Cerity Partners Preferred Courses

Why this package?

• You Are Not Dually Registered
• You Are Not Subject to Regulatory Element
• You Are Required to Complete all 12 Credits
• You earn 12 free CFP® or IWI® Credits

Why this package?

• You Are Not Dually Registered
• You Are Not Subject to Regulatory Element
• You Have Previously Completed Your 6-Hours of Ethics Training
• You earn 6 free CFP® or IWI® Credits

Why this package?

• You are Dually Registered
• You are in Compliance with Regulatory Element CE
• You need 6-Hours of Ethics Training
• You earn 6 free CFP® or IWI® Credits

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course will review some modern complex investment products. The products examined are equity and debt securities, including structured products, floating rate notes, asset-backed securities, and exchange-traded products. Since many of these products can be risky and difficult to understand, attention is paid to the fiduciary role assumed by investment advisers and their representatives. Additionally, many of the relevant laws, regulations, and ethical requirements for advisers that recommend complex investments will be analyzed.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course will examine the importance of investment advisers establishing a code of ethics by which the firm and its associated persons must follow. Through the use of multiple case studies, readers will gain an understanding of key terms used in the code of ethics as well as the standards and provisions that are required to be included by investment advisers. In addition, other concepts addressed in an adviser’s code of ethics will be reviewed, including private securities transactions, outside business activities, and personal trading.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course provides an explanation of wrap fee programs, their history, as well as the different types of wrap programs. Since the requirement to provide clients with disclosure is so important, each item listed under the wrap fee brochure (Form ADV Part 2A - Appendix 1) will be examined by highlighting different issues that each topic brings and what needs to be disclosed. FINRA’s views on advisory fees and the approach that state-registered advisers must take based on the Brochure Rule for Investment Advisers Model Rule will also be described. Finally, attention will be paid to the major emphasis that all regulators have placed on performing a suitability determination before recommending a wrap fee account to clients.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course will review how the rules regarding investment adviser advertising have evolved over time and will also introduce the SEC’s Marketing Rule. Additionally, since many firms are dually registered as both investment advisers and broker-dealers, FINRA’s rules regarding communication with the public will be explained. After examining the different terms and concepts related to advertising, multiple case studies will be provided to increase understanding. Also, an analysis of the SEC’s “principles-based” approach in setting standards for adviser advertising will be provided. Finally, the rules and regulations regarding the use of social media, digital communications, and mobile apps by advisers and their associated persons will be explored.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

Since IRAs are such a popular vehicle for retirement savings and are used by both high and low-income individuals, this course will introduce some of the ethical considerations of managing individual retirement accounts. Background information is provided to ensure that readers understand where IRAs fit in a broader legal and historical context. The different types of IRAs are introduced and explained, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs. Given the importance of IRAs to clients, the fiduciary rules and ethical requirements for financial services professionals will be described. Finally, other laws and regulations that investment advisers must follow to fulfill their ethical duties are reviewed.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

Regardless of whether investors are institutions or individuals, those seeking safety and liquidity will be drawn to securities issued by the U.S. government. This course will describe the different forms of interest-bearing and non-interest-bearing U.S. government securities, including T-bills, T-notes, and T-bonds. A description of the auction process that’s used to issue all of the different forms of securities as well as the methods by which investors may bid for the new securities is provided. Also, since investment advisers and their representatives have a fiduciary obligation to their clients, details regarding the risks associated with U.S. government securities will be provided. Finally, some of the technical aspects of analyzing fixed income securities will be explained, such as duration and convexity.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

For many, funding a child’s education is typically one of the most important financial decisions they will ever make. This course will explore the different options available to meet a child’s future educational expenses. These include prepaid tuition plans, 529 savings plans, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and even accounts for minors. Given the ever-increasing costs of education, knowing how to prepare clients for these expenses is more important than ever.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

Although there are numerous ways to invest in real estate, this course focuses on securities that are directly tied to real estate values or loans secured by real estate. Some of the important registration requirements and exemptions for securities that are tied to the real estate markets will be introduced, but a significant emphasis is given to Regulation D (the private placement exemption). The goal is to provide IARs with some basic background information about real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate limited partnerships to ensure that they’re more prepared to fulfill their fiduciary requirements to clients who are seeking these types of investments.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course will introduce the essential basics of equity options and will review how equity options can impact the stock market. The details of the buying and selling of calls, the buying and selling of puts, along with when these option positions are profitable will also be examined. Some of the important institutions that facilitate options trading will be described, including the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) and the Options Clearing Corporation (OCC). The course will also review some of the quantitative methods that investors use to value options and manage risk.

• Estimated time to complete:  50 minutes
• Required score on assessment: 70%
• Attempts permitted on assessment: 3 Attempts
• Optional survey included

This course takes a deep dive into the world of annuities. With an emphasis on variable annuities, readers will gain an understanding of both the pay-in and pay-out phases and the importance of the separate account and its subaccounts. The equity indexed annuity—a fixed annuity product with variable features—will also be introduced. Lastly, the steps required to ensure suitability of transactions will be covered.