Overview of Blockchain & Digital Assets

About This Course

This program provides financial professionals with foundational knowledge on blockchain technology and digital assets. The course simplifies complex concepts and covers the evolution of blockchain, types and uses of digital assets, and the changing regulatory environment. By completing this course, professionals will be better prepared to have informed conversations and an understanding of:

• Blockchain, what it is, what it is not, and how its development is similar to the evolution of the internet
• How Blockchains have evolved and improved over the years
• How Blockchain is being used to solve real-world challenges
• The difference between Blockchain and Cryptocurrency
• The different types of Digital Assets that exist and the problems their advocates hope they solve
• Core concepts of centralization versus decentralization, Digital Asset storage, consensus, and more
• The common myths and misnomers regarding Blockchain and Digital Assets

Course Outline

Material is divided into 5 sections of content with an additional final assessment section

The course sections and topics are as follows:

• Section 1: Why Blockchain & Digital Assets Matter
• Section 2: Overview of Blockchain
• Section 3: Overview of Digital Assets
• Section 4: Core Concepts of Blockchain & Digital Assets
• Section 5: Myths and Misnomers
• Section 6: Conclusion & Final Assessment (80% required to Pass)

Course Instructor

Phil Buchanan, CFP®, CWS®
Phil is the Executive Chairman of the Board for Cannon Financial Institute. He is a highly sought-after wealth management expert in America, working with major financial services firms and their subsidiaries as a speaker, trainer, consultant, and coach. Phil delivers keynotes at industry events, writes for publications, and is frequently interviewed by the media on wealth management topics. He aims to instill confident competence in financial professionals, inspiring them to create actionable business plans that produce results.

Chris Nekvinda, Ph.D.
Chris is Cannon's Director of the Global Learning team and leads consulting efforts for the firm. As Cannon's Blockchain and Digital Assets subject matter expert, he writes, publishes, and creates training materials on the subject. Dr. Nekvinda is also a Blockchain developer and strategist, bridging traditional finance and the emerging world of decentralized finance (DeFi). He has experience in all three generations of Blockchain, mining, staking, investing, and DeFi protocols, and provides insight into the ever-changing regulatory perspectives.

Shelli Keagle
Shelli is the Founder and Executive Director of Canvas SRI, LLC, a Strategy, Research, and Insights firm focusing on the financial industry. She has conducted extensive research and engaged in marketing strategy with top asset managers and wealth tech firms, gaining perspective from over 4,700 investors and 2,000 advisors. Shelli has consulted for numerous Fortune 500 brands and completed FinTech and Decentralized Finance specializations from Wharton Business School and Duke University. She is currently the Executive Director of Marketing at a blockchain-based FinTech startup.

Brad Shepard
Brad is an entrepreneur and experienced executive in both public and private companies. He excels in commercialization and go-to-market strategies for new and existing products, driven by a strong data-oriented approach to understanding and reaching target customers. Brad recently exited his company, Kredible, to join WisdomTree Asset Management and subsequently Orion Advisor Solutions, where he successfully launched multiple projects in crowded marketplaces. He has helped financial services, consumer goods, communications, and technology companies re-imagine their customer offerings.

Who Should Enroll and Why

For Financial Advisors, Trust Officers, Investment Professionals, and Bankers- Research shows a growing number of individual investors (nearly 50%) hold some form of Digital Assets. Furthermore, they expect their financial team to engage in discussions surrounding these holdings. Being conversationally competent in this emerging asset class and technology innovation is critical to maintaining your client’s trust.

For Compliance, Risk Managers, Auditors, and Regulators- Digital Assets have created a rapidly changing regulatory landscape. Understanding the different types of Digital Assets, their functions, and their use will help back-office professionals prepare to address the needs of their institution and their customer base.

For Insurance Professionals- Blockchain and Digital Assets offer insurance firms and professionals the opportunity to improve efficiency, improve fraud prevention, offer alternative claims and payment processes, and introduce new investment classes and insurance products. To capitalize on these opportunities, client-facing and back-office professionals require a working knowledge of what this technology is and how the components work.

Education Credits

This course qualifies for Continuing Education credits for:

• Certified Wealth Strategist® (CWS®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Trust Operations Professional® (CTOP®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Corporate Trust Professional® (CCTP®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Retirement Plan Professional (CRPP®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Fiduciary and Investment Risk Specialist® (CFIRS®) 5.5 hours
• Accredited Fiduciary Investment Manager® (AFIM®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) 5.5 hours
• Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor® (CTFA®) 4.25 hours

Don’t see your credentials? Contact us for more information.