Insurance Continuing Education

Brookfield, WI - Quest CE the nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance solutions for financial services professionals, today announced it will be moving to new corporate headquarters. The move to new offices in Milwaukee’s Two Park Plaza will accommodate Quest CE’s current staff and make room for expansion to keep pace with the company’s vigorous growth.

“Quest CE’s service and technology orientation and emphasis on client service have provided a solid foundation for our tremendous growth,” said Alan Krenke, Quest CE’s President and CEO. “Our continued success relies on our ability to provide products and services that innovate while maintaining the customer service that we are known for. We’ve developed our new headquarters to be both functional and to inspire so we are able to attract and retain the service-oriented professionals who are central to our continued success.”

Quest CE’s new headquarters offers a modern and open layout. All combine to create a working environment that fosters creativity and the open exchange of ideas among Quest’s staff and between Quest and clients.

Initially, Quest CE is occupying 6,000 square feet of the 18,000 square foot 10^th Floor of Two Park Place, with options to expand as the company continues to grow. Quest will begin operating out of its new headquarters on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. The company’s new address is:

Two Park Plaza

10850 W Park Place

Suite 1000

Milwaukee, WI 53224

Telephone and fax numbers.

Toll Free: (877) 593-3366

Local: (414) 375-3400

Fax: (414) 375-3449

About Quest CE

Quest CE is a nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance courses to licensed professionals and financial planners. Each year Quest CE delivers over 150,000 continuing education courses either over the Internet or through live CE training. To find out more information about Quest’s Corporate Discounts and large volume orders go to the company web site at www.questce.com or call 877-593-3366.

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) recently approved a model rule prohibiting the misleading use of senior and retiree designations following widespread sales of unsuitable annuity products to the elderly in recent years. Several states have already adopted a roughly similar rule, including Washington state, Massachusetts, and most recently, Virginia. IMCA’s designations do not contain the words “retired,” “senior,” or any other similar term, so they are not subject to the model rule, or the rules adopted by the aforementioned states. However, IMCA supports the model rule because it outlines some key “best practices” that can be used to assess ALL financial services designations.

• Reasonable standards or procedures for assuring the competency of its designees—CIMA designees must successfully pass a level one examination and a three-hour examination administered on the final day of their level two education program; CPWA designees must successfully pass a four-hour examination.
• Reasonable standards or procedures for monitoring and disciplining its designees for improper or unethical conduct—IMCA has a clear way for the public to report a complaint against a CIMA or CPWA professional. An independent peer-review group is charged with determining whether allegations are justified and whether the unethical conduct warrants disciplinary action.
• Reasonable continuing education requirements for its designees to maintain the designation—CIMA and CPWA designees are required to earn a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education every two years.

Gary Diffendaffer Joins IMCA
New Director of Certification will Manage Growth and Advancement of IMCA Designations

Gary L. Diffendaffer, CFP^®, joined IMCA’s staff in April as director of certification. In this role, Diffendaffer will assume responsibility for the growth and continued development of the Certified Investment Management Analyst^SM, or CIMA^®, and Chartered Private Wealth Advisor^SM, or CPWA^SM, designation programs.

Diffendaffer previously served as executive vice president of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). From July 2003 to November of 2004 he assumed CEO responsibilities on an interim basis and retired in 2005 after ten years at CFP Board.

Quest CE launches new web-based continuing professional education (CPE) for accounting professionals, firms and associations.

Brookfield, WI - Quest CE the nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance solutions for professionals, announced the immediate availability of a web-based course library and online platform for accounting professionals, firms and associations. For the past 20 plus years, Quest CE has helped professionals working in the financial services industry meet their mandatory continuing education and compliance requirements.

According to President and CEO Alan Krenke, “Our clients have been asking us to provide an affordable, easy and comprehensive solution to help them meet their growing needs for Online CPA Training”. “We are extremely pleased to offer our Online CPE Training Program and look forward to providing many new offerings in the very near future for our corporate and retail clients”.

Practitioners may choose from 7 Fields of Study with course credits ranging from one credit hour to 24 credit hours. Prices start at $15 per course.

Fields of Study

• Accounting & Auditing
• Professional Development
• Consulting Services
• Specialized Knowledge & Applications
• Ethics
• Taxation
• Management

Quest CE’s new web-based CPA training program is designed to help Practitioners quickly and efficiently meet their CPE requirements in a cost effective manner. Customer service support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To demo a course go to www.questce.com.

About Quest CE

Quest CE is a nationwide provider of continuing education and compliance courses to licensed professionals and financial planners. Each year Quest CE delivers over 150,000 continuing education courses either over the Internet or through live CE training. To find out more information about Quest’s Corporate Discounts and large volume orders go to the company web site at www.questce.com or call 877-593-336.

About NASBA

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) serves as a forum for the 55 boards of accountancy. NASBA’s mission is to enhance the effectiveness of state boards of accountancy. NASBA sponsors a variety of programs and services designed to help meet their mission and goals. For more information go to www.nasba.org.

Quest CE the nationwide provider of continuing education for insurance professionals, announced the immediate availability of their complete course library of Texas “Classroom Equivalent” courses. Quest’s new Texas Classroom Equivalent courses have been certified by Texas Department of Insurance.

With the addition of these Classroom Equivalent courses, Quest CE now offers Texas agents a multitude of individual courses and a number of CE packages. Individual courses start at low as $10.00 and Packages start at $39.99.

The new Classroom Equivalent courses are online and require no final exam or third-party monitor. In addition, Classroom Equivalent courses are a rewarding and stimulating way for agents to complete their classroom requirements. Quest CE’s Classroom Equivalent courses can also satisfy the 2-hour Ethics requirement.

More information is available on the company’s Web site at www.questce.com or by calling 877-593-3366.

