New IAR CE Courses: Options 101 and Recommending Complex Products

Solomon Exam Prep has added two new NASAA-approved courses to its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education (IAR CE) course library. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep has added two new courses to its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education course library. The courses, “Options 101” and “Recommending Complex Products,” are approved by NASAA to earn credit towards the CE requirement for investment adviser representatives (IARs), which is currently in effect in eleven U.S. jurisdictions.

Options 101

This course explores the basics of equity options, options strategies, and non-equity options. The course begins by defining and describing call options and put options. Important options concepts are explained, such as long versus short positions, American versus European-style options, opening versus closing positions, intrinsic versus time value, and types of settlement. Participants will learn how to calculate their gains and losses from options transactions, as well as how to use options for hedging, income and speculation. Non-equity options, such as index options, foreign currency options, and FLEX Options are also described. Finally, the course summarizes the benefits and risks of options, in addition to the most relevant concerns of regulators regarding options trading.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to do the following:
  • Understand the basic principles of options.
  • Calculate the gains and losses of options transactions.
  • Understand basic characteristics of options, such as American versus European-style options, how to open and close positions, intrinsic value versus time value, and settlement methods.
  • Understand how to use options for hedging positions, generating income and speculating.
  • Identify the basic characteristics of non-equity options, such as index options, foreign currency options, and FLEX options.
  • Describe risks and benefits of trading options and the current topics of greatest concern for regulators regarding options trading.

The Options 101 course is worth one credit for the Products and Practices category. To fulfill the yearly 12-credit CE requirement, IARs must complete six credits in this category and six credits in the Ethics and Professional Responsibility category.

Recommending Complex Products

If a security is so complicated that even some professionals don’t know how it may perform, how can an investor make an informed decision about whether to buy it? That’s the challenge that investors, regulators, and advisers face with so-called complex products.

The Recommending Complex Products course covers complex products and the concerns regulators have about them. The course defines complex products and describes several types, including structured products, principal protected notes, market-linked CDs, leveraged and inverse ETFs, public non-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.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to do the following:
  • Broadly define a complex product and explain why NASAA describes them as complex, costly, and risky.
  • Distinguish between structured products, such as principal protected notes, and other complex products.
  • Identify other common complex products, such as leveraged and inverse ETFs, variable annuities, and private placements.
  • Describe the main regulatory concerns surrounding complex products and retail investors.
  • Demonstrate a broad understanding of the different ethical and regulatory responsibilities of brokers and IARs when making recommendations.
  • Briefly outline regulator recommendations, both in general and with respect to specific complex products.

Completing the Recommending Complex Products course gives participants one credit in the Products and Practices category.

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. 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.

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.

Solomon Partners with State College of Florida to Offer SIE, Series 6, 7, 63, 65, and 66 Exam Prep Courses

In addition to offering an SIE exam prep course, State College of Florida has added courses for five more securities exams using Solomon Exam Prep study programs. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep and the State College of Florida (SCF) have expanded their partnership to offer exam prep courses for a total of six securities exams. Solomon study programs are being used in courses for the FINRA SIE, Series 6, and Series 7 exams, as well as the NASAA Series 63, 65, and 66 exams.

About the Courses

Offered through SCF Workforce Development, the courses are 100% online and self-paced, so students can easily fit study time into their individual schedules. Anyone 18 years or older can register for the courses. Each course includes 180-day access to the Solomon Total Study Package, which consists of these Solomon digital materials:

    • Study Guide
    • Exam Simulator
    • Audiobook
    • Video Lecture
    • Flashcards

In addition to these study materials, all courses provide free Solomon tools and resources to give students the best chance at passing their exams. These include Solomon Study Schedules in digital and pdf formats, individual instructor support via Ask the Professor, and Solomon Pass Probability™, an innovative feature that predicts a student’s readiness to take the exam.

About the Exams

Passing the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) Exam is the foundational requirement for many careers in the securities industry. The SIE covers basic or “essential” securities industry knowledge. In addition to passing the SIE, individuals must also pass specialized representative-level exams (such as the Series 6 and Series 7) to be permitted to work in specific job roles. These exams “top-off” your knowledge of the industry with more in-depth information. Most people take the SIE first and then take one or more representative-level exams.

Partner with Solomon Exam Prep

Solomon Exam Prep partners with dozens of colleges and universities to bring securities exam prep to students across the country. The Solomon learning system works equally well for in-person, hybrid, and online courses.

