File a Complaint
If you are concerned about the professional behavior of a CRC® Certificant, we encourage you to file a Certificant Complaint. You may also file your complaint by calling 847-756-7350 ext 134.
Disciplinary Procedure
When a CRC® Certificant violates the CRC® Code of Ethics, does not maintain their ongoing eligibility requirements, or is in violation of other policies, they are subject to disciplinary procedures and may be subject to suspension or revocation of their right to use the CRC® marks. Please click here to view the CRC® disciplinary procedures.
Find a CRC® Professional
Search for a Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®)
Choosing a professional to help you prepare for retirement and manage your retirement income may be one of the most important decisions you’ll even make. A retirement counselor can play a significant role in helping you meet your retirement goals and desired well-being. It is important to take the time to select someone who has demonstrated that they have the relevant experience, comprehensive understanding of retirement planning concepts and commitment to ongoing education.
By looking up CRC® professionals, you will find individuals currently authorized by the CRC® Board of Standards and Policy Development (CRC® Board of Standards) to use the CRC® and Certified Retirement Counselor® certification marks.
CRC® Certificants may be required by state or federal law to hold other licenses in order to conduct their business. Neither InFRE nor the CRC® Board of Standards makes any representation – or warrants that a CRC® Certificant holds or is current with any required licenses or that working with a CRC® professional will guarantee a particular desired result or outcome. You may find additional information about an individual through BrokerCheck by FINRA and the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website.
Error Reasons
Individuals using a different name, i.e. a nickname or a shortened name will not appear on the website. Try searching for the individual using his/her formal name. If you are unsure of the correct spelling of a name, but have information on the city, state or zip code, searching by those fields will often allow you to narrow your search.
Need More Help?
Depending on the Certificant’s renewal date, the website may show inactive briefly during the Certificant’s renewal process. If a Certificant status is in question it is best to contact InFRE by calling 847-756-7350 ext. 134 or e-mail us.
Why Choose a CRC® Professional?
You can’t plan for tomorrow with yesterday’s information
78 million Boomers will retire over the next 18 years – more than 10,000 Americans every day! Fortunately, InFRE’s NCCA accredited Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification prepares professionals to help you be ready for this phase of life and have enough money to last a lifetime.
“As one of the leading financial planning university programs in the country, we encourage students to earn the CRC® because it provides in-depth and focused content in all aspects of retirement.”
John Salter, Ph.D., CFP®, AIFA®, Director, Division of Personal Financial Planning at Texas Tech University.
What does accreditation of a financial certification mean, and is it important to you as a consumer?
“Not all certifications are created equally,” says Kevin Seibert, CFP®, CEBS, CRC®, Managing Director at InFRE.
As of September 1, 2009, the CRC® officially met the certification accreditation standards of the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The rigorous, independent NCCA standards are designed to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Of over 100 financial designations, the CRC® is one of only a few retirement and financial planning-related certifications independently accredited by the NCCA. Certification accreditation requires that the program itself be vetted to meet the highest standards regarding governance, responsibility to stakeholders, exam process, and recertification – an important difference from designations being offered by Colleges that are accredited.
Some states already require a certification attain accreditation before an advisor can use it to represent their expertise with clients. If an advisor is not a CRC®, does he or she maintain an accredited professional certification that requires adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education?
You’ll see a lot in a CRC®
Anyone looking for a retirement counselor or advisor wants someone who inspires real confidence. An InFRE Certified Retirement Counselor®:
- Can comprehend what today’s complex retirement plans and laws mean to you
- Can identify appropriate retirement income strategies for your situation
- Commits to high ethical standards and continuing education
So if you’re wondering…
- If you’ve saved enough and invested wisely
- If you will be able to live the way you want
- When you can – or should – retire
- If you should start Social Security when you retire, or later
- How you will pay for health care
- If your money will last
You won’t have to wonder who has the answers you need. A Certified Retirement Counselor® can provide guidance you can count on. Look for a CRC® here.
InFRE is looking ahead so no one is left behind
You’ve probably heard it hundreds of times: an entire generation of workers is on the verge of retiring in the United States. For many, health and long-term care funding for different phase of retirement is unknown. Meanwhile, people are living longer than ever before. Social Security and Medicare are facing fundamental changes. And many employers have shifted responsibility for retirement income to the employee. It’s no wonder America will be facing a “retirement crisis” in the near future. People need help deciding when to retire and how to make their money last. Just as important, they need a plan to help them stay engaged for a healthier, happier, more productive retirement.
The International Foundation for Retirement Education (InFRE) was founded in 1997 to address this tremendous challenge. It exists solely to help retirement professionals increase the retirement preparedness of the American worker. With InFRE, professionals have access to quality education and tools so they can assist employees and clients with retirement preparedness. This way, everyone can face a more secure future.
Who is behind InFRE?
