Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day
Fulfill your entire 6 hours of IAR Ethics CE – while also earning 6 hours of CE for CFP, CIMA, CPWA, American College, CPA, and other advisor designations. And CFP Ethics, too!
While all registrants will receive a recording of the event, you MUST attend the live virtual event to earn CE.
About IAR Ethics CE Day
Fulfill your entire 6 hours of IAR Ethics CE – while also earning 6 hours of CE for CFP, CIMA, CPWA, American College, CPA, and other advisor designations at this year’s Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day. This event will be delivered virtually by some of the most engaging and relevant ethics and regulatory experts in our industry.
In 2022, a series of 7 states implemented the first-ever CE obligation for Investment Adviser Representatives (IARs), and since then additional states continue to be added each year. At its core, the new IAR CE obligation mandates that financial advisors earn 12 hours of continuing education credits each year – 6 hours on Products and Practice and 6 hours on their Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Any IAR who has more than the de minimis number of clients in any of the affected states is subject to the new rule.
The Hosts
6 hours of compliance content can be a long day, but Michael and Adam are ready to keep the energy up and the program flowing!
Michael Kitces
Michael Kitces
Michael is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners and is a passionate advocate for evolving, expanding, and institutionalizing excellence in financial planning. In addition, he is a co-founder of the XY Planning Network, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, and the publisher of the e-newsletter The Kitces Report and the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View through his website www.Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning.
Adam Van Deusen
Adam Van Deusen
Adam is a Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com. He previously worked at a financial planning firm in Bethesda, Maryland, and as a journalist covering the banking and insurance industries. Outside of work, he serves as a volunteer financial planner and class instructor for non-profits in the Northern Virginia area. He has an MA from Johns Hopkins University and a BA from the University of Virginia.
6 hours of IAR Ethics CE Content with Industry Experts
Each guest will share information around ethics and regulation that is applicable to the situations you encounter every day with clients and in your practice.
Shelitha Smodic
Shelitha Smodic
Shelitha Smodic, CFP®, is the CE Nerd Writer for Kitces.com. Shelitha is pursuing a doctorate in personal financial planning from Kansas State University with a research focus on family financial well-being. Prior to pursuing her PhD full-time, she worked as the Associate Curriculum DesigNerd at Kitces.com, designing, researching, and writing content for courses. In addition to supporting the Kitces education team, Shelitha teaches personal financial planning at Kansas State University and for Meaning of Money, her financial education platform. Prior to working in financial education, Shelitha was a financial advisor and the director of financial planning for a wealth management firm. She received her master’s degree in personal financial planning from Kansas State University and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of Tennessee.
Chris Stanley
Chris Stanley
Chris Stanley is the Founding Principal of Beach Street Legal LLC, a law practice and compliance consultancy for investment advisers and financial planners. In this role he provides legal advice and compliance counseling related to federal and state securities laws, SEC rules and regulations, RIA mergers & acquisitions, investment management compliance, RIA registration, and general corporate legal matters. Most recently he served as General Counsel for Loring Ward (now integrated into Buckingham Strategic Partners), a turnkey asset management provider headquartered in San Jose, California. He also previously served as Loring Ward's Chief Compliance Officer, as well as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for the SA Funds – Investment Trust, a mutual fund family advised by Loring Ward. Chris received his J.D. and M.B.A. from Santa Clara University, and his B.A. from Boston College. He has also passed the FINRA Series 7 General Securities Representative and Series 24 General Securities Principal examinations, as well as the NASAA Series 66 examination. He is admitted to the State Bars of California, Missouri, and the District of Columbia.
Joseph C. Antonakakis
Joseph C. Antonakakis
Joseph C. Antonakakis is an Associate and member of the Investment Management & Securities practice. He concentrates his practice on investment-related matters, including initial investment adviser registration (SEC and state), regulatory examination and enforcement matters, and outsourced compliance assistance for investment advisers, financial planners, broker-dealers, and public and private investment companies throughout the United States.
