Is the best path forward for me (a Certified Financial Planner®) to take the Series 65 registration to gain IAR status? Could you shed some light on this?

While I believe that your value proposition is far beyond investments, which is what the "I" in IAR or RIA represents, I think the current regulatory environment pretty much dictates that this is the best registration for someone who wants to charge a flat fee for their advice that is paid directly by their client, rather than from a product manufacturer. So, do what you have to do to be who you want to be.