continuing education

ESG Investing and DeFi & Digital Assets CE Courses Now Available

Investment Adviser Representatives have two more Solomon continuing education courses to choose from to complete their annual NASAA IAR CE requirement. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep has just added two new courses to its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education course library! Both courses are approved by NASAA and earn credit towards the new CE requirement for investment adviser representatives (IARs).

An Introduction to ESG Investing

Curious about the increasingly popular form of investing called ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing? Solomon Exam Prep’s new continuing education course, “An Introduction to ESG Investing,” provides a helpful overview of the topic for IARs.

The course begins with a short history of the ESG movement, including the role that international and domestic governing bodies have played in jumpstarting ESG investing. The different types of ESG ratings are compared and explained. Additionally, the course describes the kinds of ESG securities offered, as well as ways to choose an ESG portfolio that aligns with an investor’s values. Finally, the course lays out the potential risks and benefits of ESG funds and common ESG investment philosophies, such as impact investing and sustainable investing.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to do the following:

- Briefly describe the domestic and international roots of ESG investing and how it has grown to become a prominent force for change in the US and EU
- Identify the characteristics and examples of the types of metrics used to gauge compliance with ESG goals
- Understand the basic differences between the several types of ESG ratings agencies
- Describe the common types of ESG securities, such as mutual funds, ETFs and green bonds
- Identify examples of how states have led the shift in ESG investing
- Describe the risks and benefits of investing in ESG funds
- Define basic terms used in ESG investing tactics, such as impact investing and sustainable investing

The Introduction to ESG Investing course is worth one credit for the Products and Practices category. IARs must complete six credits of Products and Practices courses each year, of the 12 total required credits.

DeFi and Digital Assets

If you’ve been hearing terms such as “cryptocurrency,” “DeFi (short for decentralized finance),” and “NFTs” and wondering what all the fuss is about, you’re not alone. Solomon Exam Prep’s new “DeFi and Digital Assets” continuing education course offers a look into the world of digital assets through the lens of fiduciary duty.

The course discusses examples of digital assets such as cryptocurrency, dApps, DeFi Projects, and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). You’ll learn about the function of these digital assets and asset tools, as well as the benefits and drawbacks for IARs and their clients. This includes a discussion of whether IARs have the tools to provide a sufficient suitability analysis on these digital assets for their clients. The course ends with an assessment of the SEC’s regulatory framework for these assets.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to do the following:

- Explain the Prudent Investor Rule and identify two factors that are important in presenting a suitability analysis
- Identify at least one advantage and one disadvantage to using a smart contract-based dApp as opposed to a traditional financial instrument
- Compare and contrast a normal digital token with an NFT
- Identify how digital assets present a different kind of transparency when compared with traditional financial instruments
- Identify three differences in the risk profile of a digital asset compared to a traditional financial asset, including two difficulties associated with assessing risk
- Explain conflict of interest that occurs due to valuation methods in digital asset portfolios

The DeFi and Digital Assets course is worth one credit for the Ethics and Professional Responsibility category and falls into the ethics sub-category. Out of the 12 total required credits, IARs must complete six credits of Ethics and Professional Responsibility courses each year. Three of these must specifically be ethics courses.

About Solomon IAR CE courses

Solomon’s online IAR CE courses are self-paced and accessible on any internet-enabled device. Each course consists of short reading passages followed by quick assessments of 2–4 questions each. This read-and-quiz format facilitates learning and retention.

All Solomon IAR CE courses earn credit towards the Products and Practices or the Ethics and Professional Responsibility categories required by NASAA. Once activated, you have up to 365 days to complete a course. When you finish a course, Solomon reports completion to FINRA, NASAA’s vendor for program tracking.

What is the IAR CE requirement?

Investment Adviser Representatives registered in a jurisdiction that has adopted and implemented the NASAA model rule must do annual continuing education. To fulfill the IAR CE requirement, IARs must complete 12 credits of continuing education each calendar year.

To learn more about the IAR CE requirement, visit the Solomon IAR CE FAQs page. Explore Solomon’s entire IAR CE course library – purchase individual courses or a membership to the whole library and complete all your IAR CE in one place.

Disclaimer: NASAA does not endorse any particular provider of CE courses. The content of the course and any views expressed are our own and do not necessarily reflect the views of NASAA or any of its member jurisdictions.