Joseph’s areas of expertise include implementing SEC, Department of Labor, and ERISA rules, completing mock regulatory audits for RIAs across the United States, and ensuring the compliant inclusion of Bitcoin in advisory portfolios.
Jeffrey Lang
Jeffrey Lang
Jeffrey Lang is a member of Stark & Stark’s Investment Management & Securities Group. Mr. Lang has over 30 years of regulatory and compliance experience, including SEC, FINRA, and global corporate compliance expertise.
Mr. Lang has served as a Chief Compliance Officer with both large institutional and start-up registered investment advisers. Mr. Lang concentrates his practice on all facets of Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer compliance, managed accounts, oversight of business practices and supervision, and risk assessments. He also has extensive experience in managing SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory examinations.
He has obtained both Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional designations. Mr. Lang has also completed the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional program offered by the FINRA Institute at Wharton.
Max Schatzow
Max Schatzow
Max Schatzow is a founder and partner of RIA Lawyers LLC. He is a business-minded regulatory lawyer who always tries to put himself in the client’s position. He assists clients in all aspects of forming, registering, owning, and operating an investment adviser. He prides himself in preparing clients and their compliance programs to avert regulatory issues, but also assists clients through examinations and enforcement issues. In addition, Max assists advisers with the formation of private investment funds and their ongoing operation. In his little spare time, Max enjoys watching, playing, and coaching sports and spending time with his wife and two children.
Terria Heng
Terria Heng
Terria Heng has spent her career in financial regulatory compliance. She started out as a compliance consultant at a boutique compliance firm assisting breakaway brokers in transitioning from wirehouses to the independent RIA space. Terria was also a financial examiner at the Texas State Securities Board for 6 years. At XY Planning Network, Terria is the Head of Consulting Services, where she supports CCOs with understanding their day-to-day compliance obligations.
Emil J. Ali
Emil J. Ali
Emil J. Ali is a partner at McCabe & Ali, LLP where he represents registered investment advisors and broker dealers in complying with SEC, State, and FINRA obligations. He also helps advisors break away from wire houses and form their own advisory firms, while ensuring compliance with the Broker Protocol, negotiation of promissory notes, and any FINRA arbitrations.
Leila Shaver
Leila Shaver
Leila Shaver, the founder of My RIA Lawyer, is a securities lawyer who has dedicated her 10+ year career to helping independent financial advisers and firms navigate the legal complexities of the financial services world. With a comprehensive range of services, including RIA and broker-dealer registration, ongoing broker-dealer and RIA compliance, contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions, private fund set-up and more, Leila and her team are committed to providing both legal and compliance services to their clients.
Leila started My RIA Lawyer after working as an associate attorney at a law firm that did not value her and her desire to practice law her way. With a passion for the securities industry and a commitment to making a difference, Leila has built a successful business by focusing on the needs of her clients and providing personalized services.
Agenda
Get ready for 6 Hours of engaging Ethics CE
Professional Ethics Obligations Of Financial Planners
Ethical missteps in financial planning don’t always stem from bad intentions. Often, they arise from misunderstandings or outdated interpretations of evolving standards. With updates to ethical standards from certifying organizations now in effect (such as those from the CFP Board), even experienced advisors may find themselves unsure about what’s changed and how to apply it in real-world scenarios. Further, staying compliant isn’t just a regulatory necessity. It’s foundational to building trust and maintaining the integrity of client relationships. In this session, compliance expert Shelitha Smodic guides attendees through the latest ethical requirements, clarifies expectations, and helps attendees identify how to uphold standards with confidence and clarity in their daily practice.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand what’s changed in the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct
- Learn what it really means to act as a fiduciary at all times
- Spot and manage material conflicts of interest with confidence
- Know reporting and cooperation responsibilities to the CFP Board
Shelitha Smodic
Shelitha Smodic
Shelitha Smodic, CFP®, is the CE Nerd Writer for Kitces.com. Shelitha is pursuing a doctorate in personal financial planning from Kansas State University with a research focus on family financial well-being. Prior to pursuing her PhD full-time, she worked as the Associate Curriculum DesigNerd at Kitces.com, designing, researching, and writing content for courses. In addition to supporting the Kitces education team, Shelitha teaches personal financial planning at Kansas State University and for Meaning of Money, her financial education platform. Prior to working in financial education, Shelitha was a financial advisor and the director of financial planning for a wealth management firm. She received her master’s degree in personal financial planning from Kansas State University and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from The University of Tennessee.
