Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) are at the forefront of the financial industry, providing essential advice to clients. To maintain this trusted position, IARs must stay current with industry regulations, best practices, and ethical standards.
This is achieved through Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE). Meeting the annual IAR CE requirements is both a regulatory mandate and a fundamental part of delivering superior service and maintaining professional excellence.
Navigating the landscape of IAR CE courses can be challenging. With numerous providers and topics, selecting the right courses is crucial for both compliance and professional development.
Securities Training Corporation (STC) offers the industry’s most comprehensive and engaging IAR CE catalog, designed by experts for experts. To help you choose, we asked our own instructors to share their top picks from the STC curriculum.
Understanding IAR CE Requirements
The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) implemented the IAR CE Model Rule to ensure that investment adviser representatives maintain a high level of knowledge and competence. The rule mandates that IARs complete 12 credit hours of continuing education annually.
These 12 credits must be split evenly:
- Six credits in Products and Practices.
- Six credits in Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Failing to meet these IAR CE requirements by the annual deadline can result in being unable to renew your IAR registration, effectively halting your ability to conduct business. STC simplifies this process with a state-of-the-art tracking system and a robust catalog of approved courses, ensuring you remain compliant and competitive.
Our Instructors’ Top Picks for IAR CE Courses
With decades of combined experience in the securities industry, STC’s instructors know what it takes to succeed. They selected these IAR CE courses not only for their relevance and clarity but also for their practical application in today’s complex financial world.
Here are their favorites from STC’s leading catalog.
Products and Practices IAR CE Courses
IARs and Equity Options
Credits: Products and Practices
For those who are interested in learning how options work, this is the course to choose. This course will examine the risks and rewards of buying or selling call or put options. Additionally, details will be provided on some of the quantitative methods that investors use to value options.
New Course: Interest Rates, the Economy, and Investments
Credits: Products and Practices
From homeowners to investors, interest rates are such an important factor when making decisions. This course will introduce the basic concept of interest, as well as interest rates and the history of lending. The relationship between the economy, interest rates, and the Federal Reserve will also be analyzed.
Understanding SEC Filings
Credits: Products and Practices
As clients seek assistance from investment advisers in creating their investment portfolios, IARs need to be knowledgeable about the various industries and the companies that operate within those industries. This video course provides details regarding the different reports that are filed by SEC reporting companies, insiders, issuers of securities, and investment advisers.
New Course: ESG Disclosure Requirements 2.0
Credits: Products and Practices
For investors who believe in socially responsible investing, ensuring that a company complies with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles is important. This
course examines the arguments for and against ESG investing, as well as the SEC’s attempts to standardize ESG disclosures.
Ethics and Professional Responsibility IAR CE Courses
Advising Senior Investors
Credits: Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Thanks to healthy lifestyles and medical advancements, people are living longer. This course will examine the steps investment advisers must take to ensure that senior investors are receiving appropriate advice.
New Course: Ethical Decision Making for IARs
Credits: Ethics and Professional Responsibility
This course focuses on the ethical issues that professionals face in the financial industry. Through the analysis of current issues and case study application, users will gain an understanding of how a person’s behavior and attitude can impact the integrity of the industry. Topics include insider trading, best execution, and political contributions.
Examining the SEC’s Marketing Rule
Credits: Ethics and Professional Responsibility
This course explores the key terms associated with “advertisements” that are introduced in the SEC’s Marketing Rule. Since the rule now permits advisers to use testimonials, endorsements, third-party ratings, and performance advertising, the specific conditions and requirements for their use/inclusion will be covered.
New Course: Regulation Best Interest 2.0
Credits: Ethics and Professional Responsibility
Reg BI has increased the transparency of the relationship that retail investors have with broker-dealers and/or investment advisers. This course will analyze the key obligations established by Reg BI – Disclosure, Care, Conflict of Interest, and Compliance.
Fulfill Your IAR CE Requirements with the Industry Leader
Choosing the right IAR CE courses is essential for staying compliant and sharp. With STC, you gain access to the industry’s premier IAR CE library, featuring over 50 hours of content written and taught by leading experts.
Our intuitive platform makes it easy to select courses, track your progress, and report completions to FINRA. But don’t wait until the deadline. Fulfill your IAR CE requirements with the most trusted name in financial services education.
Explore STC’s complete IAR CE catalog and enroll today to maintain your edge.
Learn IAR CE Requirements | Shop IAR CE Courses
Frequently Asked Questions About IAR CE Requirements
Q: What are the annual IAR CE requirements?
A: The NASAA IAR CE Model Rule requires Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs) to complete 12 credit hours of continuing education each year. This is the industry’s most critical mandate for maintaining your registration. The annual IAR CE requirements are divided into two parts: six credits in Products and Practices and six credits in Ethics and Professional Responsibility.
Q: Why is completing IAR CE requirements so important?
A: Fulfilling your IAR CE requirements is mandatory for renewing your IAR registration. Failure to complete the 12 credit hours by the deadline will result in your registration being administratively terminated, preventing you from conducting business. Beyond compliance, these courses ensure you possess the most current knowledge to serve clients effectively and ethically.
Q: Does STC offer IAR CE courses that cover new regulations?
A: Absolutely. STC leads the industry by continuously updating its catalog to address the most pressing regulatory changes. Our new courses are specifically designed to equip you with the most current information to ensure flawless compliance.
Q: How does STC help me manage my IAR CE requirements?
A: STC provides the most advanced and user-friendly platform in the industry. Our system makes it simple to select the best IAR CE courses, track your progress toward the 12-credit requirement, and automatically report your completions directly to FINRA, ensuring you meet every deadline with confidence.