Kentucky Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Solomon Exam Prep Launches Investment Adviser Representative CE

Wisconsin Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Kentucky Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Investment Adviser Representatives registered in Kentucky must complete NASAA-approved continuing education courses beginning in 2023. Continue reading

Kentucky is the latest state to adopt the NASAA model rule that requires investment adviser representatives (IARs) to complete annual continuing education (CE). The CE requirement will go into effect on January 1, 2023, for IARs registered in Kentucky.

Michigan and Wisconsin will also require IARs to complete CE starting in 2023.

Other states that are in the process of adopting IAR CE are Arkansas, Nevada, and Washington D.C. If these jurisdictions finalize adoption of the CE requirement in 2022, then it will go into effect in 2023.

The IAR CE requirement went into effect in Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont on January 1, 2022. As a result, IARs registered in these states must complete CE by the end of this year. The requirement applies to both state-registered and federal-registered investment advisers.

IARs who are required to complete CE must take 12 credits of CE coursework each year. NASAA allows IARs to choose courses they’re interested in, but the courses and course provider must be approved by NASAA.

Solomon Exam Prep is a NASAA-approved CE provider, and all the courses in Solomon’s IAR CE course library earn credits towards the CE requirement. Explore Solomon’s IAR CE courses.

For more information about IAR CE, visit the Solomon IAR CE FAQs or NASAA’s IAR CE FAQs.

Arkansas, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia Move to Adopt IAR CE Requirement

Solomon Exam Prep Launches Investment Adviser Representative CE

Wisconsin Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Arkansas, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia Move to Adopt IAR CE Requirement

Arkansas, Kentucky, and Washington, D.C. have begun the process to adopt NASAA Investment Adviser Representative continuing education. Continue reading

Arkansas, Kentucky, and Washington D.C. have begun the process to adopt NASAA’s new continuing education (CE) requirement for investment adviser representatives (IARs). If the two states and the District of Columbia adopt the CE requirement by the end of 2022, then it will go into effect on January 1, 2023.

Nevada is also in the process of adopting the CE requirement for IARs. Michigan and Wisconsin finalized adoption of the IAR CE requirement, and implementation will start in 2023 in those states.

The IAR CE requirement is already in effect in Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont. That means that IARs who are registered in these states must complete CE by the end of 2022. The requirement applies to both state-registered and federal-registered investment advisers.

IARs who are affected by the CE requirement will have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework per year: six credits in Products and Practices and six credits in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, with at least three about ethics. To earn CE credit, courses must be taken from a NASAA-approved vendor, such as Solomon Exam Prep.

To learn more about Solomon’s on-demand IAR CE courses, explore the Course Library.

Solomon Exam Prep Launches Investment Adviser Representative CE

Solomon’s NASAA-approved IAR CE courses are now available for investment adviser representatives who must complete the new CE requirement for 2022. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep is excited to announce the launch of its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE). All Solomon IAR CE courses are approved by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) and earn credit to fulfill the new, annual CE requirement for IARs (Investment Adviser Representatives).

About Solomon IAR CE

As a leader in securities exam prep, including the NASAA Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66, Solomon brings the same level of expertise to creating high quality IAR CE content. Course content is delivered in self-paced online modules accessible on any web-enabled device, so you can study when and where you like. Short, engaging modules use a read-and-quiz format that results in higher retention for better learning. Plus, the user-friendly platform allows you to easily jump into the course and start learning.

Solomon’s on-demand courses can be purchased individually, or through a membership to the entire course library to complete all your IAR CE in one place. The Solomon IAR CE platform helps guide course selection for you so that you know you are taking the right number of credits in the required course categories.

Curious about Solomon’s IAR CE courses? Explore the Solomon IAR CE course library.

IAR CE FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Solomon has compiled some of the most common frequently asked questions about the new IAR CE requirement and how Solomon IAR CE works:

Why is there a new CE requirement for IARs?

CE courses are designed to keep a financial professional up to date on industry developments, current regulations, and ethical standards. NASAA received support from state regulators and the securities industry for the creation of a CE program to ensure that IARs, like broker-dealer agents, insurance agents, certified financial planners, and real estate agents, maintain or expand their level of knowledge and competence throughout their careers.

Who must complete IAR CE?

Every investment adviser representative (IAR) registered in a jurisdiction that adopts the NASAA model rule is subject to the CE requirement. The requirement applies to all registered IARs of both state-registered and federal-covered investment advisers. IARs must meet the CE requirements of any state in which the IAR is registered.

When do IARs need to start complying with the CE program?

