With broker-dealers and advisors spending more time at home, we’ve noticed an uptick in course completions in the early part of 2020 compared to years past. With that, we were curious to know which specific courses were most popular among firms during the first few months of 2020. In this article, we feature our top 10 courses, based on number of completions, so far this year.

As always, prior to implementing a Firm Element program, firms should consider their size, structure and scope of business, as well as any regulatory developments. Courses outlined in this article are not to be taken as recommendations. A comprehensive Needs Analysis is required.

Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) And Associated Materials

Course ID: 11662
Number of Slides: 39
Est Time of Completion: 30 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course is designed to help broker-dealers and financial advisors understand how to comply with the requirements of this new regulation. Notable concepts discussed throughout the course include Reg BI compliance objectives, Form CRS and the investment advisor interpretation. The course will cover each of these rules in depth and includes potential scenarios that one could encounter.

Anti-Money Laundering: Beneficial Ownership

Course ID: 9692
Number of Slides: 32
Est Time of Completion: 20 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course will review the customer due diligence (CDD) regulations that have been set by organizations developed to combat criminal use of financial systems around the world. Additionally, the course focuses on the most recent regulations adopted by the U.S. Treasury.

Annual AML Update: Review Of Regulatory Guidance And Enforcement 

Course ID: 12604
Number of Slides: 44
Est Time of Completion: 45 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course will review recent Anti-Money Laundering developments including regulatory guidance from the securities and banking industries, FATF cryptocurrency guidance, enforcement actions, a new FINCEN department and several case studies including the Danske Bank AML case and the US’ Mueller report. By the end of the course, students will have a better front-end understanding of the of the regulatory environment and how money laundering is detected and prosecuted in modern cases.

Cybersecurity: Phishing

Course ID: 9756
Number of Slides: 22
Est Time of Completion: 20 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: As firms increase reliance on technology to conduct their operations, the risks to firms associated with cybersecurity continue to increase. This course provides representatives with background knowledge of cybersecurity risks and best practices, including phishing tactics, vendor management controls, information sharing and much more.

Cybersecurity & FINRA

Course ID: 9907
Number of Slides: 32
Est Time of Completion: 30 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course examines various targets and types of cyber-attacks, their threat to the financial industry, disclosure requirements for FINRA registered firms, regulatory measures to prevent cyber-crimes and practical steps toward cybersecurity. It also discusses recent FINRA guidance, including the presence of cybersecurity in the Regulatory and Examinations Priorities Letter, the Report on Cybersecurity Practices, and Investor Alerts warning investors about cyber-threats. Practical advice for representatives on steps to reduce risk will be discussed, as well as the consequences to firms for failing to protect against cybersecurity threats.

Anti-Money Laundering For Broker-Dealers

Course ID: 9892
Number of Slides: 43
Est Time of Completion: 30 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This This course is intended for retail representatives, investment advisors, supervisors or any financial service industry professional interested in learning about industry rules and regulations regarding anti-money laundering. The objective of this course is to introduce broker-dealer employees to the federal laws and regulations that apply to money laundering, record keeping, and reporting. The course discusses some “red flags” that may indicate potential money laundering activities, as well as the penalties that can be imposed for violating federal money laundering laws.

Phishing Awareness – The Human Factor Of Security

Course ID: 10114
Number of Slides: 25
Est Time of Completion: 20 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: Targeted phishing attacks are the most significant threats to organizations operating in today’s digital business environment. This problem has costly consequences for organizations and is often the result of unprepared individuals at affected companies. We can reduce this threat by educating employees on the types of attacks happening today and becoming aware of how to deal with each scenario safely. This course will review common phishing attacks currently seen by organizations, discuss how they work and provide strategies to protect your organization from falling victim to one of these scams.

Security Best Practices For Remote Workers Amid COVID-19

Course ID: 12751
Number of Slides: 19
Est Time of Completion: 15 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course discusses the importance of security when working remotely and highlights some simple techniques that employees can employ to protect themselves while working from home. Additionally, we’ll discuss the recent influx of phishing emails that have flooded inboxes since the COVID-19 outbreak and tips to avoid falling victim to a hazardous attack.

Anti-Money Laundering And The Red Flag Rule

Course ID: 10684
Number of Slides: 41
Est Time of Completion: 20 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course is designed for registered representatives, supervisors, and institutional sales representatives. The objective of this course is to raise the awareness of anti-money laundering regulations so that representatives have the knowledge to prevent and detect money laundering. This knowledge will help ensure that each representative and their employer do not become involved in investigations or scandals that could harm the company’s reputation or risk client relationships. After completing this course, representatives will have a better understanding of anti-money laundering regulations, including the Know Your Customer rule, as well as be able to better recognize suspicious activities to protect themselves from the consequences of being linked in any way to money-laundering activities.

Cybersecurity For Registered Representatives

Course ID: 9755
Number of Slides: 43
Est Time of Completion: 30 Minutes
Version: Interactive

Description: This course examines the various targets and types of cyber-attacks, their threat to the financial industry, disclosure requirements for FINRA registered firms, regulatory measures to prevent cyber-crimes and practical steps toward cybersecurity.