty caused by tariffs and how advisors can utilize a combination of visual and historical aids, along with empathy, to address client concerns. This idea is further developed in the third article, where learners will read about six questions they can ask to ease clients' market-related fears by leading with emotional validation and reflective reasoning before presenting logical reasoning to quell concerns.

This month, we review two Nerd's Eye View blog articles: Major Compliance Risks When Using AI Tools (And Best Practices To Mitigate Them) and The Risks Of AI Meeting Notetakers: Evaluating Accuracy And Data Privacy In Tools. In the first article, Richard Chen, founder of Brightstar Law Group, outlines the significant compliance risks Registered Investment Advisers (RIAs) face when using AI tools like ChatGPT and automated notetakers, providing actionable best practices to help firms mitigate these risks through training, oversight, tool evaluation, and adherence to regulatory standards. In the second article, Ben Henry-Moreland, Senior Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, explores the rise of AI meeting notetakers for financial advisors, highlighting their potential to streamline documentation, enhance client engagement, and improve compliance workflows.

This course explains what robo-advisors are and this evolving industry as a whole. It reviewssome of the biggest providers, as well as the services that robo-advisors offer. It also assesses thestrengths and weaknesses of robo-advisors and financial advisors, and how they complement each other.

This program is a deeper dive into the SEC's Investment Adviser Marketing Rule (Rule 206(4)-1). It will provide an understanding the complexity of the regulation and the need for a robust compliance infrastructure to maintain consistency in marketing across platforms. The presenter will review actual SEC enforcement actions and guide learners through case studies to review real-world consequences.