Compliance starts in the 2022 calendar year in states that have adopted the model rule with an effective date of January 1, 2022. To view the states that adopted the new CE requirement, see the NASAA website or the Solomon IAR CE webpage. CE credits must be reported by the end of each calendar year. Newly registered IARs must meet the annual IAR CE requirement by the end of the first full calendar year following the year in which they first become registered.

How many courses do I have to take?

You have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework per year. Six of the 12 credits must be in the Products and Practices category. The other six credits must be in the Ethics and Professional Responsibility category, at least three of which must specifically be about ethics. The category that each course belongs to is indicated in the Solomon IAR CE course library. All Solomon courses are at least one credit.

Where can I take NASAA-approved courses?

NASAA has approved several vendors to provide IAR CE courses, including Solomon Exam Prep. All of the courses in the Solomon IAR CE library have passed an approval process with NASAA and Prometric, the course management vendor.

How are the courses delivered?

Solomon Exam Prep’s IAR CE courses are delivered online and are self-paced, so students can study when and where they like.

Do I have to pass an assessment to complete a course?

Yes, every course has an assessment that is at least 10 questions in length. In Solomon IAR CE courses, the assessment is broken up into shorter assessments that appear throughout the course, instead of a single assessment at the end of the course. You must pass assessments with a score of 100%, and you have an unlimited number of attempts. You may also be asked to complete a satisfaction survey as part of the course activities.

If I earn more than 12 IAR CE credits in a calendar year, can I carry over extra credits to the next year?

No, credits earned beyond the 12 required credits do not carry over into a subsequent year.

What happens if I do not complete the IAR CE requirement by the end of the calendar year?

You will be required to pay the registration renewal fee, and CRD will set your IAR CE status to “CE Inactive.” This status will appear in the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IADP) and in BrokerCheck. You can continue to do business; however, if IAR CE is not completed by the end of the subsequent year, you will not be able to renew your registration. An IAR that is CE Inactive will hold that status in all states where the CE rule is effective following adoption of the model. If a state has not yet adopted the CE model rule, the CE program will have no impact on the registration status of the IARs registered with that state – the current registration practices will remain the same.

Do I need to make up missed CE credits?

Yes. If you complete courses in the current year, those credits will first apply to the previous year if you hadn’t completed 12 credits in the previous year. Once the missing credits for the previous year have been completed, then additional courses taken in the current year will apply to the current year’s requirement. Remember that any excess credits completed in a year will not carry forward to the next year.

Who reports course completion?

The course provider (i.e. Solomon Exam Prep) reports course completion to FINRA, NASAA’s vendor for program tracking. IARs should still keep a record of their completed courses for their own records. Solomon Exam Prep will distribute a course completion notice, once credits are reported, for this reason.

Is there a reporting fee?

Yes, the reporting fee, also known as the roster fee, is $3 per credit hour. For Solomon IAR CE courses, the reporting fee is included in the cost of the course or membership. Solomon submits the reporting fee and course completion information to FINRA, the manager of NASAA’s CE reporting database.

How do I make sure my completion of the annual IAR CE requirement is shown in FINRA’s CE reporting database?

The course provider (i.e. Solomon Exam Prep) is responsible for reporting successful completion information to both the IAR and to FINRA. To do this, Solomon must collect the IAR’s CRD number, and first and last names. The IAR is responsible for communicating this information to Solomon when prompted. The IAR is also responsible for ensuring they receive documentation of courses completed and keeping track of the number of CE credits awarded for each course.

For more information about IAR Continuing Education, visit the NASAA FAQs page.

Wisconsin Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

Wisconsin is the latest state to adopt the new NASAA continuing education requirement for investment adviser representatives. Continue reading

On January 24th, Wisconsin became the latest state to adopt NASAA’s new continuing education requirements for Investment Adviser Representatives.

Starting in 2022, every investment adviser representative (IAR) registered in a jurisdiction that has adopted the NASAA model rule will be subject to the CE requirement. The requirement applies to all registered IARs of both state-registered and federal-covered investment advisers.

Affected IARs will have to complete 12 credits of CE coursework each year. Six credits must be about product knowledge and industry practices, called Products and Practices CE. The other six credits must be about ethical and regulatory obligations, called Ethics and Professional Responsibility CE, and at least three of these must specifically be about ethics.

For Wisconsin and other states that adopt the CE requirement this year, the requirement will go into effect on January 1, 2023. For states that adopted the CE requirement last year (Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont), it is currently in effect.

Solomon Exam Prep’s NASAA-approved IAR CE courses will be available soon. To stay informed, visit the Solomon website and join our Continuing Education email list.

