Approved IAR CE Courses

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.

This course covers complex products and the concerns regulators have about them. The course begins by broadly defining complex products, and describing several types, including structured products, principal protected notes, market-linked CDs, leveraged and inverse ETFs, publicnon-listed REITs, variable annuities, alternative mutual funds, and private placements. The course also describes the risks of these complex products and the responsibilities of brokers and IARs with respect to recommending them to investors.

The course for CFP and CPA financial planning professionals focuses on equipping fiduciaries with essential skills to evaluate, justify, and manage life insurance policies under best-interest regulations. Participants learn about cost-transparency, policy illustrations, and diversification strategies, ensuring recommendations align with fiduciary standards like those outlined by FINRA and the Uniform Prudent Investor Act. The class also emphasizes leveraging independent research tools like Veralytic and using stochastic modeling to assess long-term policy viability. This ensures practitioners can confidently navigate the complex life insurance landscape, protecting client interests and complying with evolving industry regulations.

This course offers a deeper understanding of the present state of securities regulation by exploringthe historical evolution and context of our dual state and federal regulatory system. Conceptsand terminology are presented for a broad range of legislative and regulatory developments.The course covers the emergence of blue sky laws, the formation of NASAA, the advent offederal securities laws, NASAA model rules and legislation, and the events that prompted thesedevelopments. The evolving relationship between state and federal regulators is discussed.The origin and purpose of FINRA, SIPC, and national securities exchanges are also covered.The course concludes by identifying some recent developments and future trends in securitiesregulation.

In this continuing education session, learners will review 2 Nerd’s Eye View blog articles: Why Clients Hire “Human” Advisors In The Age Of AI: How Advisors Can Positively Influence Clients’ Emotional States and 10 Charts To Address Client Concerns On 2026 Geopolitical Conflict, Rising Oil Prices, Tariffs, Inflation, And More.

In the first article, Ben Henry-Moreland explains why human financial advisors remain valuable in an era of advancing AI, emphasizing that clients seek emotional connection, trust, and behavioral support beyond technical advice. In the second article, James Liu explains how financial advisors can help address client concerns about the current political and economic climate with data-driven talking points and charts.

This course equips investment adviser representatives with practical strategies to uphold fiduciary duty, manage conflicts of interest, and navigate the SEC's Code of Ethics requirements. Through real-world scenarios and current regulatory guidance, participants will strengthen ethical decision-making, address emerging challenges like AI and digital communications, and contribute to a culture of compliance that builds lasting client trust.

The SEC’s modernized Marketing Rule significantly changed how registered investment advisers can promote their services, and regulators continue to scrutinize marketing practices closely during examinations and enforcement actions. In this session, securities attorney Michelle Atlas-Quinn will break down the key requirements of the rule and explain how advisors can structure compliant marketing programs in 2026. The program will clarify what qualifies as an advertisement under the rule, review prohibited statements that may be considered misleading, and explain the regulatory requirements governing testimonials, endorsements, and promoter relationships. Michelle will also examine the complex rules surrounding performance advertising, including the presentation of gross and net performance, the limitations on hypothetical performance, and the documentation firms must maintain to support marketing claims. The session will also address third-party ratings, social media considerations, and the expanded books-and-records obligations under the rule, while reviewing recent enforcement actions that illustrate how regulators interpret these requirements in practice.

The Mindset Method Part 1 is a series of best practices to provide the advisory team with a framework for sorting and organizing new and existing clients as well as, creating a heightened sense of awareness around the types of clients who bring to value to them and their business. It will also provide an opportunity to take a detailed 'snap shot' of where the advisors business is today, which is important for guiding and measuring their future success. It will provide the advisor with specific information on how we will work together to build the foundation of strong client relationships based on trust. This includes a concept on how to create great chemistry with their most valued client, as well as a framework to consistently deliver an exceptional client experience. This program is offered via On Demand (Self Study) or via One-to-One Coaching biweekly in virtual meetings.

The Mindset Method Part 2 is a series of best practices dedicated to working with new clients and it will outline the sequential steps of bringing on a new client (reinforced with a rigorous New Client Checklist) as well as, ensure the advisors are attracting the right types of clients. It fully emphasizes and integrates full financial discovery and delivery of comprehensive financial planning - ensuring all aspects of their professional and fiduciary duties are met. The latter half of the best practices are dedicated to working with the advisors existing high value clients and outlining the sequential steps of re-branding to create strong brand loyalty. In addition, it is a methodical approach to ensuring all aspects of discovery and financial planning have been provided to these clients - again ensuring all professional and fiduciary responsibilities are being met. This is often an overlooked group - one that offers great potential! These clients not only need to be competitor-proofed but are poised to become advocates of the advisor and their team. This program is offered via On Demand (Self Study) or via One-to-One Coaching biweekly in virtual meetings.