Course material is owned and sponsored by Highland Capital Brokerage, Inc. Continuing Education (CE) accreditation is administered by CEU Institute, Inc., a contracted vendor for Highland Capital Brokerage, Inc.
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Highland provides courses that offer the latest on asset management techniques, tax strategies, insurance products, sales concepts, retirement planning, and industry trends.
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Highland’s entire course library is approved for presentation in webinar format via Zoom.
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Highland provides sales symposiums for groups of different sizes as well as breakout sessions for national conferences.
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CEU Institute, Inc. hosts and processes continuing education credit with the attendee’s resident state insurance department and professional designation boards.
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Continuing Education Catalog
If you have already attended one of these sessions within your current licensing period, you are not eligible to receive CE credit for this course a second time. The following courses are not approved for continuing education in Alaska and Puerto Rico. Please email compliance@highland.com for further state-specific approvals or questions.
Annuity Review:
What Worked Then May Not Now
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
Current economic uncertainty has led many pre-retirees to reconsider their retirement plans. To help clients secure the retirement protection and/or income growth they seek, advisors must understand how to properly structure annuities.
This course examines the importance of in-force annuity reviews and explores methods to analyze and ensure that a client’s annuity contracts are keeping pace with his or her overall plan. Three particular areas of opportunity are examined:
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performing an effective review of the client’s in-force annuity contracts with a focus on the evolution of annuities;
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annuity features, such as income riders, and how they can be optimized to increase income while reducing potential risk and fees; and
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policy due diligence and the available tools that can accurately evaluate a client’s current assets.
Buy-Sell Planning: Back to Basics
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This course studies the use of life insurance as the funding mechanism for a buy-sell agreement. Specifically, the course analyzes what type of buy-sell agreement is better to fulfill the client’s objectives given the number of owners, the type of insurance being placed, and several tax matters, including issues involving stepped-up basis, transfer for value consideration, and potential gain recognition when a transfer of life insurance takes place in certain entities.
Upon completion of this course, the participant will have a strong understanding of the four primary elements of a buy-sell agreement and be able to determine which type of buy-sell agreement best achieves their clients goals in the most tax and administratively efficient manner.
Charitable Trusts: Planning Techniques Using Life Insurance
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
Charitable trusts are a powerful planning tool for affluent clients, but are often overlooked because of their perceived complexity and rules. This course covers the terminology, structure, and tax benefits associated with each type of charitable trust, with emphasis on how to identify which of the many options are best for the client, their family, and their charitable goals.
The course defines and examines the following charitable planning concepts and terminology: lead trusts, remainder trusts, annuity and unitrusts, grantor, non-grantor, income, gift, and estate tax deductions.
Corporate Policy Distributions
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This course will take a look at what happens when a corporate-owned policy is transferred from the corporation to the employee and how the transfer impacts both parties. Term and permanent policies will both be discussed in reference to this transfer.
The course will also delineate between C-corporations, S-corporations, and partnerships - as to the significance a policy transfer can have on the owner(s) and the employee.
Upon completion of this course, the participant will be in a better position to advise their clients, not only what the potential tax ramifications of a corporate policy transfer could be, but additionally whether or not it's advantageous to the company and/or employee.
Disability Insurance: Protection for Your Client’s Financial Future
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This course provides an overview of Disability Insurance for higher-income individuals and business owners with a focus on:
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The most frequent conditions that can cause a person to become disabled
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The benefits and drawbacks of group Long-Term Disability (LTD) programs
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The integrations of individual disability income plans with group LTD plans for higher-income individuals
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How Disability Income retirement security plans work
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The types of disability plans available to address the needs owners of closely held businesses including:
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Business overhead expense policies
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Business loan protection plans
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Key-employee plans
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Disability buy-out plans
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Financial Planning and Insurance Considerations of Divorce
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This course focuses on how life insurance and annuities can be used to protect the high-net-worth client’s finances in case divorce should happen. Attendees will learn:
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How life insurance can be used to protect the recipient of spousal support/child support
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How annuities can be used in effective pre-nuptial planning
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An overview of the law as it pertains to property division, spouse, and child after divorce
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The “Pre-Split” questions to consider
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How life insurance cash accumulation can be used to fund a spousal access trust
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Insurance and financial planning pitfalls to be aware of regarding the pre-nuptial agreement
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How the use of life insurance and annuity planning can help to remunerate tax consequences
The How & Why of Estate Planning
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This is a foundational presentation about estate planning, and common estate planning concepts. This course provides a discussion of wills, trusts, intestacy and probate. It also addresses pitfalls and how to properly plan for common asset types. Planning concepts include discussions of closely held family businesses, blended families, and planning for incapacity.
Life Insurance Needs Analysis—Helping Your Clients Make Sound Decisions
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
This course provides an in-depth plan for the advisor to follow in the understanding and collection of the pertinent data needed to determine the amount of life insurance necessary for their client’s security. Typical surviving family income needs following a spouse’s death are discussed with a focus on college costs for children. The role that Social Security benefits play are also discussed.
A case study is also provided to demonstrate the flexibility in using a Universal Life insurance contract in needs analysis planning with regard to withdrawals, return of principal, adjustable face amounts (as the need for insurance decreases), and tax-free benefits.
Longevity Planning Strategies
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
Greater longevity has increased the need for long-term care (LTC) services, which can be costly. Therefore, longevity planning is important when helping clients plan for their future.
This course will review the features of LTC insurance, how government programs come into play, and LTC insurance changes due to tax law and funding. We will also examine the benefits unique to hybrid annuity and life plans, and will review which plans are appropriate given various client scenarios.
Upon completion, the insurance professional will be able to explain the structures, types, and costs of different LTC insurance options. Participants will understand the role of government programs and tax legislation in LTC planning, and will gain specific knowledge on the features, types, suitability, and funding of LTC insurance plans, to help clients preserve assets, dignity, and choices when faced with health changes.
Long-Term Care Insurance as a Business Deduction
Length: 1 hour
Course Description and Objective:
Prevailing changes to the economy may have created some uncertainty in your clients’ financial plans. Discover how your business-owner clients can take advantage of tax law and lower their taxes when purchasing long-term care (LTC) insurance. Whether your client is a business owner or an individual, the IRS allows tax deductions for LTC insurance. Learn how newer, linked-benefit plans with separately identifiable premiums can also fit the bill. In addition, the course will explore how Health Savings Account funds may be used to pay premiums for non-business owners. These and many other ideas will be examined during this informational course that will help you better understand what your clients need to know.