Join institutions such as State College of Florida, Elon University, Florida Memorial University, Pepperdine University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Claflin University, University of Delaware, Adelphi University, University of Nebraska-Omaha, Seton Hall University, Ohio Dominican University, Georgetown University, Widener University, and University of Dallas in partnering with Solomon.

To learn more about the ways colleges and universities can partner with Solomon, contact Beth Hamilton, Higher Education Sales Manager, at beth@solomonexamprep.com or 503-601-0212.

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Sexual Harassment IAR CE Course Now Available

Solomon has added another Ethics and Professional Responsibility course for Investment Adviser Representatives to complete their annual IAR CE requirement. Continue reading

Solomon Exam Prep has just added a new course to its Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education course library. The course, “Sexual Harassment: Creating a Safe Work Environment,” has been approved by NASAA and earns credit towards the new CE requirement for investment adviser representatives (IARs).

“The Sexual Harassment: Creating a Safe Work Environment course was created in direct response to requests from Solomon investment adviser customers. Solomon is pleased to be able to meet the demand for this important CE topic.”
Jeremy Solomon
Solomon Exam Prep President & Co-founder

About the Course

Employers are responsible for creating work environments where employees are safe and free from sexual harassment. Employees must also understand what sexual harassment is so that they can recognize and prevent it.

This course defines sexual harassment and provides examples that will help you learn to recognize it in the workplace. You’ll learn about the history and legal foundation of modern sexual harassment law. This includes a discussion of power dynamics and the role of gender identity. The course then introduces you to both traditional and alternative approaches to handling workplace harassment. Finally, you’ll learn about IAR disclosure requirements regarding sexual harassment and get tips for safely navigating the digital workplace.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to do the following:
  • Define sexual harassment, recognize the two most common forms of sexual harassment, and be able to identify a variety of unacceptable workplace behaviors
  • Describe how power dynamics can be involved in sexual harassment
  • Identify different sexual harassment prevention techniques
  • Identify methods that have been shown to improve worker satisfaction regarding sexual harassment issues
  • Know the disclosure obligations of IARs with respect to sexual harassment and sexual assault
  • Identify several ways to make digital workplaces safer for all workers

The Solomon Sexual Harassment CE course is worth one credit for the Ethics and Professional Responsibility category and falls within the Ethics sub-category. IARs must complete six credits of Ethics and Professional Responsibility courses each year, with three of these being Ethics courses. The other six of the 12 required IAR CE credits must be in the Products and Practices category.

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 you begin a course, you have up to 365 days to complete it. 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.

Washington DC Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

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

Washington, DC is the most recent jurisdiction to adopt NASAA’s new investment adviser representative continuing education  (IAR CE) requirement. The new CE requirement will go into effect for IARs registered in the District of Columbia on January 1, 2023. Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin will also begin implementing the requirement in 2023. 

The IAR CE requirement is already in effect in Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont. As a result, IARs registered in any of these states must complete CE by the end of 2022.

Arkansas, Nevada, and Rhode Island have begun the process to adopt the IAR CE requirement. If these states finalize adoption in 2022, then the requirement will be effective on January 1, 2023.

The NASAA model rule requires IARs registered in jurisdictions that have adopted the rule to complete 12 credits of CE each year. The requirement applies to both state-registered and federal-registered investment advisers. 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 these must be Ethics).

Beyond these credit requirements, IARs are free to choose courses that fit their interests and business needs. But any courses taken to fulfill the IAR CE requirement must be approved by NASAA. Solomon Exam Prep is a NASAA-approved CE provider, and all courses in Solomon’s IAR CE course library offer credit 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.

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.

Oklahoma Adopts Continuing Education Requirement for Investment Adviser Representatives

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

Oklahoma is the most recent state to adopt NASAA’s new investment adviser representative continuing education (IAR CE) requirement. The new CE requirement will go into effect for IARs registered in Oklahoma on January 1, 2023. Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin will also begin implementing the requirement in 2023.

The IAR CE requirement is already in effect in Maryland, Mississippi, and Vermont. As a result, IARs registered in any of these states must complete CE by the end of 2022.

Arkansas, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C. have begun the process to adopt the IAR CE requirement. If these jurisdictions finalize adoption in 2022, then the requirement will be effective on January 1, 2023.

The NASAA model rule requires IARs registered in jurisdictions that have adopted the rule to complete 12 credits of CE each year. The requirement applies to both state-registered and federal-registered investment advisers. 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 these must be Ethics).

