Approved IAR CE Courses

Understand the financial concerns facing your retired clients. This course will help you increase the value of the consultative services you provide your clients by offering strategic solutions to address those concerns and make you aware of the market conduct and ethical issues involved in serving the senior market.

This course will discuss the knowledge and skills required to serve senior clients ethically and effectively. It will cover critical aspects of ethics, retirement income planning, the use of annuities, and estate planning.Chapter 1 delves into the ethical responsibilities and challenges financial professionals face when working with senior clients.In chapter 2 you'll examine the common goals and concerns of many retirees as they transition into retirement. We'll also take a step-by-step look at how to develop a sound retirement plan that accurately projects what a person's retirement income needs will be and how to ensure that funds will last a lifetime.Chapter 3 discuses how retirement today is much different than it was just a few generations ago. As company-sponsored retirement plans have become the exception rather than the norm, individuals are now faced with trying to accumulate enough funds for their futures and then safely and efficiently distributing them during retirement. One investment vehicle that is uniquely situated to accomplish both of these goals is the annuity. And, because annuities are the only investment product that can generate a stream of income that is guaranteed to last a lifetime, they can offer certainty and peace of mind for retirees who are concerned about outliving their incomes. For this reason, annuities have become an especially popular retirement planning tool.With millions of baby boomers set to retire, and with billions of retirement plan dollars ready to be transferred from accumulation objectives to income objectives, financial practitioners need to be aware of how annuities can be used to assist clients in their quest for principal protection, lifetime income, and growth potential.In chapter 4 you'll examine the basic goals of estate planning and the importance of minimizing estate and gift taxes. We'll also examine several estate-planning tools that can help clients achieve their estate- planning objectives as well as the role a financial practitioner plays in the estate-planning process.

This course covers key concepts related to separately managed accounts (SMAs) and their potential benefit to investors. It reviews the operational aspects of SMAs and compares themto more commonly utilized investment vehicles such as mutual funds and ETFs. This course also discusses the characteristics of SMAs with regard to structure, fees and tax implications,and explains the potential advantages, disadvantages and suitability of using SMAs instead of other types of investment vehicles.

The planning and saving needs of all generations differ in many ways. This course will explore serving clients of different generations through a discussion of financial planning and planning for retirement.

This course examines ethical and practical considerations for state-registered IARs serving clients with disabilities. It explores government benefit programs and the 'benefits cliff' that creates unique planning challenges when wealth-building strategies can jeopardize essential benefits. Thecourse analyzes how fiduciary duties become more complex when serving clients with disabilities, including capacity assessment and documentation practices. It covers specialized financial tools like ABLE accounts, Special Needs Trusts, and insurance strategies designed to preserve benefiteligibility while building wealth. Practical guidance addresses financial exploitation prevention, accessibility accommodations, family dynamics, and interdisciplinary team coordination. The courseconcludes with implementation strategies for creating disability-inclusive advisory practices as both an ethical obligation and a competitive advantage.

This course begins by defining sexual harassment and describing two different forms of sexual harassment. The course also presents examples of sexual harassment, so that participants will be able to recognize sexual harassment in the workplace. This is followed by a brief review of the history and legal foundation of modern sexual harassment law, including a discussion of power dynamics and the role of gender identity in sexual harassment. Participants learn about the most common traditional approach to handling workplace sexual harassment (i.e., forbidden behaviorstraining), as well as newer methods (e.g., bystander intervention training). The course also discusses IAR disclosure requirements regarding sexual harassment, and it offers tips forsafely navigating the digital workplace.

This course examines the rapidly evolving landscape of shadow trading for investment adviser representatives. It distinguishes shadow trading from traditional insider trading through landmark cases like SEC v. Panuwat and SEC v. Bechtolsheim, while exploring the regulatory framework through SEC and NASAA regulations. The course analyzes compliance obligations including recordkeeping and pre-trade clearance, with practical implementation strategies focusing on surveillance, documentation, and 10b5-1 plans. Through case studies of high-risk scenarios such asthematic investing and industry consolidation, the course illustrates how advisers may inadvertentlyengage in shadow trading and provides best practices to develop robust compliance frameworks frameworks addressing current and anticipated enforcement priorities.

This course equips investment adviser representatives with practical knowledge to recognize, respond to, and help prevent two of today's most pressing cybersecurity threats: ransomware and account takeovers. Participants will explore how evolving tactics, including AI-driven phishing, impersonation, and adaptive malware, challenge traditional defenses. The course highlights regulatory expectations, including SEC disclosure obligations, enforcement priorities, and fiduciary duties, while emphasizing the IAR's role in spotting red flags, escalating concerns through firm-approved channels, and reinforcing secure client practices. By connecting compliance responsibilities with everyday decisions and ethical considerations, the course underscores how vigilance and sound judgment help protect client assets and preserve trust.

This course gives a clear, practical look at structured notes, what they are, how they work, and where they can fit in a portfolio. Attendees will learn the basic building blocks of these investments and how they generate returns. We’ll also walk through the main risks, like credit and market risk, and talk about ways to manage them. The course covers how active management and thoughtful allocation can help improve outcomes for clients. By the end, attendees should feel more confident evaluating structured notes and deciding when they make sense to use.

Small businesses constitute an essential element of the U.S. economy. Approximately 30 million small businesses operate in the United States, making up most employer firms in the country. Collectively, these small businesses employ nearly 80 million workers or approximately half of all private sector employees. This course is designed to review and clarify the diverse business structures and the benefit plans available to each.