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About Us

In February 2026, the Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) designation was acquired by Boston Institute of Finance (BIF), a Colibri Group brand. BIF now administers the CRC® program, building on more than 25 years of history established by the International Foundation for Retirement Education® (InFRE). Current CRC® certificants and candidates will experience no disruption to their standing, program requirements, or exam testing windows.

Our Mission

Since 1997, the CRC® program has been guided by a mission to raise the retirement readiness of the American worker. With CRC®, retirement-focused professionals have access to quality education and tools so they can assist employees and clients with their retirement preparedness needs. Today, that mission continues under Boston Institute of Finance (BIF), a Colibri Group brand.

CRC® Statement of Purpose

The Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification was created to advance recognition among retirement planning professionals of the need for a retirement specific certification program that demonstrates a mastery of subject matter, a commitment to the retirement planning profession, and adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education requirements.

Why the CRC® designation matters

  • American workers are now more personally responsible for their retirement plan and are spending more years in retirement.
  • Fundamental changes have been made or are foreseen in employer-sponsored pension plans, Social Security and the Medicare system.
  • Retirees face medical and long-term care expenses of unknown cost and length.
  • New retirement products and investment management methods are being introduced regularly to meet retirees’ needs for lifetime income and flexibility.
  • The definition of retirement is changing as people now phase into their retirement with bridge jobs, new careers or businesses, and people have to make decisions about where they will live and what they need to do to become retirement ready.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The confluence of these factors makes the jobs of retirement counselors increasingly difficult and complex — while at the same time increasingly more important. Moreover, many of the individuals who today are advising the American worker on how to achieve a secure and rewarding retirement have not been specifically trained and equipped to deal with these issues, particularly on the distribution side of the equation. These professionals have also not had access to quality educational materials to properly educate their employees and clients.

 

BIF’s goal is to provide credible retirement certifications and objective educational tools to help retirement professionals increase the retirement preparedness of the American worker, continuing the work InFRE started in 1997.

The CRC® Board of Standards and Policy Development

The CRC® Board of Standards and Policy Development (BOS) is the policy-making and oversight body of Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC ®) certification. The purpose of the BOS is to independently establish the governing rules and regulations related to the CRC® program, make determinations regarding eligibility and all essential certification decisions, and provide mediation and interpretations for the program as needed by staff and volunteer committees. In addition, the BOS regulates the use of the Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) marks through trademark law by authorizing individuals who meet its certification requirements to use the marks. 

Meet the BOS