Navigating AI Compliance: Privacy, Recordkeeping, Disclosures, Human Oversight, and More
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming financial advice and expanding an advisor’s ability to provide financial advice efficiently, but it’s also raising new regulatory questions. With advisors ultimately having a fiduciary obligation to act in their clients’ best interests, human oversight is still required to ensure all advice provided is truly best for achieving the client’s goals and objectives. Thus, AI has introduced a host of legal and compliance considerations that cannot be overlooked. In this session, compliance attorney Chris Stanley walks attendees through what advisors must consider when integrating AI into their practice, from privacy to disclosures to oversight.
Key Takeaways:
- How AI use impacts your Form ADV Part 2 and Form CRS
- Data privacy and recordkeeping dos and don’ts
- Why human oversight still matters (and how to build it in)
Chris Stanley
Chris Stanley
Chris Stanley is the Founding Principal of Beach Street Legal LLC, a law practice and compliance consultancy for investment advisers and financial planners. In this role he provides legal advice and compliance counseling related to federal and state securities laws, SEC rules and regulations, RIA mergers & acquisitions, investment management compliance, RIA registration, and general corporate legal matters. Most recently he served as General Counsel for Loring Ward (now integrated into Buckingham Strategic Partners), a turnkey asset management provider headquartered in San Jose, California. He also previously served as Loring Ward's Chief Compliance Officer, as well as Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer for the SA Funds – Investment Trust, a mutual fund family advised by Loring Ward. Chris received his J.D. and M.B.A. from Santa Clara University, and his B.A. from Boston College. He has also passed the FINRA Series 7 General Securities Representative and Series 24 General Securities Principal examinations, as well as the NASAA Series 66 examination. He is admitted to the State Bars of California, Missouri, and the District of Columbia.
Promoting Your RIA Compliantly Under the SEC Marketing Rule Using Rankings, Testimonials and Endorsements
As financial advisors expand into financial planning services beyond just portfolio management, it becomes harder for consumers to evaluate an advisor’s quality and expertise with respect to the full breadth of their services. Utilizing marketing strategies such as testimonials and endorsements helps prospects evaluate advisors. However, the SEC Marketing Rule establishes specific requirements around these strategies, making it challenging for advisors to navigate compliantly. This session dives into the SEC’s updated Marketing Rule (Rule 206(4)-1) as compliance experts Joseph Antonakakis and Jeffrey Lang discuss the foundation aspects of the rule and how to navigate complex requirements around rankings, testimonials, and endorsements. Attendees will learn how to confidently enhance marketing efforts with creativity and compliance.
Key Takeaways:
- What counts as a testimonial or endorsement—and how to disclose it
- How to recognize the key regulations in marketing with third-party ratings
- Best practices for showcasing performance data the compliant way
Joseph C. Antonakakis
Joseph C. Antonakakis
Joseph C. Antonakakis is an Associate and member of the Investment Management & Securities practice. He concentrates his practice on investment-related matters, including initial investment adviser registration (SEC and state), regulatory examination and enforcement matters, and outsourced compliance assistance for investment advisers, financial planners, broker-dealers, and public and private investment companies throughout the United States.
Joseph’s areas of expertise include implementing SEC, Department of Labor, and ERISA rules, completing mock regulatory audits for RIAs across the United States, and ensuring the compliant inclusion of Bitcoin in advisory portfolios.
Jeffrey Lang
Jeffrey Lang
Jeffrey Lang is a member of Stark & Stark’s Investment Management & Securities Group. Mr. Lang has over 30 years of regulatory and compliance experience, including SEC, FINRA, and global corporate compliance expertise.