Solomon Approved as Investment Adviser Representative CE Provider

As a leader in securities exam prep, Solomon Exam Prep will offer courses for IARs to complete the new NASAA IAR CE requirement. Continue reading

If you’re an Investment Adviser Representative (IAR) who will need to complete the new North American Securities Administrator Association (NASAA) IAR Continuing Education (CE) requirement starting in 2022, Solomon Exam Prep is an approved IAR CE provider! Solomon will be launching several of its planned CE courses soon.

What is the NASAA IAR CE requirement?

Starting in 2022, investment adviser representatives will be subject to a requirement that broker-dealer representatives have long been familiar with: Continuing Education. These courses are designed to keep a financial professional up to date on industry developments, current regulations, and ethical standards. Every IAR registered in a jurisdiction that adopts the NASAA model rule will be subject to its CE requirements. The mandatory CE program will apply to all registered IARs of both state-registered and federal-covered investment advisers. IARs will be required to meet the CE requirements of any state in which the IAR is registered. These requirements mandate:

- 12 credits of CE coursework per year. One credit is at least 50 minutes of instruction.
- Courses may be in person or online.
- 6 of the 12 credits must be about product knowledge and industry practices. NASAA calls this Products and Practices Continuing Education. IARs who are dually registered as broker-dealer agents are exempt from the Products and Practices CE if they complete their FINRA CE requirements.
- The other 6 credits must be about ethical and regulatory obligations. At least 3 of these must be specifically about ethics. NASAA calls this Ethics and Professional Responsibility Continuing Education.

So far, the following states have adopted the IAR CE requirement for 2022:

- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Vermont

Adoption of the IAR CE requirement is pending in Michigan, Nevada, and Wisconsin, but implementation may not occur until January 1, 2023. For the latest information on which states have adopted the requirement, see the NASAA website or the Solomon IAR CE webpage.

For more information about NASAA IAR Continuing Education, see these FAQs.

Solomon IAR CE Courses

Solomon Exam Prep will soon be launching its on-demand IAR CE courses, which will be available individually or as part of a full membership to the entire course library. IARs who are required to complete CE in 2022 will be able to take all the required 12 credits of CE coursework via the Solomon website.

Solomon has helped thousands of IARs pass their NASAA licensing exams with our innovative learning system, including the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66. We are extending the same level of commitment to delivering quality IAR CE courses, and we look forward to supporting IARs as they navigate this new CE requirement.

Jeremy Solomon

Solomon president and co-founder

Be sure to get the latest updates about Solomon’s IAR CE courses by joining our email list! Sign up on the Solomon website here or click the button below.

Big Changes to FINRA CE Requirements

FINRA announced several important changes to its CE rules affecting registered representatives and principals. Learn how these changes may affect you. Continue reading

On November 17th, FINRA announced the adoption of important amendments to its continuing education (CE) rules. These changes will affect individuals with representative or principal registrations, such as the Series 7, Series 24, Series 79, and Series 82. Some of the changes go into effect as soon as March 15, 2022, while others become effective on January 1, 2023.

FINRA’s current CE program consists of a Regulatory Element and a Firm Element. The Regulatory Element focuses on regulatory requirements and industry standards and must be taken every three years by registered individuals. The Firm Element is provided by each firm to its registered persons yearly, and covers the firm’s securities products, services and strategies, policies, and industry trends. Currently, the FINRA CE program does not allow individuals to maintain terminated qualifications by completing CE. Instead, individuals must requalify by examination if they have not reregistered within the two-year qualification period.

The upcoming changes to FINRA CE are outlined in Regulatory Notice 21-41, which states that the changes to Rules 1210 and 1240 will: “(1) provide eligible individuals who terminate any of their representative or principal registration categories the option of maintaining their qualification for any terminated registration categories by completing annual CE through a new program, the Maintaining Qualifications Program (MQP); (2) require registered persons to complete CE Regulatory Element annually for each representative or principal registration category that they hold; and (3) expressly allow firms to consider other required training toward satisfying an individual’s annual CE Firm Element and extend the Firm Element requirement to all registered persons.”

Changes to Regulatory Element

There will be several changes to the FINRA CE Regulatory Element, effective January 1, 2023. Instead of every three years, registered individuals will have to complete CE every year by December 31st. In addition, individuals must complete CE content for each registration category they hold. Another change is that failure to complete the Regulatory Element by Dec. 31 will result in a CE inactive status. However, if “good cause” is shown, FINRA reserves the right to extend the deadline.

