State Regulators Approve Model Rule Banning Misleading Senior Designations
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. Legitimate designations, such as the CIMA^® marks, would not be restricted if accredited by certain national accrediting organizations. Several states have already adopted a roughly similar rule, including Washington state and Massachusetts. Virginia also proposed the model rule last week. Review NASAA’s model rule online, learn more about IMCA’s steps to ensure the recognition of the CIMA designation, or watch an exposé aired this week by NBC’s Dateline on the mistreatment of elderly investors.

Mutual Fund Expenses Held Steady in '07
Cost of investing in funds may go up, say experts. Click here for more.

Wealthy Embrace Online Donations
More than half of donors prefer to give online, survey finds. Click here for more.

ETNs Are Enjoying Steady Growth
Exchange traded notes pose threat to ETFs, mutual funds. Click here for more.

IMCA 2008 Vancouver Lunch and Learn Program
Conference Date: April 17, 2008
Onsite registrations will be accepted!
CE Credit: Two hours

IMCA's "Lunch and Learn" event at the Vancouver Club, in Vancouver, BC, features James R. Harvey, CIMA^®. Mr. Harvey will review and discuss investment policy challenges, due diligence issues, and search considerations for alternative investments in today’s volatile markets.

IMCA 2008 Spring Professional Development Conference
Conference Dates: May 18–20, 2008
Early-bird registration deadline is THIS FRIDAY, April 18, 2008!
CE Credit: 20 hours, including one ethics hour

This conference, held at The New Orleans Marriott in New Orleans, LA, features keynote speakers William Sharpe, Ph.D.; economist Marci Rossell; Wharton Professor Kathy Pearson, Ph.D.; and an overview of how the upcoming presidential election will affect our industry by strategist Greg Valliere. You also will be able to customize your learning experience with concurrent educational tracks focusing on the tools that you need to succeed in your business: practice management, wealth management, investment consulting, and more. IMCA also has reserved a special room rate at the conference hotel through Friday, April 18, so reserve your room today. Click here for program information or to register.

IMCA 2008 Canadian Consultants Conference
Conference Dates: June 5–6, 2008
Early-bird registration deadline is May 5, 2008
CE Credit: 12 hours, including one ethics hour

The theme of this conference, held at The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is "Leadership and Professionalism—The Continual Pursuit of Advisory Excellence." Keynote speakers include Charlotte Beyer from the Institute for Private Investors; Amanda Lang from Business News Network; and Donald M. Raymond, Ph.D., CFA^®, from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. A number of other speakers will present on topics ranging from performance analysis and ethics, to global investing and economic outlook. Click here for program information or to register.

IMCA 2008 Advanced CIMA^® Workshop: The Best of Wharton
Conference Dates: July 20–22, 2008
Early-bird registration deadline is June 16, 2008
CE Credit: 11 hours

Back by popular demand, this program features Wharton professors sharing their latest research to help build on the foundation you received when you earned your CIMA designation. Featured professors include Christopher C. Geczy, Ph.D., who will address socially responsible investing and hedge fund replication, and Charles E. Dwyer, Ph.D., discussing building client relationships. Enrollment for this program is reserved for CIMA and CIMC^® designees in good standing. Registration is limited, so click here for program information or to register.

Live Audio Broadcast: Neuroethics, Sudoku, and Monks: What Contemporary Research Has to Say about Being an Ethical Person
Presented: June 19, 2008, 4:15 p.m. EDT
CE Credit: One ethics hour

The cost of unethical behavior mounts. Rogue traders, government officials, corporate leaders, and religious leaders fill the news with scandals that would be instructive if they were not so devastating. Yet the real story is not about the grander versions of unethical behavior. It is the day-to-day, moment-to-moment challenges of being an ethical person that each of us faces in our professional and personal life. Join Steve Lawler for a look at current research into ethical behavior. Click here for more information or to register.

IMCA Enacts New "6+" Policy for CE Credit Accumulation
IMCA has modified its continuing education (CE) requirements in an effort to better-serve our CIMA and CIMC designees who have shown their dedication to the marks and to the industry. IMCA events provide the highest-level, focused-topic agendas and knowledge to assist the investment management consultant community, and we realize the importance of providing flexibility in how that content is delivered. The “6+ Rule” is a new policy that stipulates that those who have been certified for more than six years and whose current license renewal period began after January 1, 2008, can complete and report a minimum of 20 IMCA-sponsored CE credit hours over the span of their next two two-year renewal periods. The former policy stipulated a minimum of 20 IMCA-sponsored CE credit hours for each two-year renewal period. For more information on the “6+ Rule”, click here.

Give Your Time to the Profession...and Earn 12 CE Credits!
IMCA currently is seeking volunteers to develop updated questions for the Certified Investment Management Analyst^SM examination. In an effort to ensure that new CIMA designees are fully prepared, we are inviting current CIMA professionals to assist in creating the most appropriate, timely, and job-related questions for the exam. Volunteers will gather June 24–26 in Kansas City to write the new questions. Involvement qualifies you for 12 IMCA-sponsored continuing education credits, and provides you with the chance to influence the future of the investment management consulting profession. To learn more about this opportunity please e-mail IMCA’s executive director, Dede Pahl, or call 303.850.3063.

IMCA Members Rewarded for Participation in Study
The inaugural issue of IMCA Research Quarterly, which focuses on portfolio construction, is being delivered with the March/April edition of Investments & Wealth Monitor. Nearly 700 IMCA members voluntarily completed the survey. This quarterly member benefit brings an annual value of up to $1,000 to IMCA members. Five lucky IMCA members were rewarded for their participation in the study: Gregg Gravenstine, CIMA^®, and Paul Emrick, CIMA^®, each won a free registration to one of IMCA’s professional development conferences. Sam Braun, Bill Marsh, CIMA^®, and Jeff Farrar, CIMA^®, each won a one-year free IMCA membership renewal. Look for your copy of IMCA Research Quarterly in the mail soon, and don't forget to participate in the next quarterly study!