Mr. Lang has served as a Chief Compliance Officer with both large institutional and start-up registered investment advisers. Mr. Lang concentrates his practice on all facets of Investment Adviser and Broker-Dealer compliance, managed accounts, oversight of business practices and supervision, and risk assessments. He also has extensive experience in managing SEC, FINRA, and state regulatory examinations.
He has obtained both Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional designations. Mr. Lang has also completed the Certified Regulatory and Compliance Professional program offered by the FINRA Institute at Wharton.
What’s New In RIA Compliance Obligations: FinCEN AML Requirements, Reg S-P, And More!
As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve and becomes increasingly complex, it becomes even more critical for advisors to stay informed on the latest regulatory developments in order to stay compliant. In this session, compliance expert Max Schatzow unpacks the latest regulatory changes affecting investment advisers today. From new AML/CFT reporting requirements to major updates in Regulation S-P, attendees will learn what’s required, what’s coming, and how to stay ahead of the SEC’s latest priorities.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand how FinCEN’s final rule expanding the definition of “financial institution” impacts the firm
- Learn about recent amendments to Regulation S-P and mandated written incident response programs
- Discover current SEC examination priorities, and how to prepare
Max Schatzow
Max Schatzow
Max Schatzow is a founder and partner of RIA Lawyers LLC. He is a business-minded regulatory lawyer who always tries to put himself in the client’s position. He assists clients in all aspects of forming, registering, owning, and operating an investment adviser. He prides himself in preparing clients and their compliance programs to avert regulatory issues, but also assists clients through examinations and enforcement issues. In addition, Max assists advisers with the formation of private investment funds and their ongoing operation. In his little spare time, Max enjoys watching, playing, and coaching sports and spending time with his wife and two children.
Maintaining a Compliant Firm: Applying Best Practices and Avoiding Common Missteps
For many financial advisors, compliance can feel like a regulatory box to check in order to offer financial advice. But at its core, regulation is designed to protect consumers, and when the intent behind the rules is understood, it becomes easier to follow them effectively. In this session, Chief Financial Planning Nerd Michael Kitces is joined by compliance experts Terria Heng, Emil Ali, and Leila Shaver to discuss the latest developments in compliance, what RIAs need to keep in mind as they seek to create a positive culture of compliance, develop and operate within their compliance policies and procedures, and what to watch out for to minimize the risk of audit deficiencies when compliance reviews inevitably come.
Key Takeaways:
- How to develop a sustainable compliance framework
- How to avoid mistakes that lead to audit trouble
- Actionable tips to foster a compliance-first mindset in your firm
Terria Heng
Terria Heng
Terria Heng has spent her career in financial regulatory compliance. She started out as a compliance consultant at a boutique compliance firm assisting breakaway brokers in transitioning from wirehouses to the independent RIA space. Terria was also a financial examiner at the Texas State Securities Board for 6 years. At XY Planning Network, Terria is the Head of Consulting Services, where she supports CCOs with understanding their day-to-day compliance obligations.
Emil J. Ali
Emil J. Ali
Emil J. Ali is a partner at McCabe & Ali, LLP where he represents registered investment advisors and broker dealers in complying with SEC, State, and FINRA obligations. He also helps advisors break away from wire houses and form their own advisory firms, while ensuring compliance with the Broker Protocol, negotiation of promissory notes, and any FINRA arbitrations.
Leila Shaver
Leila Shaver
Leila Shaver, the founder of My RIA Lawyer, is a securities lawyer who has dedicated her 10+ year career to helping independent financial advisers and firms navigate the legal complexities of the financial services world. With a comprehensive range of services, including RIA and broker-dealer registration, ongoing broker-dealer and RIA compliance, contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions, private fund set-up and more, Leila and her team are committed to providing both legal and compliance services to their clients.
Leila started My RIA Lawyer after working as an associate attorney at a law firm that did not value her and her desire to practice law her way. With a passion for the securities industry and a commitment to making a difference, Leila has built a successful business by focusing on the needs of her clients and providing personalized services.
CE Reporting Requirements
Kitces will report CE on your behalf to several organizations including the CFP Board, American College, IWI, and FINRA by September 10.
