Approved IAR CE Courses

Adding retirement plan business to your practice can help you retain assets, stabilize investment flows and increase ancillary sales. This session will help you navigate the critical decision of whether to incorporate 401(k) plan services into your practice or partner with retirement specialists. This session will equip you with essential knowledge of retirement plan options, vendor relationships, and a tested service delivery framework to make the right strategic choice for your business and clients.

This program will review Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, and demonstrate how financial planners can and should utilize the information provided and reported on a taxpayer's return to identify financial planning opportunities for taxpayers. The presenter will discuss the correlation of specific portions of a tax return with tax planning ideas and meaningful conversations that should take place with clients. He will also address how the extension of certain TCJA provisions and The One, Big, Beautiful Bill impacts financial planning for taxpayers.

The demographics, schedules filed, filing status, and level of income accumulated to prepare a client's individual income tax return point to opportunities for taxpayers to better prepare for the future. Beginning with page 1 of Form 1040, it suggests that dependents on a tax return begs the question, "Has the client considered gift and estate planning opportunities for his or her dependents?" This conversation could uncover additional planning needs, including a 529 plan, life insurance, or the importance of updating all beneficiary designations. A taxpayer's occupation listed could suggest a need for professional liability or disability insurance. A client's age or birthdate may indicate the need to verify wage history with the Social Security Administration or RMD planning.

A client's investment income on Schedules B and D might warrant a discussion of FDIC limits, tax-exempt investments, or foreign bank account reporting requirements. Tax practitioners working with individual income tax clients should explore the benefits and value analyzing a taxpayer's 1040 can add to the client relationship. The program will review the financial planning considerations to take full advantage of the new tax deductions reported on Schedule 1-A and discussion of the new Trump Accounts on Form 4547.

Advisors have long explored asset allocation, but what about asset location strategy? By understanding the different estate, tax and asset protection implications of various investment holdings and accounts, along with a client's goals and other factors, advisors can deliver more value by selecting a more optimal investment portfolio among a client's accounts. Advisors should equip themselves with a more integrated and cohesive understanding of these types of accounts, factors for client consideration, and tips and tricks for making strategic changes to a client's investment portfolio to enhance investment and estate planning benefits.

Charitable giving isn't just about generosity'it's a powerful tool for financial and estate planning. This session explores a range of strategic charitable giving options, from annual gifting and Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) to more sophisticated vehicles like Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Donor-Advised Funds, and Family Foundations. Learn how to help clients maximize their philanthropic impact while optimizing tax benefits, preserving wealth, and creating lasting legacies.

There are financial and ethical issues that planners need to understand when working with clients in the midst of divorce. We'll look at financial and tax concerns, addressing these without practicing law, ethics in working with an existing client couple who goes through divorce, and what planners can do to help without violating those ethics. We'll also touch briefly on the practice management issues and ethical issues of incorporating divorce consulting into a practice.

This presentation will equip financial planners with the knowledge and tools to help early retirees navigate the health insurance gap before Medicare eligibility. We'll explore key healthcare cost concerns, common misconceptions, and the various insurance options available, including COBRA, ACA Marketplace plans, and off-market alternatives. Attendees will also learn strategic financial planning techniques'such as optimizing income for ACA subsidies'to make health insurance more affordable. Through real-world case studies, interactive discussions, and actionable frameworks, advisors will leave with the confidence to integrate health insurance planning into their client conversations effectively.