Boston Institute of Finance (BIF) announced its acquisition of the Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) designation on February 25, 2026. This strategic move unites two respected leaders in financial education to further support and elevate retirement professionals. The CRC® designation provides a strong foundation for those pursuing CFP® certification, while current CFP® professionals can showcase their specialized expertise in retirement planning.
Following its own acquisition by Colibri Group in January 2025, Boston Institute of Finance continues to expand its footprint in the financial professional designation and training sector. Widely respected for helping thousands of candidates earn their CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) designation through CFP Board-Registered Education and The BIF Review, a CFP® Exam prep course. With this foundation in place, BIF can bring extensive resources and deep industry expertise to the CRC® community.
The organization is fully committed to advancing the CRC® designation and elevating the standards of retirement planning. "CRC® is a designation with real purpose in the financial and retirement planning profession, said Tim Dineen, Vice President at BIF. "It helps professionals develop meaningful retirement planning expertise at an important point in their careers and supports long-term growth as they deepen and expand their practice. We're excited to invest in the program and in the professionals it serves."
Since 2009, the CRC® designation has maintained independent accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Current credential holders and candidates will experience no disruption to their standing, program requirements, or exam testing windows. "For the CRC® community, this transition is about continuity and long-term opportunity" said Kevin Seibert, Managing Director of the CRC® Program at Boston Institute of Finance. "I've had the privilege of leading the CRC designation and its community for more than 20 years, and joining BIF allows us to continue that work at greater scale and support. We're committed to a seamless transition while thoughtfully expanding the reach and impact of the designation."
By bringing the CRC® program under Boston Institute of Finance umbrella, the organization promises continuity and long-term stability. The dedicated team that professionals know and trust remains in place to support the community, ensuring that the mission to elevate the credibility of retirement professionals thrives well into the future.
The Certified Retirement Counselor® (CRC®) is a retirement‑specialist designation accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) that signals mastery of retirement planning, speciffically focusing on income strategies, Social Security, healthcare planning, behavioral elements, and retirement risk management. CRC® professionals also commit to a Code of Ethics and continuing education. It is aimed at professionals who want to be recognized as true retirement planning specialists rather than generalists.
Having your CRC® designation positions you as a retirement specialist, signaling to clients and employers that you have deeper retirement expertise than a generalist advisor. and demonstrates independent, NCCA‑accredited validation of your retirement knowledge. This can enhance credibility with prospective and existing clients and help you stand out among other financial planners.
There are four steps to becoming CRC®-certified:
Complete the registration form to enroll in the CRC® program.
Pass the Certified Retirement Counselor® Certification Exam
Complete one of the following either before or within five years of passing the exam:
Complete a bachelor's degree (or higher) from an accredited university, and gain two years of relevant, retirement-related professional experience.
Complete or a high school diploma, and gain at least five years of relevant, retirement experience
Adhere to the Code of Ethics.
You can earn your CRC® designation before or after you become a CFP® professional as they are both beneficial. If you choose to get your CRC® marks first, it provides an excellent stepping stone for your CFP® Education, giving you a stronger foundation in areas of retirement planning. On the other hand, if you have your CFP® marks, earning your CRC designation will also help you stand out as a specialist in the area of retirement planning, and you'll be more familiar with the material, making the exam prep less challenging.
Either way, having both credentials will benefit you, your career, and your clients.