Cassandra Allen joined our team on Wednesday, July 16. Cassandra is a graduate of Marquette University, with a degree in Communications/Public Relations. She will be providing administrative support for Quest as well as assisting with the ever-growing demand for new courses by our clients.

In addition Angela Boehlke has assumed the role of Compliance Specialist for Quest and is taking on the responsibility of course renewals for all clients, updating QuestTrak with course approvals, submitting new course applications to the States, as well as other compliance-related duties. She will also be assisting with the overflow of work in the Client Services area and helping with the training our new team members.

Our competitors charge more than $50 for their cards, after you add in the up front cost, the redemption fee, and the state rostering fees they implement.

Quest CE offers voucher cards for the low price of $5 per card but now through August 15 save one dollar per card on orders of 5,000 or more cards and pay just $4 per card!

Quest is proud to welcome four new members to our team this month.

Meghann Hanson started with Quest on June 23 as our newest CE Coordinator. Meghann graduated from Carroll College with a degree in Education in 2007.

Bethany O’Brien joined Quest on June 24 as our Client Account Specialist. Bethany’s experience in the insurance and financial services industry and her degree from the University of WI - Stevens Point will be a tremendous asset to Quest clients.

Alex Krenke assumed the role of Marketing Communications Manager on July 1. A recent graduate of the University of WI - Madison, Alex looks forward to working with the Sales and Marketing team at Quest.

Shannon Gritt came on-board on July 7 as the Client Services Department Assistant. Shannon graduated from the University of WI - Milwaukee with a degree in Communications.

As Quest CE grows we will continue to add new and valuable members to our team to ensure that our service to remains at its finest and serves as an industry example of quality work ethic.

Long Term Care Requirements

This past month, Arkansas, Florida, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wisconsin have taken action on long-term care partnership training requirements. Looking ahead, agents and carriers should be aware that during the next few months the deadline for completion of partnership training is coming up in several states.

The Long Term Care Model Act and Regulation

In 2006 The Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) adopted several revisions to the Long Term Care Model Act and Regulation, including provisions that increase access to care and allow insurance consumers more flexibility in managing the cost of their coverage.

This model act includes a new section on producer training, which requires producers to complete a one-time, eight-hour training course before selling long-term care insurance products and an ongoing, four-hour training requirement from that point on. The training will cover long-term care insurance, as well as information about Partnership programs and their relationship to the Medicaid program.

The amended NAIC model act and regulation also addresses how state insurance departments can fulfill their responsibility under the Federal Deficit Reduction Act to provide assurance that producers who sell a partnership policy demonstrates an understanding of such policies.

New State Requirements

In addition to the eight-hour training course and the ongoing four-hour training requirement some states have additional requirements needed to sell long-term care insurance products. Recently states like Arkansas and Wisconsin have added state-issued supplements specific to their programs and partnerships with Medicaid. For some this may mean additional hours of training or special courses to fulfill this requirement.

With the growing population of elderly individuals in America it is important to be educated on how to responsibly protect their financial needs. For particular states this means having an understanding of the relationship with programs like Medicaid and the state’s long-term care policy. Because states differ from another and have separate requirements from national standards it is necessary to be aware of your states policy and requirement towards long-term care.

Upcoming Deadlines and Further Information

The deadline for completion of initial partnership training is coming up for several states:

• Georgia—October 1, 2008
• Illinois—July 1, 2008
• Maine—July 1, 2008
• Maryland—September 10, 2008
• Montana—July 1, 2008
• Nebraska—August 1, 2008
• North Dakota—July 1, 2008
• Ohio—September 1, 2008
• Rhode Island—July 3, 2008
• South Dakota—July 1, 2008

Some states require agents to complete the initial training before selling LTCI, or before selling partnership policies. In other states, the training deadline has already passed. To find out more information about your state check the America’s Health Insurance Plans website or log onto our website and click on the “Long Term Care Requirement” link under Quest Services for more information.

Quest CE Offers a Solution

Quest CE offers courses designed to meet state-specific Long Term Care Training requirements. All of our courses are available online, complete with text, exam, and printable certificates where allowed by state. If you sell, or wish to sell long term care insurance, but unsure if you are affected by specific training requirements please visit our website (http://www.questce.com) for further information.

Brookfield WI - Quest CE the leading provider of Online Compliance management solutions for the financial services industry just announced the availability of their new course that covers CFP Board of Standards’ 2008 Code of Ethics. The course, CFP^® Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, was designed to meet the 2-hour continuing education requirement on CFP Board’s Code of Ethics, which applies to all certificants. The new online course has already been approved by CFP Board.

Quest CE offers CFP^® professionals over 150 hours of different courses to help them fulfill their required 30 hours of CE annually. Quest CE’s courses have all been approved by CFP Board and are available online for only $12.95 each or unlimited access to the entire Quest CE CFP library for only $39.95 annually.

About the CFP^® Ethics CE Requirement

On May 31, 2007, CFP Board announced the adoption of an updated Standards of Professional Conduct, which sets forth the ethical standards for CFP® professionals. The updated Standards, which have an effective date of July 1, 2008 and an enforcement date of January 1, 2009, were designed to maintain CFP Board’s high ethical standards, strengthen them in several important ways, and present the standards in a manner that will be easily understood by CFP® professionals and the public they serve.

About Quest CE

Over the past 20-plus years, Quest CE has built a reputation of being the premier provider of Continuing Education to the financial services industry.  In addition to offering CE for professionals holding insurance licenses and professional designations like the CFP, CIMA, CLU/ChFC, and CPA designations, Quest CE also provides a complete spectrum of training solutions. Each year Quest CE delivers over 150,000 continuing education courses either over the Internet or through live CE training. More information is available at the company’s web site at www.questce.com or by calling 877-593-3366.