The Texas Tech University Center for Financial Responsibility, recognized as a national leader in financial planning education and resources.
The National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (www.NAGDCA.org), a professional organization made up of deferred compensation plan/defined contribution plan administrators from 50 states and over 100 local government entities, as well as private industry plan providers.
The National Pension Education Association (www.NPEA.com) which educates state and local government retirement system professionals and encourages the ongoing exchange of information, ideas, goals and objectives of retirement planning and communication with members.
Why Choose a Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC® ) Professional?
Choosing a professional to help you prepare for retirement and manage your retirement income may be one of the most important decisions you’ll even make. A retirement counselor can play a significant role in helping you meet your retirement goals and desired well-being. It is important to take the time to select someone who has demonstrated that they have the relevant experience, comprehensive understanding of retirement planning concepts and commitment to ongoing education.
To earn the CRC® designation, Candidates are required to pass a comprehensive examination and have two years of retirement related experience with a college degree (five years of experience required with a high school diploma or equivalent). To maintain their CRC®, Certificants are also required to adhere to a code of ethics that requires acting in the best interest of the client and to annually report 15 hours of continuing education.
The CRC® program is unique in that Certificants must demonstrate knowledge and an understanding of not only retirement planning accumulation and distribution concepts, but also how to provide counseling based on behavioral finance tendencies, different communication styles and gender/generational considerations. The end result is a retirement professional who is better prepared to offer holistic retirement planning “counseling” solutions.
An Independently Accredited Retirement Designation Program
Not all designations are created equally. The CRC® is accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The rigorous, independent NCCA standards are designed to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Only eight of the almost 200 designations listed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have completed the rigorous process of independent program specific accreditation.
Certification accreditation requires that the program meets the highest standards in regard to governance, responsibility to stakeholders, exam process, and recertification. Always ask your advisor if the designations they hold are independently accredited.
Find a CRC® Professional
By looking up CRC® professionals, you will find individuals currently authorized by the CRC® Board of Standards and Policy Development (Board of Standards) to use the CRC® and Certified Retirement Counselor® certification marks.
Complaints
If you are concerned about the professional behavior of a CRC® certificant, we encourage you to file a Certificant Complaint. You may also file your complaint by calling 847-756-7350 ext. 134.
CRC® Certificants may be required by state or federal law to hold other licenses in order to conduct their business. Neither InFRE nor the CRC® Board of Standards makes any representation or warrants that a CRC® Certificant holds or is current with any required licenses or that working with a CRC® professional will guarantee a particular desired result or outcome. You may find additional information about an individual through BrokerCheck by FINRA and the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website.
78 million Boomers will retire over the next 18 years – more than 10,000 Americans every day! Fortunately, InFRE’s NCCA accredited Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification prepares professionals to help you be ready for this phase of life and have enough money to last a lifetime.
Find out more why it is important for you to work with a Certified Retirement Counselor®.
Why Only Choose Advisors with Accredited Certifications?
Depending on who you talk to, there are between 150 and 300 designations available to retirement advisors today. The alphabet soup bowl of designations is so large that not even the financial services industry can track them all.
Some of the more credible designations require a valid assessment of knowledge and ongoing education and are independently accredited. Others mislead consumers about the rigor associated with obtaining the designation and may be earned in a weekend after paying a few hundred dollars and attending a seminar.
But make no mistake, financial services professionals should be encouraged to participate in credible professional development programs that show consumers that they have demonstrated competency in a particular subject matter.
Find out how to tell the quality designations from the less credible.
Find a CRC® Professional
Choosing a professional to help you prepare for retirement and manage your retirement income may be one of the most important decisions you’ll even make. A retirement counselor can play a significant role in helping you meet your retirement goals and desired well-being. It is important to take the time to select someone who is competent and trustworthy, one on whom you can depend for guidance and services.
By looking up CRC® professionals, you will find individuals currently authorized by the CRC Board of Standards and Policy Development (Board of Standards) to use the CRC® and CERTIFIED RETIREMENT COUNSELOR® certification marks.
Verify the Current Status of a CRC® Certificant
In order to become CRC® certified, candidates must pass a rigorous examination, meet experience requirements and pass a background check. They must also indicate that they will adhere to the CRC® Code of Ethics. In order to maintain their CRC certification, certificants must complete and submit 15 hours of continuing education annually. To ensure an individual has met the initial and ongoing CRC® eligibility requirements click here.
Complaints
If you are concerned about the professional behavior of a CRC® certificant, we encourage you to file a Certificant Complaint. You may also file your complaint by calling 847-756-7350 ext 134.
Disciplinary Procedure
When a CRC® certificant violates the CRC® Code of Ethics, does not maintain their ongoing eligibility requirements, or is in violation of other policies, they are subject to disciplinary procedures and may be subject to suspension or revocation of their right to use the CRC® marks. Please click here to view the CRC® disciplinary procedures.