Investments & Wealth Institute Launches New Educational Offerings for Financial Advisors

The Investments & Wealth Institute, a leading professional association for the financial advice industry, has unveiled two innovative educational offerings on its Academy online learning platform. These new initiatives, Visual Insights and Strategic Planning for Business Owners, aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of financial advisors in addressing complex topics and serving specific client segments.

Visual Insights, developed in partnership with visiWealth, is a monthly series of interactive nano courses designed to simplify complex financial topics. Each course can be completed in 10-15 minutes and covers timely subjects related to education, investment, retirement, estate, and tax planning. The series is available as a complimentary benefit to all Institute members, regardless of membership tier.

Ross Riskin, Chief Learning Officer of the Institute, emphasized the importance of these courses, stating, "Being able to simplify the complex and communicate in a way that resonates with clients of all ages and from all walks of life will enable advisors to differentiate themselves and better serve HNW clients and multi-generational families."

The first Visual Insights nano course, launched on July 18, 2024, examines the controversial "4% Rule" for retirement portfolio withdrawals. Future topics planned for 2024 include 529 College Savings Plan to Roth IRA Rollover Considerations, Gift Splitting Ahead of the TCJA Sunset, and How Charitable Trusts Work, among others.

The second new offering, Strategic Planning for Business Owners, is an online, asynchronous education program focusing on the unique financial planning needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners. This short course, eligible for 5 hours of Institute certification and CFP® Continuing Education credit, addresses critical issues such as choosing appropriate business entity types, understanding tax implications, compliance with the Corporate Transparency Act, and estate and business succession planning.

The course features contributions from leading industry experts, including Sara Dorosti from Comerica Bank, Leslie Geller from Capital Group | American Funds, and Steve Parrish from The American College of Financial Services. It aims to equip advisors with the knowledge to answer complex questions from business owner clients, such as the benefits of different business structures and the impact of recent legal rulings on existing agreements.

These new offerings demonstrate the Institute's commitment to providing innovative, world-class educational content through its Academy platform, launched in October 2023. The Academy offers a diverse content library, including certificate programs, short courses, microcourses, and webinars, all designed to help financial advisors earn CE credits and enhance their professional skills.

The introduction of Visual Insights and Strategic Planning for Business Owners reflects the Institute's response to member needs identified in its Q4 2023 survey. These offerings join other recent initiatives, such as providing Elite-tier members with unlimited access to Institute certificate programs and Signature-tier members with unlimited access to webinars and on-demand CE.

As the financial advice industry continues to evolve, these new educational resources from the Investments & Wealth Institute aim to empower advisors with practical, timely knowledge to better serve their clients and navigate complex financial landscapes.