Beyond these credit requirements, IARs are free to choose courses that fit their interests and business needs. But any courses taken to fulfill the IAR CE requirement must be approved by NASAA. Solomon Exam Prep is a NASAA-approved CE provider, and all courses in Solomon’s IAR CE course library offer credit 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.

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.

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.

Solomon Exam Prep Investment Adviser Representative Continuing Education program
Solomon Exam Prep IAR CE course platform

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

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.

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.

New Editions of the Solomon Series 63, 65, & 66 Study Guides

If you plan to take the NASAA Series 63, Series 65, or Series 66 exams, the new editions of these Solomon Study Guides are now available. Continue reading

Are you thinking about pursuing a career as an investment adviser representative? Do you need to register in a state as a broker-dealer representative? Or perhaps you’d like to qualify as both a securities agent and an investment adviser representative? If you said “yes” to any of these questions, then you likely need to take either the Series 63, Series 65, or Series 66 exam.

Solomon Exam Prep is excited to announce the release of new editions of Solomon’s Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 Study Guides! Solomon Study Guides present the information you need to know in easy-to-understand language, helpful charts and graphs, and practice questions. You’ll be well-prepared for these exams with Solomon’s updated editions:

    • Series 63 Study Guide, 6th Edition
    • Series 65 Study Guide, 4th Edition
    • Series 66 Study Guide, 5th Edition
What changes with these new editions?

While the core content of the study guides remains the same, some key changes include:

    • New sections on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Marketing Rule
    • New sections on private foundations versus donor-advised funds
    • Updated 2022 tax information

Content updates for these new editions are also reflected in the Solomon Exam Simulator. The online Exam Simulator complements the study guides with thousands of practice questions for the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams. Hone, track, and assess your knowledge by taking unlimited chapter quizzes and full exams to practice what you’ve learned.

What are the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams?

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) created the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams. NASAA represents state securities regulators in North America, with the goal of protecting and educating investors.

The Series 63, Uniform Securities Agent State Law Examination, is the state law test for broker-dealer representatives. Of the three exams, the Series 63 is the shortest at 65 questions.

The Series 65, Uniform Investment Adviser Law Examination, qualifies individuals to become investment adviser representatives. The Series 65 exam consists of 130 questions.

Passing the Series 66, the Uniform Combined State Law Examination, qualifies an individual as both a securities agent and an investment advisor representative. However, to register as an investment adviser representative based on the Series 66, an individual must also pass the FINRA Series 7 exam. The Series 66 exam is 100 questions.

Solomon Exam Prep President and Co-founder, Jeremy Solomon, points out that there has been a rise in the number of investment adviser representatives, along with a shift towards firms registered as both broker-dealers and investment-advisers.

“At Solomon, our data show that more and more individuals are taking NASAA exams, especially the Series 65 and Series 66. With new editions of Solomon Study Guides for these exams, we continue our strong track record of helping thousands of financial professionals achieve their career goals by passing these important NASAA qualification exams.”
Jeremy Solomon
Solomon Exam Prep President and Co-founder

The Solomon Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 Study Guides are available as digital subscriptions, with a hardcopy upgrade option. The guides can be purchased individually or in a package with accompanying study products. Customers also have access to free tools and resources, including Solomon Study Schedules in digital and pdf format, which help students master the exam material with maximum efficiency.

Additional study products for the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams include Audiobooks, Video Lectures, Flashcards, and Live Web Classes. To learn more about Solomon Exam Prep’s study materials for these exams, visit the Solomon website.

NASAA Ending Most Online Testing for Series 63, 65, and 66 Exams

If you’re planning to take the Series 63, Series 65, or Series 66 exam after March 31, 2022, testing online will not be available for most candidates. Continue reading

Starting April 1, 2022, the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) will no longer offer the option to take the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams online. Online testing for these exams will only be available for candidates who provide medical proof that they cannot take exams in testing centers.

If you’re currently scheduled to take a NASAA exam online on or before March 31, 2022, then this announcement does not apply to you.

However, if you have an online appointment for any dates after March 31, it will be canceled. In this case, you can either submit an accommodation request to FINRA or schedule a new appointment at a Prometric testing center. To learn more about submitting a request for testing accommodations, visit the FINRA Testing Accommodations page.

You can find more information about enrolling for and scheduling the Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 exams on the FINRA Test Enrollment Services System.

  

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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.

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.