(CE requirements vary for each organization)
For your CE activity to be reported:
- You must provide your certification numbers at the point of registration
- You must be present for at least 50 minutes of the hour-long sessions, and 100 minutes for the 2-hour session to earn CE
(There are 5 unique CE-approved sessions within the event, four of which are 1 hour long and one that is 2 hours long. You must attend at least 50 minutes of the hour-long sessions, and 100 minutes for the 2-hour session or you will not receive CE credit for that portion of IAR CE Day.)
Completion certificates will be emailed to attendees who satisfy the requirements above by September 10.
Pricing & Sign-Up Information
August 28, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 6:30 PM ET
This Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day ticket is $247.
Advicers who have joined the Kitces Members Section can register at a discounted rate of $197.
Want to save even more? Bundle tickets are perfect for teams of 4 or more!
👉 Click here for volume discounts
You MUST attend the entire 7.5 hour virtual event live to earn CE
FAQ for IAR Ethics CE Day
Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day is designed for all advisors who want to expand their knowledge around ethics, regulations, and compliance. The event is specifically designed to satisfy the annual CE ethics requirements for NASAA and the CFP Board.
Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day will be approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes long and will begin at 11AM ET on Thursday, August 28th. Breaks are built into the agenda approximately every hour. Due to the nature of this live event, exact start and stop times for breaks are not determined in advance.
Yes. Breaks are built into the agenda approximately every hour.
Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day is a virtual webinar event that will be hosted by Michael Kitces and Adam Van Deusen and will feature expert presenters across 5 CE sessions.
Kitces will report CE on your behalf to several organizations including the CFP Board, American College, IWI, and FINRA. CE requirements vary for each organization.
There are 5 unique CE-approved sessions within the event, four of which are 1 hour long and one that is 2 hours long. You must attend at least 50 minutes of the hour-long sessions, and 100 minutes for the 2-hour session or you will not receive CE credit for that portion of IAR CE Day.
Additionally, you must provide your full name and certification numbers at the point of registration.
Completion certificates will be emailed to attendees who satisfy the requirements above.
You can use FINRA’s BrokerCheck website to find your personal CRD number.
The Kitces Team will automatically report CE on your behalf to FINRA, the CFP Board, the American College, and IWI, no later than September 10th. We do not report to any state-level organizations.
The Kitces Team will automatically report CE on your behalf to FINRA, the CFP Board, the American College, and IWI. We do not report to any state-level organizations.
Yes, you will receive a completion certificate via email if you satisfy the requirements above.
You’re welcome to come and go throughout the day, and attend whichever agenda sessions interest you. However, CE will only be reported for the sessions where you are present for at least 50 minutes, or 100 minutes for the 2-hour session. Further, the registration price provides you with access to the entire event. Pro-rated tickets are unavailable.
Yes, you must attend the entirety of each session event to earn CE.
Yes. Access to a recording is included in your registration, however, CE will only be reported for the sessions you attend live on Thursday, August 28th.
No. The recording is not available for sale independently. You must register for the live event to access a recording. Please note, CE will only be reported for sessions you attend live on Thursday, August 28th. Watching the recording does not earn you CE.
CE will only be reported for sessions you attend live on Thursday, August 28th. Watching the recording does not earn you CE.
Kitces Premier Members receive a discount on the registration cost for Kitces IAR CE Day. Non-member tickets are $247, while Kitces Premier Member tickets are $197.
Advisory firms that wish to purchase multiple registrations to Kitces IAR CE Day can receive a discounted bulk rate for groups of 4 or more. Additional discounts apply with a Kitces Premier Group Membership rate. You can learn more here.
Advisors may receive a full refund for Kitces IAR Ethics CE Day up to the event start time at 11AM ET on Thursday, August 28th.
Visit our IAR CE FAQ page here.
Become a Premier Member
Kitces.com Premier Membership includes Kitces-Courses discounts, free monthly webinars, over 100 Hours of CE on-demand, CFP ethics, and more!
Group Discounts
Discounts are available for group enrollments. Additional discounts apply with a Kitces Premier Group Membership .
