InFRE Certified Retirement Counselor(R) Accreditation Helps Consumers Protect Their Retirement Dollars

LUBBOCK, Texas, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Is your retirement advisor CRC® certified? If not, he or she should be. With the complex economic situation that every American is facing, concern about retirement security and other related issues has skyrocketed. Thankfully, there's a higher standard out there when evaluating retirement advisors -the independently accredited Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) certification developed by the International Foundation for Retirement Education (InFRE). Think of it as a method of checks and balances, to ensure your financial planner is properly trained in the financial services arena - and not a fly-by-night nightmare waiting to happen.

With so many certifications out there, the CRC® is quickly becoming the industry standard for retirement planners. Established in 1997, the CRC® certification was created to protect the public by assessing professional competence in retirement planning to better assist American workers in the accumulation and distribution phases of retirement. To earn this one-of-a-kind credential, retirement counselors and advisors have to demonstrate mastery of and a commitment to their profession. Adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education requirements are mandatory. The independent accreditation demonstrates that the CRC® officially meets rigorous professional certification standards determined by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) to help ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the public. Already, some states are requiring this certification to protect the public.

"Not all certifications are created equally," says Kevin Seibert, CFP®, CEBS, CRC®, Managing Director at InFRE. "As the leader in retirement education for professionals, InFRE is aware of our responsibility in maintaining a role that promotes competency in regard to the retirement planning profession."

Consumers would be wise to ask their retirement planning professional if they have been CRC® certified. If they're not a CRC®, does the advisor maintain an accredited professional certification that at least requires adherence to a code of ethics and continuing education? Certification from an independently accredited program is extremely important when selecting a professional to handle your hard-earned dollars on the path to retirement.

CRC is affiliated with the leading financial planning university in the country, Texas Tech University (TTU); endorsed by both NAGDCA and NPEA - associations. Currently, over 2,000 professionals hold or are enrolled in the CRC® certification.

To learn more about CRC®, visit www.infre.org.

SOURCE InFRE