The initial annual Regulatory Element completion date will depend on an individual’s registration status:

The initial completion date will be Dec 31, 2023 if…

- An individual’s registration status stays the same after Jan 1, 2023, and the individual has completed Regulatory Element in 2021 under the current requirements.
- An individual reregisters in 2023 for a registration category without having done one of the following: completed Regulatory Element for that registration category in 2023, passed an exam for that registration category, or obtained an unconditional exam waiver for that registration category.

On the other hand, the initial completion date will be Dec 31, 2024 if…

- An individual reregisters in 2023 for a registration category after having done one of the following: completed Regulatory Element for that registration category in 2023, passed an exam for that registration category, or obtained an unconditional exam waiver for that registration category.
- An individual registers in 2023 for the first time for a registration category after having passed an exam for that registration category or obtained an unconditional exam waiver for that registration category.

Changes to Firm Element

Also, effective January 1, 2023, the annual Firm Element CE requirement is being extended to include all registered individuals, not just “covered registered persons.” Covered registered persons include registered persons who work with customers, who are registered as research analysts, and individuals who supervise such persons. Starting in 2023, all registered persons will be required to complete the annual Firm Element CE.

Another rule amendment includes allowing training related to the anti-money laundering compliance program under Rule 3310(e) and annual compliance meeting under Rule 3110(a)(7) to go towards satisfying an individual’s Firm Element CE requirement.

New MQP Program

FINRA says that to better accommodate registered persons, “particularly women and underrepresented minorities, whose personal circumstances take them away from the industry for a time,” the regulator is creating the new Maintaining Qualifications Program (MQP). Eligible individuals will be able to complete annual CE through the MQP to maintain their qualification for any terminated registration categories. This program will go into effect March 15, 2022, with MQP content available by July 1, 2022. See Regulatory Notice 21-41 for details on eligibility and participation conditions.

Currently, registered persons must retake their qualification licensing exams after two years of losing their representative or principal registration. MQP participants will have a maximum of five years following the termination of a representative or principal registration category to reregister without having to retake their licensing exam or having to obtain an exam waiver.

Starting November 17, 2021, FINRA will begin notifying individuals who were registered as a representative or principal between March 15, 2020, and March 15, 2022, and those participating in the Financial Services Affiliate Waiver Program (FSAWP) prior to March 15, 2022, of their potential eligibility to participate in the MQP. These individuals can start notifying FINRA on January 31, 2022, that they intend to participate in the MQP. This is done through their FinPro accounts. Individuals will have until March 15, 2022, to notify FINRA of their intention. If an individual’s registration category has been terminated but the firm has not submitted a Form U5 to FINRA, the individual may let FINRA know about their intent to participate in the MQP by sending an email to mqpnotice@finra.org by March 15, 2022, at the latest.

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Exam Alert: Test takers with limited English proficiency must submit a form to FINRA to receive extra time

Effective September 1, 2012, FINRA will implement a new policy for providing additional time to people with limited English proficiency on qualification exams and on Regulatory Element Continuing Education sessions. The new policy requires that people requesting additional time must submit an LEP Request Form to FINRA and receive confirmation from FINRA that the form has been processed before scheduling the exam or Continuing Education session. Continue reading

This new policy replaces the current policy covering people who speak English as a second language. Test center personnel will no longer be authorized to provide additional time to people who speak English as a second language or to people with limited English proficiency.

A person is considered to have “limited English proficiency” if they “(1) do not speak English as their primary language; and (2) have limited ability to read, speak, write and understand the English language.”

Further details on the new policy may be found on FINRA’s website.

Sources:

FINRA Information Notice 8/1/2012

Candidates with Limited English Proficiency (FINRA website)

This alert applies to all FINRA-administered exams. This includes (among others) the Series 24, Series 26, Series 6, Series 7, Series 55, Series 62, Series 79, Series 82, Series 99, Series 56, Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66.

Exam Alert: FINRA proposes rule requiring Operations Professionals to register

On March 4, 2011, FINRA filed a proposed rule with the SEC that would require that persons who are both “covered persons” and who perform “covered functions” Continue reading

On March 4, 2011, FINRA filed a proposed rule with the SEC that would require that persons who are both “covered persons” and who perform “covered functions” register as “Operations Professionals.” Operations Professional is a new category of registration that is subject to FINRA’s qualifying exams and continuing education requirements. Essentially, covered persons are those with control over what work takes place, how a member’s money is materially spent, and what material agreements the member is entered into. The list of covered functions is fairly broad, covering many broker-dealer activities.

http://www.finra.org/Industry/Regulation/RuleFilings/2011/P123267