Putnam Institute

Education and training programs for practice growth

If you would like more information about the course materials, or would like to review a presentation, please contact your consultant or the Putnam Client Engagement Center at 1-800-354-4000.


CE CREDIT

10 Roth strategies to hedge the risk of higher taxes

Explore a range of actionable strategies to help clients looking to hedge the risk of potential higher taxes on retirement savings. 1 credit hour: CFP, CTFA, CFA, CFFP, CLU/ChFC, CIMA and CPWA


"Strategic Retirement Planning" Super CE

Most people want to continue to live in retirement as they did while working. Long-term financial and retirement security is a work in progress. This course will provide a holistic view of retirement planning as a lifelong pursuit for clients and the strategies, techniques and products available to make this a successful endeavor. It begins with what individuals can do to plan for retirement outside of their employment, followed by planning opportunities within their employment, as well as opportunities for those who might also be business owners.

This course will allow participants to receive between 10.5 and 15 hours of insurance or designation continuing education credits, by successfully completing the course and passing the exam.

Approved for CFP, CLU/ChFC, CRPC, CIMA/CPWA and state insurance EXCEPT for New Jersey. For insurance credits, many states require a 3rd party monitor while taking the exam.

Not all firms are approved for Super CE. Reach out to your Regional Consultant for additional information and specific firm approvals.


Ten Roth strategies to hedge the risk of higher taxes

Since their introduction by Congress more than 20 years ago, Roth IRAs have grown at a faster pace than their traditional counterparts, exceeding $1 trillion in total industry assets recently. However, Roth IRAs comprise only 10% of total IRA assets currently. This may be problematic for retirement savers concerned about the threat of higher taxes in the future due to federal government budget pressures and uncertain tax policy. During this session, we will explore a range of actionable strategies for clients looking to hedge the risk of potential higher taxes on retirement savings, including for example:

  • Year-end tactical planning strategies to maximize use of income tax brackets.
  • Considerations for small business owners who may have experienced operating losses due to a challenging business environment.
  • Using after-tax retirement plan contributions to create substantial Roth savings

1 Credit Hour: Insurance in most states, AIF, CPFA, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017, most taxpayers are experiencing a relatively favorable income and estate tax environment. However, certain factors suggest that taxes may be headed higher in the near future, including pressure on the federal government to raise revenue to combat rising budget deficits. Additionally, if no legislative action occurs, current tax rates and provisions expire at the end of 2025. This workshop reviews the current income, gift, and estate tax landscapes and suggests a number of actionable planning strategies including:

  • Tactical, tax-smart planning for deductions.
  • Strategies to hedge the risk of higher taxes in the future.
  • Tax-related considerations for intergenerational wealth transfer.

1 Credit Hour: Insurance in most states, AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


The SECURE Act (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019) took effect in 2020, ushering in significant changes to retirement accounts. New provisions, including the 10-year rule, govern how retirement account distributions are treated following the death of the owner. Additionally, the Treasury Department recently issued proposed regulations impacting distribution of inherited retirement accounts. During this session we will explore how these new rules apply and suggest planning considerations for IRA distribution planning including:

  • Rethinking beneficiary designations and trust arrangements
  • Implementing a plan to spend down, donate, or convert pre-tax IRA assets
  • Considering alternatives to passing IRA wealth to heirs by leveraging life insurance or establishing charitable trusts

1 Credit Hour: Insurance in most states, AIF, CFP, CTFA, CFA, CIMA, CLU/ChFC, CFFP, CPE, CPWA and CPFA.


Learn how financial professionals are finding new approaches for client acquisition and asset gathering. In this interactive session, we will go over timely wealth management ideas with actionable planning strategies, as well as practice management ideas to uncover new relationships. These engagement ideas help to prospect:

  • Foundations and endowments
  • The rollover market
  • Business owners
  • Corporate executives
  • High-net-worth clients

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


With over $30 trillion in wealth poised to shift generations over the next few decades, firms and financial advisors are challenged with helping clients manage the transition of that wealth. This presentation explores barriers financial advisors face in making critical connections with the next generation of their clients. Actionable strategies around tax planning and efficient wealth transfer are discussed as potential tactics to help financial advisors make those valuable connections.

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


With more baby boomers retiring and life expectancies increasing, health-care costs in retirement are consuming a greater portion of household income. In fact, lifetime retirement health-care costs for a 65-year-old healthy couple retiring this year will exceed $250,000.* This presentation explores trends in health-care spending, provides details on navigating Medicare, and presents planning strategies advisors can share with clients.
* Healthview Services, 2015 Retirement Health Care Cost Data Report.

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


An asset protection plan is a natural component of a thoughtful and comprehensive wealth management strategy. Clients who have accumulated sizable retirement savings, established equity in their homes and businesses, and built other wealth should consider ways to protect hard-earned assets from a lawsuit, civil claims, or bankruptcy proceedings. This course focuses on a variety of strategies that can be employed to help your clients safeguard that wealth. Specific topics addressed include:

  • Taking care of the basics: From the use of insurance to homestead exemptions
  • Retirement accounts: Why it is important to understand the creditor protection differences between ERISA and non-ERISA plans
  • Business ownership structures to limit liability including an overview of the "multiple LLC" strategy

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, and ChFC/CLU.


This course presents a framework for retirement that combines asset allocation and risk management strategies intended to improve a financial representative’s ability to offer clients a successful retirement. In particular, this course highlights the need for dependable retirement income by exploring key issues such as longevity risk, the impact of inflation, the aging American population, investment strategies, and the role of annuitization.

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, and ChFC/CLU.



The number of non-traditional households in the United States — those headed by divorced or never-married individuals and couples — is on the rise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of traditional households, defined as married couples, has now fallen below 50% for the first time. At the same time, the number of certain, non-traditional households, such as unmarried couples, has risen by over 40% in just the past ten years. It’s critical that financial advisors understand the unique financial planning challenges facing these types of households, such as:

  • Unmarried couples are not afforded many automatic protections such as legal and property rights, medical decision-making, and wealth transfer
  • Certain estate tax provisions are only available to married couples, such as unlimited gifts between spouses and an unlimited estate tax exemption
  • There may be special considerations around planning for income in retirement, insurance coverage, and taxation issues

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CTFA, and ChFC/CLU.


Why Advisors should care: Investors are five times more likely to engage with a financial advisor through a warm introduction than a cold outreach. Five million investors used LinkedIn to research investment decisions and hire their financial advisor.

1 Credit Hour: CPE, CFA and CLU/ChFC


10 million small businesses are projected to be transferred or closed over the next decade, and most owners do not have a formal succession plan in place. A comprehensive plan for succession can increase the value of a business now and provide financial security for the business owner and family for the future. During this workshop we will explore critical steps in the succession planning process and other related topics including:

  • Different approaches for business valuation
  • Key considerations around structuring a deal
  • Advanced strategies for transferring wealth in closely held businesses including defective trusts and ESOPs

1 Credit Hour: AIF, CFA, CFP, CPE, CFFP, CIMA, CPWA, CLU/ChFC and CTFA

This material is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a recommendation of any specific investment product, strategy, or decision, and is not intended to suggest taking or refraining from any course of action. It is not intended to address the needs, circumstances, and objectives of any specific investor. This information is not meant as tax or legal advice. Investors should consult a professional advisor before making investment and financial decisions and for more information on tax rules and other laws, which are complex and subject to change.

No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Putnam Investments.

Please note the materials referenced may not be approved by your firm. Please consult with your firm and your Putnam consultant to determine availability.